QATAR SIGNS BINDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000255

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP (MARK TAYLOR)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KTIP ELAB QA
SUBJECT: QATAR SIGNS BINDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT TO
PASS COMPREHENSIVE ANTI-TIP CRIMINAL LAW

Classified By: Ambassador Joseph E. LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b and d).

--------------
(C) KEY POINTS
--------------

-- National Human Rights Committee Chairman Dr. Ali bin
Samikh Al-Marri reviewed with Poloff Caudill April 15 the
status of Qatar's draft law criminalizing trafficking in
persons.

-- According to Dr. Al-Marri, Qatar signed in 2008 the
Protocol to "Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in
Persons, Especially Women and Children." The Protocol
currently awaits the Amir's signature, having already been
approved by the Council of Ministers.

-- Al-Marri said once the Amir formally signs the Protocol,
all of its terms, including a codified definition of TIP,
will become binding Qatari law under Article 28 of the
Constitution.

-- Al-Marri also pointed out that Article 5 of the Protocol
specifically requires all parties to pass legislation
criminalizing TIP. The draft law currently before the Council
of Ministers is therefore intended to satisfy Qatar's
obligation as a signatory.

--------------
(C) COMMENTS AND ANALYSIS
--------------

-- With a positive recommendation from the Council of
Ministers, it is almost certain that the Amir will sign the
ratification of the anti-TIP Protocol. Had he not supported
the measure, it would be hard to conceive that Qatar would
have signed the Protocol in the first place.

-- By embracing an international agreement under the
auspices of the United Nations, Qatar addresses TIP concerns
voiced by the United States and others.

-- Under the cover of international law, the prospects of a
comprehensive law criminalizing TIP are now greatly enhanced.
Further evidence of this comes from the Ambassador's April
14 meeting with the Minister of Labor, who expressed
confidence that the law would be enacted this year.

End Key Points and Comments.


1. (C) In an April 15 conversation with Poloff Caudill,
National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Chairman Dr. Ali bin
Samikh Al-Marri reviewed the status of Qatar's draft law
criminalizing all forms of trafficking in persons (TIP).


2. (C) Al-Marri pointed out that in response to a
recommendation from a U.N. review panel in late 2008, Qatar
signed the Protocol to "Prevent, Suppress, and Punish
Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children" (Note:
This Protocol supplements the United Nations Convention
Against Transnational Organized Crime. End Note). The draft
law currently being circulated within the GOQ, Al-Marri said,
was designed to be consistent with Qatar's obligations under
the Protocol.


3. (C) Al-Marri said the Council of Ministers has already
recommended ratification of the Protocol, so it now awaits
the Amir's signature. Once signed, he added, the Protocol
will become a binding part of Qatari law, and Qatar will be
obligated under Article 5 of the Protocol to "establish as
criminal offences the conduct set forth in Article 3 of the
Protocol (Note: the definitions section)." The draft law is,
therefore, specifically intended to satisfy Qatar's
obligations under Article 5 of the Protocol, according to
Al-Marri.
LeBaron