US embassy cable - 05MANAMA789

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000789 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2015 
TAGS: OPRC, KCRM, KWMN, PHUM, PREL, SMIG, BA 
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN:  TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT DELIVERED 
TO MFA 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 100432 
     B. SECSTATE 98109 
 
Classified By: A/DCM Helen H. Hahn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) PolOff delivered the 2005 Trafficking in Persons 
(TIP) Report to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assistant 
Undersecretary for Coordination and Follow Up Sheikh Abdul 
Aziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa June 1.  (Note: Per Ref A, post 
delivered the TIP Report June 1 because the GOB and Embassy 
are closed June 2 and 3.  PolOff requested that the GOB keep 
a close hold on the report until it is released in Washington 
June 3.  End Note.)  Sheikh Abdul Aziz said he was not 
surprised that Bahrain moved down to the Tier 2 Watch List. 
He pledged to transmit the TIP report to the 
inter-ministerial TIP taskforce and include a cover letter 
recommending that the GOB move quickly on implementing 
anti-TIP measures. 
 
2.  (C)  Sheikh Abdul Aziz commented on several 
recommendations in the report.  He said he expected a 
government-run shelter for TIP victims to open in 4-8 weeks, 
but expressed frustration with the Ministries of Interior and 
Social Affairs for dragging their feet in this effort.  On 
prosecuting TIP offenders, he acknowledged that the Ministry 
of Justice needed major reform and said that cases of 
violence, especially against foreign workers, should take 
priority and be dealt with quickly.  He added that the 
Ministry of Justice needs to keep better statistics on 
trafficking, especially given that the 2006 TIP Report will 
require more detailed data from countries.  Sheikh Abdul Aziz 
reported that a special labor court would be created soon and 
would hopefully solve some judicial-related TIP problems. 
When asked about IOM's registration, Sheikh Abdul Aziz stated 
that he had no new information and indicated that the GOB 
intended to address the issues IOM would focus on, but did 
not necessarily need IOM in Bahrain to do this.  PolOff 
responded that IOM had extensive experience working on TIP 
issues and could be a resource for GOB ministries 
overburdened with other work pressures. 
MONROE