US embassy cable - 04SANAA505

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 000505 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP - JONES; STATE FOR DRL - CRANER AND 
TAGGART; STATE FOR G/TIP; NSC FOR ABRAHAMS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2014 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PGOV, YM, HUMAN RIGHTS, TRAFFICKING PERSONS 
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS OUTLINES PRIORITIES; HRR 
WELL-RECEIVED 
 
REF: SANAA 472 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Edmund J. Hull for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (c) Summary:  Ambassador presented to the Minister of 
Human Rights on 3/1 the 2003 U.S Annual Report on Human 
Rights Practices on Yemen in Arabic.  Already familiar with 
the report, the Minister said that her Ministry welcomed the 
report's findings.  Overall, the Minister described it as 
providing a fair and balanced portrayal of human rights 
issues in Yemen, but admitted that there are some 
shortcomings and Yemen still has a "ways to go."  She said 
that she briefed the report to President Saleh, who 
congratulated her on the positive aspects of the report and 
promised to support the reforms her Ministry is pushing.  The 
Report was also scheduled for ROYG cabinet discussion on 3/2. 
 She identified the Ministry's priorities as improving prison 
conditions, reforming the judiciary and increasing awareness 
of human rights issues.  She explained that Yemen is 
beginning to review and address possible sex trafficking 
concerns raised by Post with ROYG interlocutors.  Al-Soswah 
also requested a meeting with the U.S. Delegation to the 
Human Rights Commission in Geneva, from March 15-18 (action 
request ref a).  End Summary. 
 
AWARENESS OF HUMAN RIGHTS HIGHER, REPORT BETTER RECEIVED 
 
2. (c)  Responding to the Ambassador's presentation, the 
Minister explained the Report had previously been perceived 
as an attempt to interfere in Yemen's internal affairs.  She 
welcomed U.S. observations this year, however, praising the 
report's acknowledgment of areas of progress.  She said she 
was encouraged that the report is being viewed domestically 
as constructive criticism among friends.  She acknowledged 
that this year's report is more "balanced" in giving credit 
and assigning fault, and elaborated that perhaps the most 
significant area of improvement was the President's support 
of the Ministry of Human Rights.  She noted that the 
Political Security Organization (PSO) also pledged support 
and indicated a willingness to cooperate with the Ministry in 
addressing security issues as they affect human rights. 
Al-Soswah said that she has requested input and responses 
from ROYG colleagues to the information in the report to 
formulate a unified official response, which she expects will 
be completed within the next few months. 
 
PRIORITIES: IMPROVED PRISON CONDITIONS, JUDICIAL REFORM AND 
INCREASED HR AWARENESS 
 
3. (c) Al-Soswah explained that most shortcomings highlighted 
in the report stem from a lack of capacity or awareness that 
there are problems.  She highlighted three primary 
priorities:  improving prison conditions, reforming the 
judiciary, and increasing awareness of human rights issues. 
She described prison conditions as over-crowded and said that 
prison guards lack training.  Prisoners do not have access to 
basic health care, food and legal representation.  She 
identified a lack of funding as the primary obstacle to 
reforming the prison system, but said that the Ministry plans 
to host a national symposium on prison conditions in April. 
Al-Soswah further commented that the ill-treatment of female 
prisoners continues to be an area of concern, and increased 
awareness among individuals who handle female criminals is 
needed.  She said that private jails, not sanctioned by the 
government, continue to exist and that some women are held in 
these jails primarily for moral crimes, whether real or 
perceived.  The Minister considers private jails to be a 
"shame" and cited the Ministry's work with women prisoners, 
shunned by family and society, to create post-imprisonment 
options for living and working.  (Comment: Post will explore 
MEPI Small Grants to support NGOs working in this area.  End 
Comment.) 
 
4. (c) Al-Soswah said the Ministry plans to launch a human 
rights awareness campaign that will include a request to the 
Minister of Education to introduce human rights issues into 
school curriculums.  Later in March, the Ministry of Human 
Rights will host a reception celebrating the graduation of 
Islamic law students who, for the first time, studied 
international law from a human rights perspective.  Also, a 
new refugee law is being drafted, which the Minister noted 
will positively impact the estimated 500,000 or more refugees 
in Yemen.  The Ministry is also working on Yemen's first 
annual report on human rights, which al-Soswah is confident 
will be an independent report.  Note:  UNHCR estimates 
refugee numbers to be between 70,000-75,000.  End Note. 
 
TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS UNDER SCRUTINY - ESPECIALLY IRAQI 
WOMEN POSSIBLY TRAFFICKED 
 
5. (c) Regarding the issue of trafficking in persons, the 
Minister reported that new visa restrictions have been 
recently imposed, particularly for women arriving from Iraq. 
Al-Soswah stated that there are approximately 100 people 
arriving to Yemen from Iraq each week, and that a quiet 
investigation into trafficking suspicions related to the sex 
trade raised by Post is currently underway in both Aden and 
Sana'a.  The Minister assured the Ambassador that individuals 
implicated in trafficking would be severely punished under 
Yemeni laws.  Comment:  Her visa announcement tracks with 
press reports that Iraqis are now required to obtain entry 
visas and that Iraqis living in Yemen must pay a residency 
fee of about 7,500 Riyals (about 40USD).  The new 
requirements represent a reversal of the reciprocal 
arrangement between Yemen and Iraq under Saddam Hussein 
eliminating the need for entry visas.  End Comment. 
HULL