FILIPINOS and other foreign workers are warned of human trafficking syndicates targeting the United Arab Emirates because it is an easy transit point and destination owing to its fast-paced development.
UAE, to combat the menace, has mobilized concerned entities while turning to all forms of social media as it seeks to create awareness campaign for groups most vulnerable to human trafficking.
At the forefront of this move is the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children which has done precisely the awareness campaign under the slogan “Be Aware.”
DFWAC director-general Afra Al Basti said they have called on members of the community to help spread awareness about human trafficking through their interaction on the campaign’s hashtag #BeAware.
She also said inquiries on the matter can also be done via help line number 800 111.
The campaign is part of the foundation’s contribution to combat human trafficking along with other entities at the UAE National Committee, said Al Basti.
It raises awareness through the media by broadcasting messages in different languages, including Arabic, English and Urdu, on different radio stations over a six-month period.
Awareness messages are also available on social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The good news is that the foundation received only three victims of human trafficking from different nationalities in the first half of 2016, which is 75 per cent lower than the number of victims reported in the same period last year, Al Basti said.
UAE is home to thousands of expats, including over 500, 000 Filipinos, who have been thriving on the country’s growing economy.