VZCZCXRO1185
OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHMK #1943/01 3201551
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 161551Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6019
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT  PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001943 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, NEA/ARP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2016 
TAGS: PREL KCRM KWMN PHUM SMIG BA HUMRIT
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN:  TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT 
 
REF: STATE 76587 
 
Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (U) This cable responds to reftel request for an update 
on progress by the GOB toward (a) enacting comprehensive 
anti-trafficking legislation; (b) opening a shelter for 
victims of trafficking; and (c) increasing investigations and 
prosecutions against suspected traffickers. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Legislation:  The Ministry of Justice drafted 
comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation during the 
winter/spring 2006 and forwarded it to the Cabinet, the final 
step before being sent to the parliament for a vote.  To 
date, the Cabinet has taken no action on the draft law.  The 
four-year parliamentary session concluded in July.  Bahrain 
will hold elections shortly for the new parliament, which is 
expected to come into session in January.  There can be no 
legislative action on the anti-trafficking legislation until 
that time. 
 
¶3.  (C) During a November 14 visit by G/TIP Reports Officer 
Gayatri Patel, MFA Assistant Undersecretary Shaikh Abdul Aziz 
Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa told Patel and Poloff that another 
possible avenue to enact legislation is through royal decree 
by the King.  Shaikh Abdul Aziz explained that there is a 
window of opportunity between election day and the first day 
the new parliament officially convenes during which the King 
has broadened authority to issue legislation by decree. 
Shaikh Abdul Aziz said that the MFA's legal directorate is in 
the process of preparing the necessary documents for the 
Foreign Minister to request that the legislation be sent to 
the King for his review and adoption.  Embassy will follow up 
with MFA to track if this actually goes forward. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Bahraini officials have told post that the 
government-funded shelter for both victims of trafficking and 
victims of domestic abuse will open officially on November 
¶23.  A November 14 visit to the shelter revealed that the 
shelter is close to being ready.  The building has four 
floors, two of which will be used for housing victims.  The 
top floor, which has 8 spacious four-room apartments, will be 
able to comfortably accommodate 72 women.  If needed, space 
is available for another 24.  Victims of domestic abuse, who 
will not mix with trafficking victims, will be housed on the 
third floor.  Each set of residents will have defined times 
to use the second floor, where the library, gym, and 
cafeteria will be located.  Transportation will be provided 
for shelter victims who need to make official visits to 
court, immigration, other government ministries, or their 
respective embassies.  Victims will be able to have visitors 
at the shelter, but according to Managing Director Dr. Banna 
Bu Zaboon, due to safety and security concerns, victims' 
movements from the shelter will be restricted.  Dr. Banna 
also stated that the shelter will only accept trafficking 
cases referred by the police.  The shelter has employed eight 
nurses, one social worker and one lawyer, among other staff 
members. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) In the absence of specific legislation 
criminalizing trafficking, Bahrain has used alternative 
legislation to prosecute cases of trafficking.  Examples of 
existing legislation are:  holding a person against his will, 
encouraging the practice of prostitution, managing an 
establishment for the practice of prostitution, and receiving 
material benefit from the practice of prostitution.  (Note: 
The majority of cases prosecuted involve trafficking victims 
engaged in prostitution.)  In calendar year 2006, the 
government tried nine cases under existing legislation; six 
resulted in convictions while three are still ongoing.  These 
include:  three cases of holding a person against his will, 
five cases of encouraging prostitution, and one case of 
managing an establishment for prostitution.  Sentences for 
the five cases of encouraging prostitution ranged from one 
month to three years in prison.  The case in which the 
sentence was three years involved four individuals and all 
received the same three-year sentence.  Expatriates were 
regularly deported after the completion of their sentences. 
One of the cases of holding a person against his will 
resulted in a sentence of a BD 200 ($530) fine and 
deportation because the perpetrator was an expatriate. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) In calendar year 2005, Bahrain prosecuted and won 
20 cases under existing legislation, all of which were 
prostitution related.  Of the 13 cases of encouraging the 
practice of prostitution, sentences ranged from 10 days to 
two years in prison.  Of the six cases of managing an 
establishment for the practice of prostitution, sentences 
ranged from three months to three years in prison.  For the 
 
MANAMA 00001943  002 OF 002 
 
 
remaining case of receiving material benefit from the 
practice of prostitution, the perpetrator received a one-year 
prison sentence. 
 
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Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ 
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MONROE