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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MUSCAT 000276 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM, IWI, NEA/RA, NEA/ARPI 
DEPT PASS USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB MU
SUBJECT: 2006 ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT: OMAN 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 3836 
     ¶B. 05 MUSCAT 1050 
 
¶1.  (SBU) The following responses are keyed to relevant 
sections of ref A paras 21-24. 
 
----------------- 
PARA 21: OVERVIEW 
----------------- 
 
¶A.  There were isolated and unsubstantiated reports that 
persons were trafficked to, from, or within the country. 
 
¶B.  The law does not prohibit trafficking in persons per se; 
however, Article 261 of the Criminal Code subjects 
individuals to 3-5 years in prison if he/she "brings into 
Omani territory or exports a person in the capacity of 
servitude or slavery, or handles in any manner, receives, 
acquires or maintains a person in such a situation." In a 
significant improvement since last year's report, the 
government of Oman began to phase-in a rise in the minimum 
age for camel riders from 14 to 18 years, with the minimum 
age rising annually by one year until the 18-year minimum is 
reached in 2009.  To enforce the new legislation, camel 
riders were required to register in person with the Omani 
Camel Racing Federation, effective January 1, 2006.   Riders 
are required to submit an original birth certificate, an 
original passport or identity card, and 2 passport photos. 
Dr. Talib Rifai, Regional Director of the International Labor 
Organization, praised the Sultanate's progress in halting the 
use of children as camel jockeys in a press interview 
published December 20.  He stated that "We (ILO) are no 
longer worried with regards to this issue.  Now we just need 
implementation to parallel the legislation."  Moreover, the 
local UN Children's Fund Representative (UNICEF) concurred 
with the government of Oman that foreign children are not 
being trafficked and employed as camel jockeys in Oman.  In 
July, Oman ratified the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and 
Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. 
 In 2005, the government also ratified ILO Convention 105 on 
the Abolition of Forced Labor, and Convention 138 on Minimum 
Age of Employment.  In response to last year's report, the 
Omani government requested an opportunity to visit the U.S. 
to learn more about U.S. operations and training in the 
screening and handling of potentially trafficked victims (see 
ref B). 
 
¶C.  The government of Oman lacks the technical experience, 
necessary staffing, and appropriate financial resources to 
develop a national screening and identification process for 
the thousands of illegal migrants that reach Oman's borders 
every year.  Currently, embassies with citizens in 
deportation/detention facilities conduct interviews in 
addition to those performed by the Royal Oman Police to 
determine the legal residence of an illegal migrant and 
whether or not he/she was trafficked to Oman.  The government 
of Oman spends about $20 per day for each migrant (around 
$200,000 annually) and pays for return transportation to a 
migrant's home country.  Omani government corruption is not a 
problem. 
 
¶D.  Although the government of Oman monitors human smuggling 
along its border, there are no official anti-trafficking 
efforts that the Embassy is aware of.  However, according to 
a recent statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a 
technical committee is currently in the process of reviewing 
national legislation to ensure Oman's compatibility with the 
provisions of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish 
Trafficking in Persons, as well as to "contribute to the 
global efforts to combat organized crime."  The committee is 
studying the question of putting specific mention of 
trafficking in persons in the Omani criminal code. 
 
------------------- 
PARA 22: PREVENTION 
------------------- 
 
¶A.  The government of Oman believes that its harsh prison 
sentences for such crimes act as a deterrent to potential 
traffickers and reports having not found evidence of 
trafficking in persons in Oman.  The government of Oman has 
solicited the Embassy for assistance in arranging a 
senior-level Royal Oman Police visit to the United States to 
learn more about best practices and international techniques 
in processing illegal migrants, including identification, 
protection, and investigation of potential trafficking in 
persons victims. 
 
¶B.  The Royal Oman Police (which includes Oman's immigration, 
customs, and coast guard) serves as the lead agency for 
enforcement of immigration and labor laws, as well as land 
and maritime border security.  Oman's military forces have 
also taken action to prevent illegal entry into the country 
by migrants.  The Ministry of Manpower oversees 
implementation of labor regulations, including prohibitions 
against child labor.  The Ministry of Social Development 
oversees much of the government's programs devoted to the 
welfare of women and children. 
 
¶C.  There have been no government-run anti-trafficking public 
information or public education campaigns.  The government 
does publicize, however, its efforts to apprehend and 
repatriate illegal migrants (primarily Pakistani and Indian 
nationals). 
 
¶D.  The Omani government actively promotes women's 
participation in the economy.  Primary and secondary 
education is free for all students, and former gender 
disparities in the student population at all levels have been 
virtually eliminated.  Women constituted just under 20 
percent of the private-sector workforce, but over 30 percent 
of the public-sector workforce.  The Sultan has appointed 
four women to ministerial rank and two women as ambassadors, 
including the Omani ambassador to the Unites States. 
 
¶F.  The Omani government is working with other international 
organizations, such as the United Nations, to promote 
anti-trafficking legislation.  The government regularly 
discusses issues related to illegal migration with the 
governments of Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and 
Iran.  As noted earlier, a technical committee is currently 
reviewing national legislation to ensure Oman's compatibility 
with its recent ratification of the Protocol to Prevent, 
Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women 
and Children. 
 
¶G.  The Omani government adequately monitors its borders and 
migration patterns for evidence of trafficking in persons. 
Oman cooperates with other states to interdict alien 
smuggling, and has instituted a special visa regime 
applicable to certain countries of concern designed to thwart 
the entry of persons deemed likely to engage in the sex 
trade.  Both the Omani military forces and the Royal Oman 
Police Coast Guard have invested considerable resources to 
improve monitoring and defense of its maritime and land 
borders, to include modern patrol vessels, aircraft, and 
sensor equipment. 
 
¶H.  There is no multi-agency working group to coordinate and 
communicate a national anti-trafficking plan. 
 
¶J.  The government does not have a national plan of action to 
address trafficking in persons.  However, the government 
recognizes the need to develop more appropriate screening and 
investigation techniques and has solicited the Embassy for 
assistance in learning more about international best 
practices in combating trafficking in persons and illegal 
migration. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
23:  INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶A.  The law does not prohibit trafficking in persons per se; 
however, Article 261 of the Criminal Code subjects 
individuals to 3-5 years in prison if he/she "brings into 
Omani territory or exports a person in the capacity of 
servitude or slavery, or handles in any manner, receives, 
acquires or maintains a person in such a situation."  Article 
260 of the Criminal Code subjects individuals to 5-15 years 
in prison for anyone who "enslaves a person or puts him in a 
quasi-slavery status."  Although Oman ratified the ILO 
Convention against forced labor in 1998, in 2005 it further 
strengthened its international obligations with its 
ratification of the ILO Convention on the Abolition of Forced 
Labor. 
 
¶B.  Although there is no differentiation between trafficking 
in persons for sexual exploitation and trafficking in persons 
for labor exploitation, each crime is covered under various 
articles of the Criminal Code. 
¶C.  Article 218 of the Criminal Code subjects individuals to 
5-15 years in prison to "anyone who has sexual intercourse 
with a female out of marriage without her consent, either by 
coercion, menace or deceit. 
 
¶D.  Prostitution is illegal, and is not widespread due to 
strict cultural norms and immigration controls.  Article 218 
of the Criminal Code subjects individuals to 5-15 years in 
prison to "anyone who has sexual intercourse with a female 
out of marriage without her consent, either by coercion, 
menace or deceit."  Article 220 subjects to 3-5 years in 
prison anyone who "incites, by coercion or menace, a person 
to commit debauchery or prostitution."  Article 221 subjects 
an individual from 3 months to 3 years and fines from twenty 
to one hundred Rials "anyone whose living is based, in whole 
or in part, on a third party's earnings from debauchery or 
prostitution, either under his protection or influence."  The 
same penalty is also applied to any person who manages a 
place for debauchery or assists in its establishment or 
management. 
 
¶E.  There is no published data on government prosecution of 
human smuggling or trafficking in persons. 
 
¶F.  In the few isolated cases of trafficking in persons that 
reportedly occurred during the year, it appeared that 
individuals who may have migrated legally or illegally to 
Oman were subjected to situations that may have amounted to 
forced labor by local employers. 
 
¶G.  The Ministry of Manpower vigorously investigates any 
reports of labor abuse, including back payment of wages or 
withholding of one's passport.  The criminal procedure code 
does not prohibit police from engaging in covert operations 
to aid in investigations. 
 
¶H.  Due to limited technical expertise and financial 
resources, the government of Oman relies heavily on the 
assistance of host country embassies to interview and 
recognize victims of trafficking during their screening 
process for repatriation. 
 
¶I.  The government of Oman regularly discusses issues related 
to illegal migration with the governments of Yemen, United 
Arab Emirates, Pakistan, India and Iran. 
 
¶J.  There have been no reported cases of requested 
extradition of persons charged with trafficking in other 
countries. 
 
¶K.  There is no government tolerance for trafficking, either 
at the local or institutional level. 
 
¶L.  N/A 
 
¶M.  Child sex tourism does not exist in Oman. 
 
¶N.  The government ratified ILO Convention 182 on the Worst 
Forms of Child Labor in 2001, Convention 29 on Forced Labor 
in 1998, Convention 105 on the Abolition of Forced Labor in 
2005, The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights 
of the Child (CRC) on the sale of Children, Child 
Prostitution, and Child Pornography in 2004 and the Protocol 
to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, 
Especially Children, supplementing the UN Convention Against 
Transnational Organized Crime in 2005. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
24: PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶A.  The Omani government relies on foreign embassies and 
charitable groups to tend to foreign nationals requiring 
repatriation.  The Omani government has underwritten most of 
the costs of deporting more than 10,000 Pakistani migrants 
annually (on average), as well as financing the construction 
of a dedicated deportation detention facility.  These illegal 
migrants are not, however, believed to be victims of 
trafficking. 
¶B.  No. 
 
¶C.  No. 
 
¶D.  The government of Oman respects the rights of victims of 
all crimes.  Illegal migrants are detained in deportation 
facilities for up to 30 days and are provided food, shelter 
and medical care while they are interviewed by their 
respective embassies for repatriation. 
¶E.  Victims of any crime in Oman are strongly encouraged to 
assist in the investigation and prosecution. 
 
¶F.  The Embassy is unable to assess protection afforded to 
victims and witnesses of trafficking crimes since none were 
reported during the year.  The government provides shelter 
for illegal migrants at several deportation facilities.  Some 
expatriate embassies provide shelter for citizens involved in 
labor disputes. 
 
¶G.  No. 
 
¶H.  There have been no reported cases of repatriated Omani 
citizens who were victims of trafficking. 
 
¶I.  There are no international organizations that are 
currently working with trafficking victims in Oman.  Although 
the government of Oman lacks the technical expertise, 
necessary staffing and appropriate financial resources to 
develop a national screening and identification process, the 
government has been proactive in soliciting assistance from 
the United States to learn more about best practices and 
international techniques in processing illegal migrants, 
including identification, protection, and investigation of 
potential trafficking in persons victims.  In response to 
last year's report, the government requested the opportunity 
to learn more about U.S. operations and training in the 
screening and handling of potentially trafficked victims (see 
ref B).  The government has also solicited the Embassy for 
assistance in arranging a senior-level Royal Oman Police 
visit to the United States.  To date, no response to requests 
for assistance have been given to the Omani government. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Embassy POC for TIP is Pol/Econ Officer Cynthia 
Plath, (968) 24-698-989, ext. 393; fax: (968) 24-694-355; 
email: plathc@state.gov.  Preparation time:  FE-MC: 1 hour; 
FS-01: 1 hour; FS-02: 2 hours; FS-04: 12 hours. 
BALTIMORE