A/HRC/10/29 a very advanced stage. Other measures would include the signing of memoranda of understanding and the reinforcement of cooperation with labour-exporting countries, and a pilot project focusing on the difficulties faced by expatriate workers. The Government had also created an agency to monitor complaints about unpaid wages and to settle wage-related conflicts involving expatriate workers. 423. On recommendations 16 and 23, the Universal Periodic Review Committee, in coordination with the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, would strengthen Federal Law 51 and be part of bilateral and international efforts to combat this crime. Other steps included: (a) In January 2009, the Cabinet issued orders to increase the number of prosecutors to the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking; (b) In January 2009, 80 police and judicial officials held a brainstorming session to discuss the national strategy on human trafficking; (c) 15 law enforcement officials were trained abroad. These efforts are making a difference: at least 15 cases, with a minimum of 6 convictions, were registered in 2008 as opposed to 10 cases in 2007; (d) The Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, released in February 2009 by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, was funded through a donation from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; (e) On child camel jockeys, a matter that the United Arab Emirates considers closed, the Ministries of Social Affairs and the Interior, in coordination with the Special Committee for the Rehabilitation of Camel Jockeys and UNICEF, continued the follow-up with concerned countries; (f) The United Arab Emirates had decided to invite the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, to visit the country. 424. On recommendations 13 and 30, the United Arab Emirates would study ways of further protecting women’s rights, in coordination with relevant authorities, especially the General Women’s Union. The Ministry of Social Affairs was also taking steps to ensure that women-related human rights issues were respected, particularly by launching awareness-raising programmes. Furthermore, resources for the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children and the Abu Dhabi Shelter, established in 2007 and 2008 respectively, had increasingly been made available and utilized as well. 425. With regard to recommendations 11 and 12 pertaining to children’s rights, the Ministry of Social Affairs, in consultation with the concerned departments and civil society organizations, was studying a draft law to guarantee better protection for children, including through the creation of juvenile justice courts. In addition, an initiative to create the first local civil society organization to protect children’s rights had recently been announced, and a department for the welfare of orphans had already been set up. 426. With regard to recommendations 1, 17 and 20, a new draft law on media freedom, approved in February 2009 by the Federal National Council, protected journalists from being imprisoned. The 45-article draft law, which was awaiting constitutional clearance, replaced the 1980 law and specifically referred in article 2 to the freedom of expression and opinion, whether written, verbal or by other means; and, in article 3, to the fact that there was no prior censorship of licensed media. The law did not make it mandatory for journalists to reveal their sources, and media offences would be dealt with as civil cases, not criminal. 427. On the development of remote regions mentioned in recommendations 15, 26 and 33, the Government had implemented a number of vital projects. A committee, set up in GE.09-17451 153

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