VZCZCXRO4772
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHMK #0492/01 2060620
ZNY CCCC ZZH
P 240620Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TORUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8009
INFO RUEHZM/ULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0252
RHBVAKS/COMUSNACENT PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB L PRIORITY
RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000492
SIPDIS
STATE FO G/TIP
BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR ERELI
E.O. 1295: DECL: 07/24/2018
TAGS: KCRM KWMN ASEC PHUMBA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN SEEKS IOM'S ASSISTANCE TO COBAT TIP
REF: A. MANAMA 165 B. MANAMA 320 C. MANAMA 363 D. MANAMA 486 Classiied By: CDA Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b)and
(d)
1.(C) Summary: The GOB asked the Interational Organization for Migration to conduct two-day legal seminar on Bahrain's
new Anti-Trafficking in Persons law (ref B). The seminar was paid for by the GOB. The USG is also funding IOM
programming here. The GOB asked IOM to help organize two upcoming conferences addressing trafficking in persons and
migrant labor issues. -------- Training --------
2.(U) Bahrain's Ministry of Interior approached International Organization for Migration (IOM) country director Sura
Lori in April and requested training for senior GOB officials on the new anti-trafficking in persons (TIP) law (ref B).
Dr. Mohammed Mattar, a research professor at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies and the
executive director of The Protection Project, conducted the seminar July 16 and 17 at the Royal Police Academy. MOI paid
all of Dr. Mattar's expenses and fees. MOI picked the attendees, who included senior officials from the police, the
local UNDP mission, and the Ministries of Interior, Social Development (the government shelter), Foreign Affairs (legal
directorate), and Information (tourism monitoring directorate). Chief of Public Security Major General Abdul Latif Al
Zayani presided at the graduation ceremony. All local dailies and Bahrain TV reported on the training.
3.(C) Mattar told poloff that the training went well, and the new law is "very good," but implementation remained the
primary challenge. Based on his conversations with the attendees, he recommended specific training for the Public
Prosecution to facilitate its ability to prosecute violators of the law.
4.(C) Muhammad Shahidulhaque, IOM's Middle East regional representative, told poloff that he still believed that Bahrain
leads the rest of the Gulf in combating TIP (ref A). Shahidulhaque said that Bahrain appears more committed, and
therefore does a better job implementing anti-TIP laws and programs than the other Gulf countries. ------------- Future
Events -------------
5. (SBU) Sheikha Sabika, King Hamad's wife, asked IOM to lead next November's Anti-TIP conference in Bahrain. According
to Shahidulhaque, the GOB and the Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement are working together to produce a
conference that will be regionally-focused, rather than a follow-up to February's Anti-TIP conference in Vienna.
6. (SBU) Bahrain's Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) plans to host a small conference in October for experts in
labor migration issues. The LMRA will invite specialists from sending and destination countries, and asked IOM to help
organize the conference.
7. (SBU) Lori met with Mohammed Nass, Chief Executive of the Ministry of Information's Tourism Monitoring Directorate,
on July 23. Nass, a former businessman, asked IOM to train directorate staff to combat trafficking by identifying
trafficking victims in hotels and other attractions. According to Lori, Nass was very excited about combating TIP.
(NOTE: The directorate will soon become an independent authority; a new tourism law is before parliament. The new
information minister, Jihad Bukamal, hired Nass to replace a series of ineffectual government insiders. End Note.)
-------------------------- IOM's G/TIP-funded Program --------------------------
8. (C) State/G/TIP is also funding IOM programming here. Shahidulhaque told poloff that IOM will seek a six month,