UAEG RECOMMITS TO SCREENING AND PROTECTING TIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 001076

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR G/TIP, DRL, NEA/RA AND NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2016
TAGS: TAGS
SUBJECT: UAEG RECOMMITS TO SCREENING AND PROTECTING TIP
VICTIMS

REF: A. 05 DUBAI 5393


B. 05 ABU DHABI 4737

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Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON, REASONS 1.4 (
B) AND (D).


1. (C) Summary: Between March 17-19, Ambassador and CG Dubai
engaged senior-level UAEG officials to discuss TIP issues and
the importance of making a firm commitment to address the
specific problem of trafficking for the purpose of sexual
exploitation. Ambassador highlighted the need to identify
victims through systematic screening, greater reporting of
trafficking-related statistics, passing a comprehensive
trafficking law, and establishing a shelter for trafficking
victims. UAEG officials recommitted to addressing these
issues and pointed to recent actions in Dubai where formal
training and screening procedures have already been put in
place, and to the successful abolition of child trafficking
as camel jockeys and the repatriation of the victims, as
examples of their ongoing efforts. End Summary.

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MFA: More TIP Statistics Coming Soon
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2. (C) On March 17, Ambassador discussed TIP issues with
Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan (AbZ),
stressing the importance of the UAE continuing to address
trafficking issues with a special focus on sex trafficking.
AbZ acknowledged the importance of this focus and requested
that the Ambassador brief MFA U/S Rashid Abdullah al-Noaimi
further. On March 18, Ambassador and DRL DAS Erica
Barks-Ruggles met with U/S al-Noaimi to discuss among other
issues, the problem of trafficking in persons in the UAE.
The Ambassador told al-Noaimi that the Department was in the
process of reviewing TIP tier rankings, and noted that the
issue of sex trafficking continued to be a key issue. She
pressed the UAE to commit to screening all arrested
sex-workers to separate the prostitutes from actual
trafficking victims, stating that the police should be
working with the victims to obtain information that would
lead to arrests and prosecutions of the traffickers.
Ambassador reiterated the need for statistics of prosecutions
in the UAE and passed al-Noaimi a copy of a February
diplomatic note formally requesting this data. Al-Noaimi
indicated that these statistics should be possible to
compile, adding that the UAEG was already working with law
enforcement authorities to sensitize them on the difference
between criminals and victims, and then to provide victims
with help. (Note: On March 20, MFA Director for
International Organizations informed us that a fresh batch of
TIP statistics would be made available later this week. End
note.) Al-Noaimi stated that he believed the message was
getting across but asked the U.S. to push the issue with the
Ministry of Interior and the police. Ambassador replied that
she was asking the Consul General to talk with the Dubai
police on these same issues.


3. (C) Al-Noaimi inquired whether there had been any
agreement between the U.S. and the UAEG on any tasks or plan
of action regarding trafficking in persons. The Ambassador
furnished him with a copy of a draft work plan and mentioned
it would be helpful if, during her upcoming trip to
Washington, Minister of Economy Sheikha Lubna al-Qasimi could
offer any specifics on UAE efforts in this regard.

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Police: Screening Procedures In Place
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4. (C) On March 18, CG spoke with Brigadier Khamees
al-Muzeina of Dubai Criminal Investigations Division (CID)
about the operations of the new CID anti-trafficking unit
(ref A). Al-Muzeina reaffirmed that CID is currently
screening prostitutes in order to identify trafficking
victims saying "anytime we find a woman who has been forced
into prostitution, she is not deported like the others.
Instead, we work with her to develop a case against her boss,
who is taken to court and charged with running a house of
ill-repute." (Note: Al-Muzeina's comments confirm that
traffickers are often prosecuted under the charge of running
a brothel, which is in-line with the trafficking/prosecution
statistics that have been provided to the Embassy. It is
also noteworthy that the Dubai Police understanding of who is
a trafficking victim--"a woman who has been forced into
prostitution" is much narrower than our own. The difference
has been repeatedly highlighted to police contacts, with
limited effect. End Note.) On March 19, Arabic daily
"al-Ittihad" quoted Minister of Interior Sheikh Saif bin
Zayed al-Nahyan as saying "the UAE has solved the issue of
child jockeys 100%," adding that the UAEG has "developed an

ABU DHABI 00001076 002.2 OF 002


innovative mechanism to solve the (problem) of camel jockeys
and we have succeeded."

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Labor Minister Ready to Cooperate on TIP
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5. (C) In a March 18 meeting with DAS Barks-Ruggles and
Minister of Labor Dr. Ali bin Abdullah al-Ka'abi, Ambassador
again encouraged the UAEG to focus on trafficking problems
regarding domestic and sex workers. The Minister inquired
how the UAEG could stop sex trafficking. Ambassador urged
the UAEG to set up a systematic approach of police
investigation and subsequent prosecution of the sex
trafficker ringleaders, instead of merely deporting the
victims. Ambassador further encouraged the increased
prosecution of abusers of domestic workers.

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UAE Anti-TIP Committee Has Broad Mandate
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6. (C) On March 19, Ambassador raised the UAEG's
anti-trafficking efforts with National TIP Coordinator Yousef
al-Otaiba (director for international affairs in the Abu
Dhabi Crown Prince's Court). Ambassador highlighted the need
for formal screening procedures such as those currently in
place in Dubai (ref B) in order to identify trafficking
victims, making it clear that it is important for the
government to make a statement committing to this point.
Ambassador noted the need for additional prosecution
statistics and explained the importance of distinguishing
between prosecutions for prostitution-related activities and
trafficking. Al-Otaiba indicated that the National
Coordinating Committee on TIP that was originally established
to address the issue of camel jockeys would broaden its
mandate to include all forms of trafficking. Ambassador also
pressed for the passing of a comprehensive trafficking law
and the establishment of a trafficking victims shelter.

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Comment:
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7. (C) UAEG officials appear to be committed to addressing
the problem of trafficking in persons. Having eliminated the
trafficking of child camel jockeys into the country and
repatriating the victims at UAE expense, the Government is
just now recognizing the need to shift focus to the larger
issue of sex trafficking. Dubai, where most of the sex
trafficking originates, has already taken the lead in
screening for victims of trafficking both at ports-of-entry
as well as within the police stations (refs A, B). The slow
progress towards eradicating sex trafficking may reflect a
lack of understanding of the issue and the definitions of
trafficking by G/TIP standards. The UAEG could help its own
cause by maintaining and disseminating statistics that
reflect their anti-trafficking efforts. End Comment.
SISON