G/TIP VISIT A SUCCESS: UAEG STRESSES COMMITMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000496

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G/TIP, INL, DRL, PRM, NEA/RA AND NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/08
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB TC
SUBJECT: G/TIP VISIT A SUCCESS: UAEG STRESSES COMMITMENT
AND COOPERATION IN COMBATTING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

REF: ABU DHABI 415


1. (U) Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba for
Reasons 1.5(B) and (D).


2. (U) This message contains an action recommendation: See
paragraph 9.


3. (SBU) SUMMARY: G/TIP Sally Neumann and NEA/RA Barbara
Keary visited the UAE (both Abu Dhabi and Dubai) from 22-26
January to engage with Emirati officials on the issue of
trafficking in persons (TIP),discuss current Emirati
actions to combat it, and recommend other actions for UAEG
consideration. The visitors met with policymakers from the
Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Justice, Health
and Labor and officials from the Dubai Police Department.
The visitors also attended a camel race and discussed labor
issues with foreign diplomats from those countries with the
highest numbers of foreign workers resident in the UAE.
The UAEG welcomed this opportunity to speak first-hand
about what it has been doing to combat TIP and engage with
USG experts on additional steps the UAE can take to curtail
this trade in people. Across the board, Emirati officials
stressed that the UAEG is committed to fighting TIP and
requested training to assist the UAEG in detecting,
monitoring and combating this transnational crime, which
they have acknowledged is both a blight on the UAE's
reputation and a threat to its national security. END
SUMMARY.


4. (SBU) G/TIP Sally Neumann and NEA/RA Barbara Keary
visited the United Arab Emirates from 1/22-26 to discuss
trafficking in persons and the UAEG's efforts to monitor
and combat it. On Thursday 22 January, Neumann and Keary
attended a camel race sponsored by the Emirates Heritage
Club. On Saturday 24 January, the visitors met separately
in Abu Dhabi with officials from the Office of H.H.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shaykh Hamdan Bin
Zayid Al Nahyan, officials from the Ministry of Interior,
and officials from the Ministry of Justice. The visitors
also that day discussed foreign labor issues with foreign
diplomats from the Embassies of India, Sri Lanka,
Philippines, Bangladesh and Indonesia. (Note: The
Pakistani diplomat invitee declined because the Pakistani
Prime Minister was in town on an official visit. End note.)
On Sunday 25 January, our visitors met in Abu Dhabi and
then Dubai with officials from the Ministry of Health,
officials from the Ministry of Labor, and officials from
the Dubai Police Department. (Meetings and events to be
reported septels.)

UAEG OFFICIALS ACROSS THE BOARD ACKNOWLEDGE TIP,
STRESS COMMITMENT TO FIGHT IT AND ASK FOR USG ASSISTANCE
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) The Emiratis, from MinState Shaykh Hamdan down,
welcomed the G/TIP visit and the opportunity to discuss
with our visitors what the UAEG has been doing to combat
TIP and to engage with USG experts on additional steps the
UAE can take to curtail this trade in people (reftel). The
UAEG's positive attitude to this visit was demonstrated by
the early commitment to meetings and by the attendance and
number of high-level policymakers at our official meetings.
All Ministry meetings were led by Emiratis at U/S or Asst
U/S level and attended by additional, working level,
Emirati officials.


6. (SBU) Across the board, our Emirati interlocutors began
the meetings by acknowledging that TIP exists in the UAE,
primarily in the areas of child camel jockeys and women.
They also all stressed that the UAEG rom the top down
(see reftel) -- is committed to combating this
transnational crime that is also a matter of humanitarian
concern to the UAEG senior leadership.


7. (SBU) Officials at the Ministries of Interior and
Justice reiterated earlier requests for training programs
to help the UAEG in its efforts to detect, monitor and
combat trafficking in persons. Ministry of Labor officials
also requested training and technical assistance in labor
inspections. Ministry of Interior officials further
requested that the USG assist in the organization of a
regional conference on trafficking in persons to discuss
strategies and best practices on determining the scope and
extent of the problem as well as methods to monitor and
combat and avenues for inter-governmental cooperation and
coordination.


8. (C) COMMENT: This TIP visit echoes the success and
productivity of the U.S.-UAE Strategic Dialogue held in
Washington, D.C. in November 2002. All official
interlocutors were well prepared and eager to discuss the
government's actions in this area -- no doubt motivated by
the UAEG senior leadership's desire to improve its record
on this issue. The Emiratis understand that we can only
report on information that we have, and have promised to
provide requested statistics and information relating to
their efforts to fight TIP. The visit was enlightening in
that our interlocutors provided information on programs of
which we were previously unaware and also encouraging
because they were willing to discuss their current and
contemplated actions openly in the spirit of cooperation
and coordination. END COMMENT.


9. (C) ACTION RECOMMENDATION: The Emiratis have
repeatedly requested training to improve the UAEG's efforts
to detect, monitor and combat TIP. As the 2003 Report
deadline approaches, we should be as responsive to these
requests as possible. We recommend that the Department
provide information on training programs in the areas of
TIP prevention, prosecution and victim assistance so that
we may forward it to the UAEG for consideration. We also
recommend that G/TIP consider seriously the UAEG's request
for a USG-organized regional conference on TIP, which the
UAEG will no doubt offer to host. END ACTION
RECOMMENDATION.


10. (U) Post POC on TIP is Poloff Marlene Menard at
menardmm2@state.gov.

WAHBA