UAE: STATE DEPARTMENT TIP REPORT "DISAPPOINTING AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000622


STATE FOR NEA/ARP, G/TIP, DRL, PRM, INL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/17/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM KCRM KTIP ELAB AE
SUBJECT: UAE: STATE DEPARTMENT TIP REPORT "DISAPPOINTING AND
DISTORTED"

REFS: ABU DHABI 603 AND PREVIOUS

Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) Summary: Following release of the TIP report in Washington
June 16, the UAEG's official news agency WAM issued a sharply-worded
statement condemning the UAE text as "disappointing and distorted."
The UAEG accused the report of "changing the goal posts", lacking
objectivity in evaluating the UAE's "transparent efforts", and
relying on "sensationalized media reports". Local media has
responded to the report by printing the WAM statement verbatim (text
in paragraph 2). End summary.

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OFFICIAL STATEMENT
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2. (U) Begin Text of June 16 statement:

The UAE on Tuesday termed as "disappointing and distorted" a US State
Department report that failed to accurately assess the status of
anti-trafficking efforts during the last year.

The UAE government is deeply disappointed by the subjective and
inaccurate assessment in this report" Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash said.

In contrast to the US report, the Annual Report 2008 released earlier
this month by the UAE National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking
(NCCHT) indicated that over 20 cases of human trafficking were
registered last year, compared to 10 cases in 2007, doubling the
number of cases prosecuted under Federal Law 51 in a period of 12
months.

Similarly, the NCCHT report added that the number of prosecutions and
the severity of punishments issued by UAE courts also increased
significantly this year, with convictions in six cases and two people
receiving life sentences.

Citing these figures, Dr. Gargash said, "The UAE made significant
progress in its endeavor fight this crime in 2008. In its last
report, the State Department identified the UAE as "a model in the
region." It is indeed disturbing to note that this year's report has
failed to view our transparent efforts and results objectively.

The minister, who is also chairman of the NCCHT, criticized the
parameters applied to measure human trafficking cases.

It appears that the US definition of human trafficking varies every
year depending on the nature of debate on this issue in its domestic
environment. It is incongruous to equate alleged labor rights
violations, which are a critical but separate issue, to the coercive
and unacceptable sexual exploitation of women for profit. This
report lumps all these issues together in a manner that is
generalized and unconstructive. Changing goal posts has
unfortunately become a feature of these trafficking reports and they
have thereby lost credibility as a constructive measuring tool of
anti-trafficking efforts around the world.

Citing one of the many inaccuracies, the minister questioned the
veracity of the State Department report which alleges that a member
of the ruling family was arrested in a Belgian court on criminal
charges, a claim the UAE refutes and describes as unwarranted and
appalling display of stereotyping Arabs and the Middle East.

"This accusation alone indicates that the US prefers to rely more on
sensationalized media reports in compiling its report rather than
verify its facts." Dr. Gargash said.

"The UAE monitors all international reports and assesses them
objectively. It welcomes constructive criticism and help, but
reserves the right to determine the agenda to tackle its problems in
a manner that it deems appropriate. The fact that the report does
not take into account the facts on the ground devalues and undermines
how seriously it is taken," he added.

The government realizes that like in many other countries, the
challenges pertaining to human trafficking are numerous. We are
committed to fighting this crime and will continue to do so
diligently," the minister said.

The UAE continues to implement its four-pillar action plan that
includes legislation, enforcement, victim support, as well as
bilateral agreements and international cooperation.

During the last year, the government ratified the United Nations
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons,
especially Women and Children; and in order to increase the
government's effectiveness, the Council of Ministers expanded the
size and scope of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking
by including public prosecutors and law enforcement officers as its
members.

Additionally, workshops and training sessions were conducted
frequently throughout the year, in collaboration with the
International Organization for Migration, to improve the skills of
UAE law enforcement officials. A new website was launched to serve
both as an official information source, as well as a forum for
interaction between the public and government.

In terms of victim support efforts, the Dubai Foundation for Women
and Children continues to mature and provide excellent psychological
and physical care for victims of trafficking and other forms of abuse
- in 2008 43 cases were admitted. The newly established Abu Dhabi
shelter handled 15 trafficking victims, who also aided police in the
investigations of the criminals who exploited them.

The UAE is pursuing traffickers aggressively and they will be
severely punished under the UAE's anti-trafficking law. The UAE's
commitment to this issue is part of its national agenda as well as a
shared responsibility as a member of the community of nations. End
Text.


3. (C) COMMENT: The sharp UAEG reaction is not a surprise.
Following the UAE's elevation to Tier 2 last year and USG description
of the UAE's efforts on TIP as a "a model in the region", there is
astonishment that their public campaign to demonstrate progress in
anti-TIP efforts resulted in their demotion to the tier 2 watch list.
The inclusion of the Belgian case involving a member of a ruling
family is a source of embarrassment, and likely the reason for the
immediate silence from local media. End comment.


OLSON