2009 TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT FOR QATAR

UNCLAS DOHA 000727 SIPDIS STATE DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/RA AND G/TIP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KTIP ELAB QA SUBJECT: 2009 TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT FOR QATAR REF: STATE 112489 ¶1. (SBU) Post presents the following update in response to reftelrequest for a summary of GOQ progress on selected anti-trafficking issues. ¶2. (SBU) Q: Please summarize the progress, or lack thereof, the Government of Qatar has made in enacting the draft comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation. A: According to Dr. Ali Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, the draft legislation is still waiting the approval of the Advisory Council. He pledged to raise the issue with MFA Minister of State for International Cooperation Dr. Khalid Al Attiyah and to inform Poloff Caudill of any developments. Shortly after Dr. Al Marri conveyed this information to Poloff Caudill on November 23, a local English-language newspaper ran a quote by Myriam Al-Malki, Director of the Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking, reiterating Qatar's commitment to the passage of a comprehensive anti-trafficking law. Other GOQ officials, most recently MFA Human Rights Officer Shaykha Sumaya Al Thani on December 16, also have made the point that Qatar's April ratification of the UN Anti-TIP Protocol means that trafficking in persons, as defined in the Protocol, is now illegal in Qatar. They concede, however, that the draft legislation must be passed in order to fulfill Qatar's obligations as a party to the Protocol. ¶3. (SBU) Q: Please summarize the progress, or lack thereof, the Government of Qatar has made in significantly increasing efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses, and convicting and punishing trafficking offenders. A: We have made inquiries at several levels, particularly at the NHRC. NHRC and the MFA have referred us to the Ministry of Interior. To our knowledge, Interior does not prosecute trafficking cases, but it is possible that they do. The Interior Ministry's actions are shrouded in a veil of secrecy. The GOQ views these issues as more a matter of national security than justice, and protects its information accordingly. ¶4. (SBU) Q: Please summarize the progress, or lack thereof, the Government of Qatar has made in instituting and consistently applying formal procedures to identify victims of trafficking among vulnerable groups, such as those arrested for immigration violations or prostitution. A: The GOQ has provided us with no information concerning its internal efforts to apply consistently formal procedures to identify victims of trafficking among vulnerable groups. However, since May the GOQ has sponsored several initiatives, including public awareness campaigns, formal training, and outreach to local labor attaches, to educate vulnerable populations about their legal rights against employers. ¶5. (SBU) Q: Please summarize the progress, or lack thereof, the Government of Qatar has made in abolishing or significantly amending provisions of Qatar's sponsorship law, such as the provision requiring workers to obtain their sponsor's permission to leave Qatar -- to prevent the forced labor of migrant workers. A: There has been no effort to amend provisions of Qatar's sponsorship law, which was enacted in March 2009. LeBaron