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Gulf states cited for slavery; Boys starved, sold as camel jockeys

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Sunday, June 5, 2005

The United States has determined that Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia tolerate what the State Department termed involuntary servitude, or slavery.

The four Gulf Cooperation Council states could face U.S. sanctions unless they improve their record by September 2005, stated a State Department report, entitled "Trafficking in Persons."

Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE denied the findings of the State Department report, Middle East Newsline reported. Officials said the U.S. report was relayed to both countries.

The UAE imports thousands of boys — some as young as six years old — to serve as jockeys for camel races, the report said. In some cases, the boys were starved to make them lighter.

"Some were sold by their parents to traffickers, and others were brought into the UAE by their parents," the report said. "A large number of foreign women were lured into the UAE under false pretenses and subsequently forced into sexual servitude, primarily by criminals of their own countries."

"Saudi Arabia lacks laws criminalizing most trafficking offenses," the report said.

The State Department said Saudi Arabia has failed to outlaw human trafficking or protect domestic workers. The kingdom also ignored the lion's share of complaints by foreign workers.

"Most abuses involving foreign workers are dealt with by Islamic law, royal decrees, and ministerial resolutions; few are submitted to criminal prosecution," the report said.

Officials said U.S. sanctions could include the loss of non-humanitarian and non-trade-related assistance. They said Saudi Arabia and 13 other countries deemed as major violators could also be excluded from U.S. cultural and educational exchange programs.

"We have [in Saudi Arabia] domestic workers being brought in from many countries into domestic servitude, child beggars, a lot of beatings, reports of beatings, and rape — very difficult to get shelter, no convictions," John Miller, the senior adviser for human trafficking at the State Department, said.

The State Department established three classifications regarding the efforts of countries to combat human trafficking. Tier 1 countries were those deemed as in compliance with the minimum standards outlined in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. Tier 2 countries were not in compliance with the minimum standards, but determined to have addressed the problem.

Tier 3 countries were designated as failing to make significant efforts to combat trafficking. The four GCC states were placed in Tier 3.

"If they stay in Tier 3, it will require sanctions," Miller said.

"However, the reason why I hope this will not take place is under the law, there are now three months for any government in Tier 3 to take significant steps against trafficking and we're prepared to work with these governments."


Copyright © 2005 East West Services, Inc.

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