US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT2863

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 002863 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI, G/TIP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2015 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, PREL, KCRM, KU 
SUBJECT: COORDINATED GOK ANTI-TIP EFFORT UNDERWAY 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 2618 
     B. STATE 108156 
     C. KUWAIT 2417 
     D. KUWAIT 1752 
 
Classified By: CDA Matthew Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (C) During a June 26 meeting with Ministry of Social 
Affairs and Labor (MOSAL) Acting Undersecretary Mohammed 
Al-Kandari, the DCM presented the ref B action strategy and 
reiterated the 60-day grace period for Tier 3 countries like 
Kuwait.  In reference to the strategy's first point, 
Al-Kandari said that the GOK had formed an inter-ministerial 
committee headed by MOSAL and composed of representatives 
from Commerce, Interior, Justice, and the Municipality of 
Kuwait to address specifically the treatment of domestics, 
one of two areas of concern highlighted in the 2005 
Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report.  Al-Kandari admitted 
that "we (the GOK) have to act very fast" to combat 
trafficking, recognizing the August 3 deadline to be 
considered for possible reclassification to Tier 2 Watch 
List. 
 
2. (C) Also in attendance, Assistant Undersecretary Adnan 
Al-Omar addressed the underage camel jockey issue, the second 
of two TIP problem areas.  According to Al-Omar, the use of 
child jockeys became more prevalent in Kuwait three years ago 
with many of the underage jockeys being family members of 
camel owners.  He added that although the Public Authority 
for Youth and Sport has direct responsibility over camel 
racing, the Ministry has repeated its threat to dissolve the 
Kuwait Camel Racing Club if children are found to be racing. 
Al-Omar said that on June 24 he had been the guest on a local 
television program on the subject of child camel jockeys. 
 
3. (C) The DCM asked that the GOK provide a comprehensive 
list of on-going, anti-TIP actions and advised that an 
official from G/TIP may visit in July; a meeting with the 
inter-ministerial committee would be useful.  He suggested 
expanding the worker hotline established in May (ref D) to 
include complaints from domestics facing lack of payment or 
abuse.  The DCM added that the U.S. can provide assistance in 
training the Kuwaiti judiciary and police in the necessary 
techniques to improve the GOK's ability to investigate and 
prosecute trafficking-related offenses.  The need for a media 
campaign to increase Kuwaitis' awareness of the domestic 
labor exploitation problem was another DCM suggestion. 
 
4. (C) The DCM requested that a follow-up meeting be 
scheduled in one week to assess progress on anti-TIP actions. 
 Al-Kandari advised that more time would be needed and 
suggested a meeting after two weeks.  The Ministry officials 
and DCM scheduled a July 10 meeting to discuss the 
committee's progress. 
 
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LEBARON