TIP REPORT NARRATIVE AND DEMARCHE DELIVERED

UNCLAS MANAMA 000940

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INL/G/TIP, DRL/PHD, NEA/ARP,
AND NEA/PI
CAIRO FOR STEVE BONDY
LONDON FOR ETHAN GOLDRICH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM KFRD KMPI KWMN PHUM PREF SMIG BA
SUBJECT: TIP REPORT NARRATIVE AND DEMARCHE DELIVERED

REF: A. SECSTATE 126730


B. 03 MANAMA 3015


1. POL/ECON Chief delivered ref a country narrative and
talking points regarding the 2004 Trafficking in Persons
(TIP) report to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assistant
Undersecretar Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa on
June 15, 2004. Shaikh Abdul Aziz, who chairs the GOB
interministerial TIP Committee, expressed satisfaction with
Bahrain's Tier Two ranking. P/E Chief remarked that the
report emphasized statistics on prosecution, prevention and
investigation. Shaikh Abdul Aziz said he would convene GOB's
inter-ministerial committee to highlight this characteristic
and ensure that statistics are gathered for next year's
report.


2. Shaikh Abdul Aziz mentioned that on June 14 the Lower
Criminal Court heard abused housemaid Anita Verma's case and
that her employer admitted that she physically abused Anita.
(see ref b) Shaikh Abdul Aziz is hopeful that a conviction
is forthcoming. The press reported that the court adjourned
until July 4.


3. PolOff informed Shaikh Abdul Aziz that Post secured a
MEPI-funded small grant to train worker abuse hotline
telephone operators at the Ministry of Labor and Social
Affairs (MOLSA) and volunteers of the Bahrain Centre for
Human Rights Migrant Workers Group. This training is planned
for Fall 2004. Shaikh Abdul Aziz told EmbOffs he was very
pleased to see that MOLSA and the Migrant Workers Group will
be trained together.
WILLIAMSON