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."