This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 001790 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2015 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KMPI ECON PHUM QA
SUBJECT: DEMOCRATIC REFORM STRATEGY FOR QATAR - QUARTERLY 
REPORT 
 
REF: A. STATE 152818 
     ¶B. DOHA 881 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Chase Untermeyer for reason 1.4 (d). 
 
¶1. (C) This is a quarterly update on Embassy Doha's 
democratic reform action plan under the Middle East 
Partnership Initiative. This update addresses activities in 
three areas: strengthening the rule of law, developing open 
political competition, and developing civic education. 
 
Rule of Law 
----------- 
 
¶2. (C) Benchmarks: 
 
-- Law number 22 of 2005 banning the use of camel jockeys 
under the age of 18 was passed in May and came into force in 
July of this year. Qatar repatriated nearly 200 child jockeys 
to Sudan in June and July. The Qatar Charitable Society, in 
coordination with the Sudanese-based National Council for 
Childhood Care and the Qatari Embassy in Khartoum is 
administering the Qatari government,s program to look after 
the welfare of the repatriated camel jockeys. 
 
-- In a further effort to combat trafficking in persons, The 
GOQ established a shelter in September to provide a haven for 
female domestic workers, children, and other laborers in need 
of protection from abusive employers and poor working 
conditions. 
 
-- Bar Association: In October, a group of Qatari lawyers was 
given official approval to form an association under a 2004 
law authorizing the creation of NGOs under certain conditions. 
 
-- Elections law: Qatar continues at a cautious pace toward 
national legislative elections, most likely in early 2007. 
The GOQ is drafting an elections law behind closed doors. The 
issue of eligibility to vote is considered a matter of 
national security. 
 
¶3. (C) Recent Actions: 
 
-- Over the past nine months, post has worked with the 
Commercial Law Development Program in several key areas: 
assisting Qatar University in development of a commercial law 
curriculum; working with the Ministry of Justice on 
continuing legal education; and advising the Ministry of 
Commerce on a new draft commercial code. 
 
-- The Institute for the Study of Democratic Legal Systems 
hosted five Qatari judges on a study tour to examine 
California's several alternative dispute resolution (ADR) 
programs. The judges reported their interest in establishing 
ADR in Qatar and in strengthening the country's case 
management system. 
 
¶4. (C) Planning: 
 
-- CLDP will organize a Commercial Law regional conference in 
Doha in early 2006. CLDP will continue its cooperative work 
with Qatar University (on curriculum) and the Ministry of 
Commerce (on commercial laws). 
 
-- Post will encourage the Qatari courts system to continue 
its engagement with ISDLS directly if MEPI participation is 
withdrawn. 
 
-- Post is actively monitoring Qatar's steps to address 
trafficking in persons issues and its adherence to the Action 
Plan to avoid a Tier 3 ranking in 2006. 
 
-- Post will meet representatives of the new Lawyers' 
Association and discuss training and capacity-building needs. 
MEPI Committee will review possibilities and begin engagement. 
 
Open Political Competition 
-------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Benchmark: 
 
-- Advisory Council elections. In June of this year, the new 
constitution, had been approved by popular vote in 2003, came 
into force. The constitution calls for a 2/3 elected 
legislative body. Senior government officials suggest that 
elections will take place by early 2007, after a period 
devoted to formulating the election law and establishing 
electoral districts. 
 
¶6. (C) Recent Actions: 
 
-- Post expressed USG concern over the recent practice of 
withdrawing citizenship from members of a certain tribe and 
said inclusiveness, rather than exclusivity, was the basis 
for a strong democracy and state. The GOQ appeared to then 
moderate the practice, which as now ceased. 
-- Post continued its advocacy on behalf of the International 
Republican Institute to obtain legal status in Qatar. IRI has 
been hampered by the inability to open an office and hire 
local staff. Post has regularly engaged the Elections 
Committee, the Foreign Minister, and the Deputy Foreign 
Minister. 
 
-- Post pressed the GOQ to approve IRI study tours for Qatari 
elected officials and other IRI programs. The GOQ has been 
reluctant to approve such programs to date; we suspect 
because the broad formulation of the electoral process is not 
complete. 
¶7. (C) Planning: 
 
-- Post will work with IRI to determine the best course of 
action regarding legalization of the NGO's status in Qatar. 
 
-- Post MEPI Committee will examine ways to provide 
election-related assistance such as training sessions or 
workshops through small grants or other means. 
 
-- Post believes that journalist workshops on election 
coverage is premature, but the MEPI Committee will examine 
ways to encourage reporting on changes in government brought 
by the new constitution. 
 
Developing Civic Education 
-------------------------- 
 
¶8. (C) Benchmarks: 
 
-- There is currently no civic education in schools; Qatar 
mandates Islamic studies in primary and secondary schools 
which touches upon some aspects of personal and social 
responsibility. 
 
-- Student governments formed in the business and law 
departments of Qatar University. 
 
¶9. (C) Recent Actions: 
 
-- Post has contacted the California NGO Civitas to look at 
education materials that might be suitable for Qatari 
schools. 
 
¶10. (C) Planning: 
 
-- Post will discuss with the Qatari National Human Rights 
Committee on the feasibility of inviting Civitas to Doha for 
a series of seminars to train local teachers and share civic 
education curriculum. 
 
-- MEPI Committee will evaluate and propose ways to engage 
the print and broadcast media in civic and governance issues. 
 
UNTERMEYER