GOB MOVES FORWARD ON SHELTER, ANTI-TIP LEGISLATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000729

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G/TIP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PHUM SMIG KHUM KWMN PGOV PREL BA REGION
HUMRIT, ROW
SUBJECT: GOB MOVES FORWARD ON SHELTER, ANTI-TIP LEGISLATION

REF: KUWAIT 1345

Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) In an April 26 conversation with PolOff, Chief of
Social Welfare Section and Ministry of Social Development
representative to Bahrain's interministerial anti-TIP Task
Force Afaf Ahmed Al Aseeri reported that the Minister of
Social Development Dr. Fatima Al Balooshi had decided on one
of two proposed locations for a government shelter for
victims of trafficking and abuse. A Ministry of Interior
team inspected the facilities and location from a perspective
of safety and security and approved the facilities. The
Ministry has discussed with the owner needed modifications to
the property, for example, the expansion of parking capacity,
and the owner has been accommodating.


2. (C) The Ministry of Justice representative on the Task
Force, Undersecretary Shaikh Khaled Bin Ali Al Khalifa has
taken on the task of drafting anti-trafficking legislation
for the GOB. Through consultations with world-renowned
trafficking experts such as Italian judge Maria Grazia
Giammarinaro and Johns Hopkins University Protection Project
Director Dr. Mohamed Matar with American Bar Association
researchers and attorneys providing review and evaluation,
Shaikh Khaled has produced a quality draft which punishes
traffickers while protecting victims. Through the process
Shaikh Khaled has also consulted with officials in the
Ministries of Labor, Interior, Social Development, and
Foreign Affairs to incorporate their input so that future
obstacles are minimized.


3. (C) Minister of Justice Dr. Mohamed Ali Al Sitri's
announcement at a November 2005 meeting of GCC ministers of
justice about Bahrain's start on anti-trafficking legislation
drew much interest from member countries and a suggestion
that it become the basis of GCC-wide anti-trafficking
legislation. As the Bahrain draft neared its completion, it
was circulated at a March meeting of GCC officials in Riyadh
(see reftel). Participants were very pleased with the draft;
they requested edits that take into account each country's
ministry and process nomenclature and that Bahrain, as the
shepherd of the process, incorporate these edits and present
the final version at the next meeting of justice ministers in
November.

MONROE