INTERIM TIP ASSESSMENT: ABU DHABI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 001891

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, INL, DRL, L/DL, NEA/RA, AND NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB UN AE
SUBJECT: INTERIM TIP ASSESSMENT: ABU DHABI

REFS: A) STATE 147732
B) ABU DHABI 1883 (MOJ TRAINING)
C) ABU DHABI 1820 (UAE REPORT)
D) ABU DHABI 1687 (AMB LAGON VISIT)
E) ABU DHABI 1542 (ACTION PLAN WITH MFA)
F) DUBAI 411 (NATIONAL TIP COMMITTEE)

Sensitive but unclassified.


1. (SBU) Summary: This cable responds to ref A request for interim
assessment of UAEG efforts toward advancement of TIP goals. As
confirmed by Ambassador Lagon's September visit (ref D),the UAE
seeks to gain respect for its compassionate treatment of foreign
workers and build institutions to systemically address TIP, which the
National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking has cited as "one of
the vilest of crimes." The UAE Federal anti-trafficking law
classifies human trafficking as an aspect of organized crime. Steps
have been taken to improve victim identification, increase criminal
investigations, and ensure fair treatment of victims. The UAEG has
made several requests for training by USG-recommended experts (refs B
and C) and acknowledges that much work will be required to achieve
its anti-TIP objectives. Responses below include information from
the UAEG anti-trafficking committee and address the categories noted
in ref A, para six. End summary.

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Victim Identification
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2. (SBU) In September, 2007, a series of training programs for
police officers and public prosecutors got underway, with the goal of
assuring more effective identification of human trafficking
violations and respectful treatment of victims. The training is
indicative of an ongoing UAEG effort to sensitize officials to the
TIP phenomenon and fully implement anti-TIP legislation. Separately,
20 law school graduates are starting a special two-year training
course to gain insight into laws dealing with cyber crimes, organized
crime, terrorist activities, human rights, and TIP. The anti-TIP
effort is an essential component of that program to groom future
judicial officials with the aim of improving the speed and efficiency
of the courts and investigative organs in dealing with this set of
crimes. Efforts are also ongoing to conduct local and regional
workshops and seminars to train police, immigration and airport
staff, health and social services staff, educators, and the public at
large.

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Increasing Prosecutions
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3. (SBU) Since passing an anti-TIP law and creating the National
Committee for Combating Human trafficking (ref F),the UAEG effort to
coordinate the work of federal ministries involved in aspects of TIP
has greatly improved. The UAEG seeks to ensure strict enforcement of
the law and continues to train judges to increase the number of
prosecutions. This long-term endeavor is designed to show
quantitative results over time. Police have increased raids on
locations suspected of a role in human trafficking and refer cases to
public prosecutors. Police are also monitoring travel companies with
a potential role in trafficking women. The licenses of companies
involved in TIP are in some cases cancelled, as was the case with at
least two night clubs exploiting women in Dubai which were shut down
earlier this year.

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Victim treatment
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4. (SBU) The UAE is a conservative society in which prostitution --
which represents a significant portion of the TIP problem -- is a
grave offense. While dealing firmly with anyone voluntarily
practicing prostitution (including jail time and deportation),the
UAEG has stated its firm intent to offer counseling and
rehabilitation services to victims forced into prostitution, while
also punishing the traffickers behind the crime. The UAEG is working
to protect victims (not jailing or hastily deporting them) and local
authorities try to provide shelter for victims separate from jail
facilities (Dubai being an example). Under victim assistance
programs, the UAEG works with foreign embassies and NGO's in
coordinating the sheltering and subsequent travel of victims.
Sensitive treatment of victims is a work in progress, but a work
which has shown clear and sustained progress in 2007.

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Final Notes
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5. (SBU) As the UAE grapples with a very large foreign labor
population, it works methodically to align laws and practice with
accepted international norms. The effort takes time in a nation

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where the foreign population greatly outnumbers the local citizenry.
The UAEG announced plans in October, 2007, to draft a new law to
regulate domestic workers (maids) on similar terms with other
laborers, for example, and is looking to implement employer insurance
requirements, electronic wage payment, and accommodation standards in
recognition of the need to standardize fair treatment of workers.
This growing recognition of the nation's obligation to protect the
vulnerable helps complement the UAE's direct efforts to combat TIP,
while driving up its capacity to identify problems and implement
practical solutions.

SISON