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Stats reveal extent of human trafficking as UAE officials launch crackdown

Nine out of 10 women who are trafficked in the UAE suffer physical and sexual abuse at the hands of the people who dupe them into thinking they are heading for a better life in the Emirates.

Nine out of 10 women who are trafficked in the UAE suffer physical and sexual abuse at the hands of the people who dupe them into thinking they are heading for a better life in the Emirates.
 
That is according to the latest statistics released by the government.
 
The ‘Combatting Human Trafficking in the UAE’ report found that 94 per cent of trafficking victims are beaten by twisted traffickers, with 89 per cent admitting they had been sexually assaulted by the criminals.
 
The figures come from interviews with trafficking victims at the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, which runs a government-funded hostel for victims. Last year it took in 35 trafficking victims, joining seven who were given refuge there before 2012.
 
As it released its report, the UAE National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking said it plans this year to step up an awareness campaign that it runs at some airports to include terminals at Dubai.
 
More than half the women interviewed for the report believed they were coming to the UAE to work as housemaids, while 11 per cent thought they would work in sales and eight per cent believed they were being invited as tourists. However, six per cent admitted they knew they were entering the UAE for prostitution.
 
The report warns: “Trafficking is a thriving global business that generates billions of dollars and accounts for millions of victims each year.
 
“It is also linked to other organised crimes such as human smuggling, drug trafficking and money laundering.” The report authors added: “The findings also warned of a rise in the use of the internet to lure victims to the UAE, including two cases in 2012 where the victims were misled through the use of information technology tools.”

In one case, a pimp used a website to lure three Latin American women to Dubai and then forced them into prostitution. The man was one of 149 traffickers prosecuted last year, according to the report compiled by the human trafficking committee, which is part of the Ministry for Federal National Council Affairs.

In another case, a Filipina was befriended by a compatriot on facebook. The new ‘friend’ promised her a job in Dubai and then forced her into prostitution. Two people were arrested in that case. In all, UAE prosecutors won 91 convictions throughout the country last year.

The committee also announced a new strategy to deal with trafficking that will be called ‘The Five Ps’ - prevention, prosecu¬tion, punishment, protection, promotion of international cooperation.

The report conc¬ludes the government “has made significant progress in a short period of time, but realises that much more needs to be done”.
 
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