Enhancing cooperation, India-UAE hold bilateral talks on prevention of human trafficking

Abu Dhabi, August 8: India held bilateral talks with the UAE on enhancing cooperation to prevent human trafficking, especially the trafficking of women and children between the two countries.The meeting formulated some Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to address issues of human trafficking.

 

The talks were held during the first Joint Committee Meeting on the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Combating Trafficking in Persons signed between India and the UAE. The two countries had signed the MoU on human trafficking in January 2017 during the India visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The pact was announced after Sheikh Mohamed’s meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the eve of the Indian Republic Day celebrations where Sheikh Mohamed was the chief guest.

In a joint statement at the conclusion of Sheikh Mohamed’s visit, the two leaders described the MoU as an important step forward in developing joint strategies to combat threats of human trafficking. Both the countries later formed a joint task force to work together to prevent and fight human trafficking and a high level delegation from the Government of India visited the UAE on Sunday and Monday for the first meeting of the joint committee.

That the Indian delegation headed by Punya Salila Srivastava, joint secretary for Women’s Safety at the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, reviewed the MoI’s experience and efforts in countering human trafficking, The UAE Ministry of Interior (MoI) stated on its website.

The delegation also viewed the security procedures and measures taken by the MoI in countering this crime according to the applied laws in the country, the ministry added.

The Indian delegation also visited an Ewa’a Shelter for Victims of Human Trafficking in Abu Dhabi and the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children in Dubai to understand the best practices being followed in the UAE. They also visited a Tadbeer centre in Dubai to see and understand the process of recruitment, training and visa formalities involved in the employment of domestic workers in the UAE.