BAHRAIN: TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT DELIVERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000789 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2015 TAGS: OPRC KCRM KWMN PHUM PREL SMIG BA SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT DELIVERED TO MFA REF: A. SECSTATE 100432 ¶B. SECSTATE 98109 Classified By: A/DCM Helen H. Hahn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) PolOff delivered the 2005 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assistant Undersecretary for Coordination and Follow Up Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa June 1. (Note: Per Ref A, post delivered the TIP Report June 1 because the GOB and Embassy are closed June 2 and 3. PolOff requested that the GOB keep a close hold on the report until it is released in Washington June 3. End Note.) Sheikh Abdul Aziz said he was not surprised that Bahrain moved down to the Tier 2 Watch List. He pledged to transmit the TIP report to the inter-ministerial TIP taskforce and include a cover letter recommending that the GOB move quickly on implementing anti-TIP measures. ¶2. (C) Sheikh Abdul Aziz commented on several recommendations in the report. He said he expected a government-run shelter for TIP victims to open in 4-8 weeks, but expressed frustration with the Ministries of Interior and Social Affairs for dragging their feet in this effort. On prosecuting TIP offenders, he acknowledged that the Ministry of Justice needed major reform and said that cases of violence, especially against foreign workers, should take priority and be dealt with quickly. He added that the Ministry of Justice needs to keep better statistics on trafficking, especially given that the 2006 TIP Report will require more detailed data from countries. Sheikh Abdul Aziz reported that a special labor court would be created soon and would hopefully solve some judicial-related TIP problems. When asked about IOM's registration, Sheikh Abdul Aziz stated that he had no new information and indicated that the GOB intended to address the issues IOM would focus on, but did not necessarily need IOM in Bahrain to do this. PolOff responded that IOM had extensive experience working on TIP issues and could be a resource for GOB ministries overburdened with other work pressures. MONROE