SHARJAH // Police have warned about pornographic movies that show sex offenders how to lure young victims are being distributed in the emirate.
Officers have confiscated films that show how children can be lured with sweets or money and investigations have revealed that these movies are being distributed among labourers and bachelors living in industrial areas. A police spokesperson said a number of people had been arrested.
"We have found out that some of the prohibited movies were smuggled from an Asian country. But some of the movies were made in the UAE by gang members who were using a secret location for illegal activities," said Colonel Sultan Abdullah Al Khayal, director of media and public retentions at Sharjah Police.
"We have witnessed an increasing number of sexual harassment cases and such prohibited movies can be a strong reason leading to the targeting of children."
A report prepared by Sharjah Police's Organised Crimes Section discovered that many of the sexual harassment cases reported in the emirate involved children who had been targeted and assaulted in elevators or poorly lit areas in residential neighbourhoods.
"Watching such movies for long times makes the viewer addicted and willing to practice what they watch in reality. They usually find children an easy target," said Col Al Khayal.
"Many countries, including the UAE, apply hefty penalties to offenders and people who trade in these movies. They are immediately referred to court.
"Parents must provide adequate and safe information about sex to their children in a way that ensures they can figure out these dangers."
Police are seeking help from members of the public to stop these movies being circulated.
Parents of young children are urged not to allow them to talk or interact with strangers. They should not stay away from home for long periods of time and should not visit supermarkets or groceries alone.
"Children have to be protected while working to curb negative practices that endanger them," said Col Al Khayal.
ykakande@thenational.ae
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.