COORDINATED GOK ANTI-TIP EFFORT UNDERWAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 002863 SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARPI, G/TIP E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2015 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KCRM KU SUBJECT: COORDINATED GOK ANTI-TIP EFFORT UNDERWAY REF: A. KUWAIT 2618 ¶B. STATE 108156 ¶C. KUWAIT 2417 ¶D. KUWAIT 1752 Classified By: CDA Matthew Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) During a June 26 meeting with Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MOSAL) Acting Undersecretary Mohammed Al-Kandari, the DCM presented the ref B action strategy and reiterated the 60-day grace period for Tier 3 countries like Kuwait. In reference to the strategy's first point, Al-Kandari said that the GOK had formed an inter-ministerial committee headed by MOSAL and composed of representatives from Commerce, Interior, Justice, and the Municipality of Kuwait to address specifically the treatment of domestics, one of two areas of concern highlighted in the 2005 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. Al-Kandari admitted that "we (the GOK) have to act very fast" to combat trafficking, recognizing the August 3 deadline to be considered for possible reclassification to Tier 2 Watch List. ¶2. (C) Also in attendance, Assistant Undersecretary Adnan Al-Omar addressed the underage camel jockey issue, the second of two TIP problem areas. According to Al-Omar, the use of child jockeys became more prevalent in Kuwait three years ago with many of the underage jockeys being family members of camel owners. He added that although the Public Authority for Youth and Sport has direct responsibility over camel racing, the Ministry has repeated its threat to dissolve the Kuwait Camel Racing Club if children are found to be racing. Al-Omar said that on June 24 he had been the guest on a local television program on the subject of child camel jockeys. ¶3. (C) The DCM asked that the GOK provide a comprehensive list of on-going, anti-TIP actions and advised that an official from G/TIP may visit in July; a meeting with the inter-ministerial committee would be useful. He suggested expanding the worker hotline established in May (ref D) to include complaints from domestics facing lack of payment or abuse. The DCM added that the U.S. can provide assistance in training the Kuwaiti judiciary and police in the necessary techniques to improve the GOK's ability to investigate and prosecute trafficking-related offenses. The need for a media campaign to increase Kuwaitis' awareness of the domestic labor exploitation problem was another DCM suggestion. ¶4. (C) The DCM requested that a follow-up meeting be scheduled in one week to assess progress on anti-TIP actions. Al-Kandari advised that more time would be needed and suggested a meeting after two weeks. The Ministry officials and DCM scheduled a July 10 meeting to discuss the committee's progress. ********************************************* Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website ********************************************* LEBARON