From correspondents in New York, United States, 09:31 AM IST

The UN general assembly has hailed the steps taken by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to support the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT), WAM news agency reported Thursday.

'Delegates to the UN general assembly debate on human trafficking have expressed their commendations to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan for his generous donation of $15 million to set up UN.GIFT," said Anwar Mohammed Gargash, the UAE minister of state for foreign affairs and chairman of National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking.

'The UAE's anti-human trafficking measures fully share in the UN's priorities of raising awareness, promoting international partnerships and collectively addressing this phenomenon,' he added.

The minister said that the UAE had been a committed partner in UN.GIFT and has contributed actively to this initiative by taking a number of legislative and policy measures to prevent and combat human trafficking.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)