Human trafficking: Dubai's worst nightmare

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Human trafficking remains to be one of our biggest crimes in the Gulf, with little to no awareness campaigns or activism revolving around it. Recently PBS Frontline share with us an extremely alarming video which really puts a human face to this major crime. I urge everyone to watch it in order to see the severity of this issue, which is increasing on a daily basis.

Here is an abstract of the related article:

Dubai: Night Secrets
The oldest profession in the newest playground

Four years ago, I began a photo project on the sex trafficking of young women in Eastern Europe. I interviewed and photographed girls who had escaped. Some had been trafficked to Turkey and Russia. Others were taken as far as the United Arab Emirates, lured by the promise of legitimate jobs and a brighter future. Once they arrived in the new country, they were priced and sold, and their documents taken away. The young women told me they were forced to service mechanics, soldiers, priests, butchers, tourists, and even U.N. personnel who were supposed to protect them.

Major kudos to Mimi Chakarova for doing this.

This is possibly one of the hardest crimes to tackle due to the fact that it’s a highly secretive operation. Pimps are diverse and are located worldwide. Clients include people from all kinds of professions and social class. There is no target, it seems that there is no effective strategy other than awareness, nothing. The least we can do is spread the word so I hope that whoever is reading this is interested enough to do so.

For more information and relevant content, check out Sexual Terrorism.