HEAD OF UAE TIP COMMITTEE SHARES PROGRESS REPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000173

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PASS TO G/TIP - Carla Menares Bury OR IO/T - COLEEN NEVILLE
DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, INL, DRL, L/DL, NEA/RA, AND NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: 02/05/2018
TAGS: PHUM ELAB PREL PGOV PREF SMIG KMPI KCRM KWMN AE
SUBJECT: HEAD OF UAE TIP COMMITTEE SHARES PROGRESS REPORT

REFS: A) 07 ABU DHABI 1891, B) 07 DUBAI 411, C) 06 ABU DHABI 4261, D)

ABU DHABI 135, E) SECSTATE 9008

Classified by CDA Martin Quinn, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

Summary
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1. (U) Charge d'Affaires, ADCM, and POLOFF met February 5 with UAE
Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs and head of
the UAE National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, Dr. Anwar
Gargash, to discuss the upcoming 2008 TIP report, TIP-specific
training, the Dubai and Abu Dhabi shelters for TIP victims, and the
UAE-sponsored Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT backed
by UAE funding). The UAE is keen to show progress and to move itself
to a higher tier rating. Following up on the U.S. offer to provide
TIP training, Gargash asked for experts to train police, prosecutors
and judges on TIP sensitivities and expressed hopes that eventually
more shelters would be opened in outlying areas like Ras Al Khaima
and Al Ain. The Charge delivered the ref E points. End summary.

2008 TIP Report
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2. (U) Dr. Gargash emphasized the magnitude of UAE's effort to tackle
TIP, acknowledging the great amount of work left to do, by saying
they are continually reviewing "are we doing enough?" He said that
gaps in the anti-TIP system are "not for lack of wanting" to do a
better job, but that it takes long-term effort to get all parties to
"buy in" to the goal. In addition to its desire to combat the
problem, and with the UAE's slip to last year's "Tier 2 Watch List"
designation, the UAE is keen to show progress and to move itself to a
higher rating. In April 2007 the UAEG formed the National Committee
to Combat Human Trafficking with Dr. Anwar Gargash charged to
spearhead UAE efforts to tackle the issue. The Committee appears
diligent about meetings and seeks to hold one almost every month. At
the February 5 meeting, Dr. Gargash was handed a list of questions
about TIP efforts in the past year that will help us with our TIP
report and promised a thorough reply (hopefully before the first
draft deadline at the end of February). He said he sees no stigma
attached to the fact that TIP exists in the UAE -- as it is a
persistent phenomenon in many countries -- and that shame is only
warranted "if nothing is done to improve the situation."

TIP Specific Training
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3. (C) First on Gargash's agenda was a follow-up question to
Ambassador Mark Lagon's September 2007 visit in which assistance was
offered toward UAE's TIP efforts. The offer to assist with training
has been on the minds of the Emiratis since that visit, Gargash
saying the need for training is endless and "open ended." The UAEG
has repeatedly asked for a better sense of how U.S. experts could
help train police, prosecutors and judges on TIP sensitivities. He
said he sees a critical need for sensitivity training for officials
to "look beyond" the surface of cases, requiring a "change of
mind-set" to "go beyond the classic mode of thinking." Gargash's
comments suggest the depth of his grasp of the problem, while
demonstrating the fact that such projects need time to be fully
developed.


4. (C) An example of UAE training requirements is a recent case in
which Post was asked by MOJ to provide TIP experts to teach American
techniques and to present actual case studies for a February 24-28
training for judges and prosecutors which will be held in Abu Dhabi
and Sharjah consecutively. Coordination of that training has been
cumbersome and issues of funding for USG travel complicate the
equation. The UAE continues to seek a list of training options the
U.S. might provide, particularly in the area of sensitizing police,
prosecutors, and judges to the intricacies of TIP so that they can be
on the lookout for its symptoms.


5. (C) The UAE is seeking case-specific experts with hands-on,
up-to-date, practical experience to train and sensitize its police,
investigators, prosecutors and judges to the dynamics involved in the
very complicated cases of victims who may have been trafficked into
the country. Gargash said traditionally prosecutors insist on taking
cases which are 100% rock solid to have a good track record of
winning convictions. He wants to encourage a new way of thinking in
which prosecutors understand the need to "explore" and "don't shy
away" just because a conviction is not assured. He looks for judges
to dig deeper and said this development in mind-set will take time.


6. (C) Comment: Post suggests a starter-list of 25 to 30 American
border agents, TIP prosecutors, activists, and judges who would be
willing to come, with advance notice, as adjunct trainers to the UAE
(and neighboring countries). With such a "menu" of options, G/TIP
might attach a "price tag" so that host governments could "pick and
pay" for trainers in specific areas. This solution would show
willingness to provide much needed training and should not pose
funding problems for the Department. End comment.


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Idea Behind Shelters
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7. (C) Gargash recalled the opening of a shelter in Dubai (for women
and children and not limited to TIP victims) and one slated to be
opened soon in Abu Dhabi (specific to TIP victims). He said
eventually more shelters would be opened in outlying areas like Ras
Al Khaima and Al Ain to serve the needs of the "less privileged
emirates." He explained that a Swedish expert had been contracted to
help establish the Abu Dhabi shelter and that the Red Crescent
Society would be very involved in its day-to-day operations. He
hoped for a broad study of the stories of women in the shelters to
learn about the patterns and cycles of the TIP phenomenon as it
occurs in the UAE. Gargash said the Abu Dhabi shelter will have an
all-woman board and that the UAEG sees its role as a provider of
"seed money" but wants to transfer fundraising for these shelters to
charitable foundations and private sources. Gargash asked for U.S.
support in helping the UAE shape transnational relationships with
regard to TIP by providing "templates of agreements, best practices
and contacts" that would contribute to establishing organizations in
sending countries designed to receive and rehabilitate TIP victims
thus reducing recidivism rates.

Gargash to attend UN.GIFT
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8. (C) Gargash spoke of the upcoming (Feb 13-15) Forum in Vienna and
explained that the $15 Million donated by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince
Mohammad bin Zayed is not just a glamorous public gesture but is
intended to show the seriousness of this issue for the UAEG and
contribute to practical international efforts against TIP. Set to
deliver a speech at the Forum, Gargash said he would be one of eight
Ministers from various countries to address the conference. The
Charge delivered ref E points, stressing that the U.S. hopes for a
focus on technical progress rather than political declarations.
Gargash responded by saying he does not believe political statements
are the intent of the forum, although he was not familiar with the
format to be used in Vienna.

Quinn