Business & Money | Tuesday 9 June, 2015 12:30 am |

A delegation from the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, headed by Munif bin Hajes Al Harbi, Director of Wage Protection Department at the Saudi Ministry of Labor, currently on a visit the UAE, was briefed on the Ministry of Interior’s experience and best practices in the area of anti-human trafficking, protection of victims, and police procedures in this regard.

The Saudi delegation met with Brigadier Ahmed Mohammed Nehkairah, Head of Human Rights Department and Head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Committee at the Ministry of Interior, on Monday at the ministry's headquarters. During the meeting, both parties discussed a number of topics of mutual interest, as well as ways to promote cooperation and coordination in the fight against human trafficking.  They also discussed ways to exchange expertise, information, and best practices in order to combat human trafficking crimes.

Brigadier Ahmed Nehkairah highlighted the UAE’s early commitment to preserve human beings’ dignity.  “The UAE has made significant efforts to combat human trafficking crimes. These efforts were highly appraised and commended by the international community and the various human rights organizations,” he said. He also noted that the promulgation of Federal Law No. 51 of 2006 on combating human trafficking, which includes the establishment of the National Committee on Combating Human Trafficking, was the start of the official UAE efforts to combat this heinous crime.

Brigadier Ahmed Nehkairah also underscored the keenness of the Ministry of Interior to strengthen international cooperation and coordination with international organizations, governmental and non-governmental organizations and international bodies, to help eradicate human trafficking crimes.

He indicated that the Ministry of Interior has adopted a set of measures to curb such crimes; such as organizing workshops, training courses and symposia, with a view to spread knowledge and raise awareness among police officers, regarding the implementation of the law on combating human trafficking crimes.

For his part, Munif bin Hajes Al Harbi, Director of Wage Protection Department at the Saudi Ministry of Labor, praised the Ministry of Interior’s efforts in the field of anti-human trafficking. He noted that this meeting aims at boosting cooperation and coordination between both parties, in addition to exchanging expertise, availing of the UAE’s experience in this area, and reviewing the Kingdom’s experience in the field of combating human trafficking crimes, in order to come up with integrated insights to address issues of human trafficking.

For his part, Colonel Ali Mohammed Al Shehhi, Deputy Head of the Human Rights Department, gave a brief presentation on the Ministry of Interior’s efforts to combat human trafficking and protect victims, as well as the security measures and procedures taken by the police in this regard, and its future initiatives. Towards the end of the meeting, commemorative shields and gifts were exchanged between both parties.

The meeting was attended by Brigadier Khamis Al Ka'bi, Deputy Chairman of the Committee; Colonel Ali Mohammed Al Shehhi, Deputy Head of the Human Rights Department; a number of officers at the Human Rights Department, the Ministry of Interior; along with Majed bin Abdel Khalek Al Shahri, Head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Department, and members of the Saudi delegation.