Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - United Arab Emirates (Ratification: 1982)

Articles 1(1), 2(1) and 25 of the Convention. Trafficking in persons. The Committee previously noted the Government’s reply to comments made by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (now the International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC) concerning the trafficking of women for the purposes of forced prostitution, in which reference was made to a 2002 report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) concerning trafficking in persons from Azerbaijan, where the United Arab Emirates was identified as one of the key countries of destination. The report described a number of individual cases and provided evidence which indicated that trafficking of women (not only from Azerbaijan, but also from the Russian Federation, Georgia and other countries) into the United Arab Emirates was a significant problem. The Committee noted that in its reply, the Government expressed its concern about this phenomenon and its willingness to address it through collaboration with the international and regional bodies concerned.

The Committee has noted with interest the adoption of the Federal Act No. 51 of 2006 concerning trafficking in human beings, which defines crimes related to human trafficking for the purpose of sexual and labour exploitation and provides for severe sanctions of imprisonment, including imprisonment for life in certain cases. The Act provides for the establishment of the National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, which shall be composed of the representatives of a number of ministries and institutions concerned and shall be responsible for the consideration and updating of the relevant legislation, elaboration of measures to combat human trafficking, including protection of victims and awareness raising, coordination between various government bodies, etc.

The Committee requests the Government to provide, in its next report, information on the application of Federal Act No. 51 in practice, indicating the penalties imposed on perpetrators and supplying copies of reports of the National Committee for Combating Trafficking referred to above. Please continue to provide information on measures taken or contemplated, both in legislation and in practice, to prevent, suppress and punish human trafficking, including prevention and protection measures. Having also noted previously the Government’s reference to penal provisions punishing the crimes of abduction, deprivation of liberty, enslavement and incitement to prostitution
(sections 341–346 and 347 of the Criminal Law), the Committee would appreciate it if the Government would provide information on the application of these provisions in practice, in connection with punishment of those responsible for the illegal exaction of forced labour, indicating measures taken to ensure that penalties imposed are really adequate and strictly enforced, as required by Article 25 of the Convention, and supplying copies of the relevant court decisions.