VZCZCXRO5245
PP RUEHDE
DE RUEHAD #1076/01 0791422
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 201422Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4067
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 5933

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 001076 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR G/TIP, DRL, NEA/RA AND NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2016 
TAGS: TAGS
SUBJECT: UAEG RECOMMITS TO SCREENING AND PROTECTING TIP 
VICTIMS 
 
REF: A. 05 DUBAI 5393 
 
     ¶B. 05 ABU DHABI 4737 
 
ABU DHABI 00001076  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON, REASONS 1.4 ( 
B) AND (D). 
 
 ¶1. (C) Summary: Between March 17-19, Ambassador and CG Dubai 
engaged senior-level UAEG officials to discuss TIP issues and 
the importance of making a firm commitment to address the 
specific problem of trafficking for the purpose of sexual 
exploitation.  Ambassador highlighted the need to identify 
victims through systematic screening, greater reporting of 
trafficking-related statistics, passing a comprehensive 
trafficking law, and establishing a shelter for trafficking 
victims.  UAEG officials recommitted to addressing these 
issues and pointed to recent actions in Dubai where formal 
training and screening procedures have already been put in 
place, and to the successful abolition of child trafficking 
as camel jockeys and the repatriation of the victims, as 
examples of their ongoing efforts.  End Summary. 
 
------------------------------------ 
MFA: More TIP Statistics Coming Soon 
------------------------------------ 
¶2. (C) On March 17, Ambassador discussed TIP issues with 
Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan (AbZ), 
stressing the importance of the UAE continuing to address 
trafficking issues with a special focus on sex trafficking. 
AbZ acknowledged the importance of this focus and requested 
that the Ambassador brief MFA U/S Rashid Abdullah al-Noaimi 
further.  On March 18, Ambassador and DRL DAS Erica 
Barks-Ruggles met with U/S al-Noaimi to discuss among other 
issues, the problem of trafficking in persons in the UAE. 
The Ambassador told al-Noaimi that the Department was in the 
process of reviewing TIP tier rankings, and noted that the 
issue of sex trafficking continued to be a key issue.  She 
pressed the UAE to commit to screening all arrested 
sex-workers to separate the prostitutes from actual 
trafficking victims, stating that the police should be 
working with the victims to obtain information that would 
lead to arrests and prosecutions of the traffickers. 
Ambassador reiterated the need for statistics of prosecutions 
in the UAE and passed al-Noaimi a copy of a February 
diplomatic note formally requesting this data.  Al-Noaimi 
indicated that these statistics should be possible to 
compile, adding that the UAEG was already working with law 
enforcement authorities to sensitize them on the difference 
between criminals and victims, and then to provide victims 
with help.  (Note: On March 20, MFA Director for 
International Organizations informed us that a fresh batch of 
TIP statistics would be made available later this week.  End 
note.)  Al-Noaimi stated that he believed the message was 
getting across but asked the U.S. to push the issue with the 
Ministry of Interior and the police.  Ambassador replied that 
she was asking the Consul General to talk with the Dubai 
police on these same issues. 
 
¶3. (C) Al-Noaimi inquired whether there had been any 
agreement between the U.S. and the UAEG on any tasks or plan 
of action regarding trafficking in persons.  The Ambassador 
furnished him with a copy of a draft work plan and mentioned 
it would be helpful if, during her upcoming trip to 
Washington, Minister of Economy Sheikha Lubna al-Qasimi could 
offer any specifics on UAE efforts in this regard. 
 
------------------------------------- 
Police: Screening Procedures In Place 
------------------------------------- 
¶4. (C) On March 18, CG spoke with Brigadier Khamees 
al-Muzeina of Dubai Criminal Investigations Division (CID) 
about the operations of the new CID anti-trafficking unit 
(ref A).  Al-Muzeina reaffirmed that CID is currently 
screening prostitutes in order to identify trafficking 
victims saying "anytime we find a woman who has been forced 
into prostitution, she is not deported like the others. 
Instead, we work with her to develop a case against her boss, 
who is taken to court and charged with running a house of 
ill-repute."  (Note: Al-Muzeina's comments confirm that 
traffickers are often prosecuted under the charge of running 
a brothel, which is in-line with the trafficking/prosecution 
statistics that have been provided to the Embassy.  It is 
also noteworthy that the Dubai Police understanding of who is 
a trafficking victim--"a woman who has been forced into 
prostitution" is much narrower than our own.  The difference 
has been repeatedly highlighted to police contacts, with 
limited effect.  End Note.)  On March 19, Arabic daily 
"al-Ittihad" quoted Minister of Interior Sheikh Saif bin 
Zayed al-Nahyan as saying "the UAE has solved the issue of 
child jockeys 100%," adding that the UAEG has "developed an 
 
ABU DHABI 00001076  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
innovative mechanism to solve the (problem) of camel jockeys 
and we have succeeded." 
 
---------------------------------------- 
Labor Minister Ready to Cooperate on TIP 
---------------------------------------- 
¶5. (C) In a March 18 meeting with DAS Barks-Ruggles and 
Minister of Labor Dr. Ali bin Abdullah al-Ka'abi, Ambassador 
again encouraged the UAEG to focus on trafficking problems 
regarding domestic and sex workers.  The Minister inquired 
how the UAEG could stop sex trafficking.  Ambassador urged 
the UAEG to set up a systematic approach of police 
investigation and subsequent prosecution of the sex 
trafficker ringleaders, instead of merely deporting the 
victims.  Ambassador further encouraged the increased 
prosecution of abusers of domestic workers. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
UAE Anti-TIP Committee Has Broad Mandate 
---------------------------------------- 
¶6. (C) On March 19, Ambassador raised the UAEG's 
anti-trafficking efforts with National TIP Coordinator Yousef 
al-Otaiba (director for international affairs in the Abu 
Dhabi Crown Prince's Court).  Ambassador highlighted the need 
for formal screening procedures such as those currently in 
place in Dubai (ref B) in order to identify trafficking 
victims, making it clear that it is important for the 
government to make a statement committing to this point. 
Ambassador noted the need for additional prosecution 
statistics and explained the importance of distinguishing 
between prosecutions for prostitution-related activities and 
trafficking.  Al-Otaiba indicated that the National 
Coordinating Committee on TIP that was originally established 
to address the issue of camel jockeys would broaden its 
mandate to include all forms of trafficking.  Ambassador also 
pressed for the passing of a comprehensive trafficking law 
and the establishment of a trafficking victims shelter. 
 
-------- 
Comment: 
-------- 
¶7. (C) UAEG officials appear to be committed to addressing 
the problem of trafficking in persons.  Having eliminated the 
trafficking of child camel jockeys into the country and 
repatriating the victims at UAE expense, the Government is 
just now recognizing the need to shift focus to the larger 
issue of sex trafficking.  Dubai, where most of the sex 
trafficking originates, has already taken the lead in 
screening for victims of trafficking both at ports-of-entry 
as well as within the police stations (refs A, B).  The slow 
progress towards eradicating sex trafficking may reflect a 
lack of understanding of the issue and the definitions of 
trafficking by G/TIP standards.  The UAEG could help its own 
cause by maintaining and disseminating statistics that 
reflect their anti-trafficking efforts.  End Comment. 
SISON