2005 ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT: OMAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000313

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM, IWI, NEA/RA, NEA/ARPI
DEPT PASS USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB MU
SUBJECT: 2005 ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT: OMAN

REF: STATE 273089


1. (SBU) The following responses are keyed to relevant
sections of reftel paras 18-21.

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PARA 18: OVERVIEW
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A. Oman is not a country of origin, transit, or destination
for internationally trafficked men, women or children.

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PARA 19: PREVENTION
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B. The Royal Oman Police (which encompasses Oman's
immigration, customs, and coast guard services) serves as the
lead agency for enforcement of immigration and labor laws, as
well as land and maritime border security. The Sultan's
Armed Forces have at times also taken action to prevent
illegal entry into the country by migrants. The Ministry of
Manpower oversees implementation of labor regulations,
including prohibitions against child labor. The Ministry of
Social Development oversees much of the government's programs
devoted to the welfare of women and children.


C. There have been no government-run anti-trafficking public
information or public education campaigns. The government
does publicize, however, its efforts to apprehend and
repatriate illegal migrants (primarily Pakistani and Iranian
nationals).


D. The Omani government actively promotes women's
participation in the economy. Primary and secondary
education is free for all students, and former gender
disparities in the student population at all levels have been
virtually eliminated. Women constitute just under 20 percent
of the private-sector workforce, but over 30 percent of the
public-sector workforce. The Sultan has appointed four women
to ministerial rank in his government.


E. The government has modest means to support prevention
programs. It is actively engaged in public awareness
campaigns against drug addiction and the spread of HIV/AIDS,
for instance, and has fostered a network of more than 41
local chapters of the Oman Women's Association. UNICEF has a
representative resident in Muscat, and more than 3,000 Omani
women serve as UNICEF volunteers. Were trafficking in
persons to become prevalent in Oman, the government would
have some means to support prevention programs.


F. The Omani government is working with other international
organizations, such as the United Nations, to promote
anti-trafficking legislation. According to local news
sources, within the reporting year, Oman sent official
delegations to a seminar entitled "Combating Trading in
Persons and Human Parts," and to the International Center for
Prevention of Crime in Austria to discuss, inter alia, the
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in
Persons and the Protocol Against Smuggling of Migrants by
Land, Air and Sea. The government regularly discusses issues
related to illegal migration with the governments of Yemen,
United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Iran.


G. The Omani government adequately monitors its borders and
migration patterns for evidence of trafficking in persons.
Oman cooperates with other states to interdict alien
smuggling, and has instituted a special visa regime
applicable to certain countries of concern (primarily in
Eastern Europe and Asia) designed to thwart the entry of
person deemed likely to engage in the sex trade. The
government has from time to time offered free passage for
migrants to return to their countries. Both the Sultan's
Armed Forces and the Royal Oman Police Coast Guard have
invested considerable resources to improve monitoring and
defense of its maritime and land borders, to include modern
patrol vessels, aircraft, and sensor equipment.

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PARA 20: INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS
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A. No new relevant legislation has been adopted since the
2004 report. However, the Basic Law of Oman (1996) prohibits
compulsory labor.


B. No changes.


C. No changes.

L. Child sex tourism does not exist in Oman.


M. The government has ratified ILO Convention 182 and ILO
Convention 29 and ratified the Optional Protocols to the
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on the sale of
children, child prostitution, and child pornography as well
as the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking
in Persons, especially women and children

-------------- -
PARA 21: PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS
-------------- -


B. The Omani government relies on foreign embassies and
charitable groups to tend to foreign nationals requiring
repatriation. The Omani government has underwritten most of
the costs of deporting more than 10,000 Pakistani migrants
annually (on average),as well as financing the construction
of a dedicated deportation detention facility. These illegal
migrants are not, however, believed to be victims of
trafficking.


G. No.



2. (SBU) Embassy POC for TIP is Pol/Econ Officer Cynthia
Plath, (968) 24-698-989, ext. 393; fax: (968) 24-694-355;
email: plathc@state.gov. Preparation time: FS-02: 3 hours;
FS-05: 5 hours.
BALTIMORE