JUNE 28 DCM MEETING WITH DR. MOHAMED MATTAR REGARDING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002041 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR G/TIP, NEA/PPD E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2017 TAGS: PHUM PGOV KPAO PREL KWWN EG SUBJECT: JUNE 28 DCM MEETING WITH DR. MOHAMED MATTAR REGARDING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT Classified By: Ambassador Francis Ricciardone for reasons 1.4(b)(d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On June 28, the DCM met with Dr. Mohamed Mattar for an update on his USAID-funded research project into human trafficking in Egypt. Dr. Mattar is an internationally recognized trafficking expert and the Executive Director of the Protection Project at Johns Hopkins University. He briefed the DCM on recent developments on trafficking in Egypt following release of the TIP report, as well as recommendations for future action. Dr. Mattar expects to submit the final copy of his study by the end of the month. -------------- Recent Developments -------------- ¶2. (C) On June 25-27, the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM),an Egyptian governmental agency, hosted the third regional conference on "Violence Against Women" during which trafficking was specifically highlighted. On October 28, the Arab League will host a workshop with Johns Hopkins University on the status of anti-trafficking legislation in Arab countries. (NOTE: Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia are all currently drafting anti-trafficking legislation.) On October 29, the Suzanne Mubarak Center for Women's Health and Regional Development will host a conference on violence against women, focusing on trafficking in Egypt and the Arab world. On November 5, the Arab Council for Childhood and Development (ACCD) will hold meetings to discuss child labor and trafficking. On November 12, the Protection Project will host a conference on incorporating trafficking into human rights curricula in universities. -------------- Challenges to Curbing Human Trafficking in Egypt -------------- ¶3. (C) Mattar suggested that the 2007 TIP Report is unique in that it goes beyond Egypt's role in transnational trafficking networks and emphasizes the domestic nature of the problem. Currently the GOE lacks a reporting system to document most trafficking cases and implementing legislation remains stymied by disagreement on a sufficiently inclusive definition for trafficking. Statistical analysis as well as legal prosecution remains extremely difficult. According to the UN, early marriage is considered a form of child trafficking. However, since marriageable age is not specified by Islamic law or international conventions, establishing the legal marrying age in Egypt has proved difficult. Police complicity in human trafficking, especially in instances of prostitution and child labor, is a problem. The Egyptian perception to the trafficking issue in general and the TIP report specifically is extremely defensive, as was made evident by the immediate backlash in the press against it. This has led many Egyptians to view the report as "a set of accusations rather than a diplomatic tool for engagement". Mattar said this was more pronounced in Egypt than in the full Tier 3, where many statistics were found. -------------- Recommendations -------------- ¶4. (C) Dr. Mattar plans to include a number of key recommendations in his trafficking study on Egypt: - Advocate for anti-trafficking legislation: he cited Ambassador Moushira Khattab's amendments to the child legal code, include raising the minimum age of marriage, raising the criminal responsibility age, and effectively addressing child labor. - Create a self-assessment mechanism similar to the already-existing National Council for Human Rights, or perhaps as part of the NCHR: the GOE lacks the capacity to report on its own actions, so officials should be trained to effectively investigate and prosecute trafficking cases. - Incorporate human trafficking education into existing social and human rights programs funded by USAID. - Focus media attention on trafficking: efforts to engage the Egyptian public on issues of human trafficking include creating an observatory to coordinate with journalists and the DCM recommended utilizing television talk shows as a forum for discussing the issue. - Incorporate trafficking challenges into human rights curricula: host workshops with university professors and other outreach efforts with educational institutions. - Increase and improve research and data collection. Mattar's full report will by completed by the end of July. RICCIARDONE