womens views on news

Posted by Alexandra Barker on March 3, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Summary of story from The National 03.03.11

The Dubai police said this week that more female officers are needed to deal with the increasing number of human trafficking cases in the country.
Last year, 35 cases of human trafficking went to public prosecution, an increase of more than one third. The majority of the 61 victims in last year’s cases were women.
At a two-day workshop on the role of woman in combating human trafficking, organised by Dubai police in co-ordination with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, deputy head of police, Maj Gen al Mazeina, said human trafficking requires more proactive women.
Women, he said, ’are better positioned to deal with this crime, because of its sensitive nature, and because most victims are women.’
The workshop provided training in local and international prevention strategies, and, by looking at past cases, examined the challenges faced when bringing human trafficking cases to trial .
The aim is to enhance the skills of female law enforcement officers and those working in trafficking shelters.
Zahra Abdul al Hamid, a policewomen who attended the workshop said, she did not know much about this crime and many of her colleagues could not distinguish between a human trafficking victim and prostitution.
Last year 88 out of the 255 people who received training were women.
Since the federal law on combating human trafficking was passed in 2006, law enforcements officials in Dubai have become more aware of the crime, and aware of the vital role that female officers play.