Dubai brings sexual abuse of children into the open

Dubai campaign seeks to address the sexual abuse of children.

Although the number of children affected cannot be verified, it is believed that there has been a rise of cases of abused children in the UAE. On Thursday, 1st April, in attempts to create awareness, the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children launches a month-long Protect Childhood Campaign in schools, businesses and malls to speak with people about what they can do to protect children. 

Rights of the Child: abuse on the internet

Children are one of the most vulnerable groups in the world. Although their rights should be actively protected, often these rights are far from being respected. 

In efforts to fight child abuse on the internet the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has joined a group of international law enforcement agencies and plans to eventually prohibit anyone with a record for paedophilia from entering the country. According to The National, the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT), established in 2003 to fight online child abuse, aims to dismantle global paedophile networks, co-ordinate cover internet investigations, share and develop intelligence and target sex offenders. As a member, the Ministry of Interior will focus on spreading awareness about online child abuse, introducing and enforcing legislation, joining global operations, developing monitoring tools and establishing a national child helpline. Major Gen Nasser al Naimi, the secretary general of Minister of Interior's office, who represents the UAE on the VGT, said he believed the partnership would "reinforce the country's position to protect the rights of the child".

Child pornography on the internet is a form of sexual exploitation using media. Children are victims on over 4 million sites, with an increase, and predators are increasingly connected. Still some countries only take into the age of consent and have not enforced protection measures. This can be contributed to lack of information available and cost. Strategies to combat child pornography are lacking and weak, they lack cooperation and coordination between developed and developing countries, and child pornography continues to develop and is becoming a very profitable industry. Considering child porn is a crime and a grave violation of the rights of child, States are recommended to adopt legislation such as that done by the UAE. 

UN Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

Increasing Awareness on Trafficking: UAE

Despite the various instruments implemented to combat the international sex trade, and programs to create awareness, the number of victims trafficked has risen. In the past decade, approximately 30 million women and children have reportedly been trafficked from Southeast Asia alone for sexual exploitation and sweatshop labor.

According to The National, Dubai is attempting to crack down on trafficking. For instance, law officers are being urged to scrutinize for possible cases of sex trafficking.

A training programme run by the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT) and led by Paul Holmes on behalf of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has, over the past four days, focused on identifying, helping and protecting victims.

According to Fiona el Assiuty, the project manager of the IOM's regional multi-action programme, more awareness about trafficking for sexual exploitation is needed. She said that the UAE has taken "huge steps" in efforts to combat trafficking over the past five years, including the introduction of federal anti-trafficking legislation, as well as the establishment of the NCCHT and shelter for victims. "It is clear that the UAE is sincere in its efforts to combat the phenomenon."

According to Mrs. Gulnara Shahinian, the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, forced labor is not addressed effectively by member states. This is definitely a step in the right direction! One can hope that other countries will follow suit.