Kuwait must implement anti-human trafficking measures

And finally for today, it seems like Kuwait will drop back down to level 3 in the USA's State Department Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report.

Kuwait must intensify efforts to tackle human trafficking problem

KUWAIT CITY : Kuwait might again land in Tier 3 in the US Security Department’s Trafficking-in Persons (TIP) report for 2008, Charge d’ Affaires at the US Embassy in Kuwait Alan Misenheimer told Al-Qabas. In a letter forwarded to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, Misenheimer clarified Kuwait was included in Tier 3 in the 2007 TIP report but was later put in Tier 2 through a presidential decree issued in Oct, 2007. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TPVA) of 2000 lists three factors to be considered in determining whether a country should be in Tier 2 (or Tier 2 Watch List) or in Tier 3: the extent to which the country is a country of origin, transit or destination for severe forms of trafficking; the extent to which the government of the country does not comply with TVPA’s minimum standards, in particular, the extent of the government’s trafficking-related corruption; and the resources and capabilities of the government to address and eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons. Governments that do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so are placed in Tier 3.

Concrete
Misenheimer explained Kuwait was placed in Tier 2 after its government took concrete steps to address the issue, which include the establishment of a shelter for runaway household helpers, enactment of the anti-trafficking law, and increased number of trials and verdicts on trafficking in persons cases. He added the government also offered training programs for law enforcement officers, lawyers and judges on ways to enhance their skills in investigating and prosecuting human traffickers and identifying the victims. However, Misenheimer pointed out these steps are not enough as Kuwait failed to make and remarkable progress and this might result in its being placed in Tier 3 again in the 2008 TIP report. He called on the Kuwaiti authorities to intensify their efforts to address the problem. He also proposed the issuance of an Amiri decree to combat human trafficking in the country and serve as an example to other countries. He said the US Embassy is willing to help Kuwait eradicate this negative phenomenon. On the other hand, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor assessed the existing laws in Kuwait vis-à-vis a proposed anti-trafficking bill and found a number of similarities.

Proven
Article 179 of Kuwait’s law stipulates a punishment of life imprisonment on anyone proven to have abducted a person below 21 years old which, the Ministry said, is also included in the proposed bill. Other similarities found include Article 184 on imposing a three-year jail term on those trafficking in domestic workers while Article 185 stipulates a maximum of five years imprisonment for those who ‘buy or sell’ a person as a slave.

Once again no doubt, we will see lots of denial, attempts to shift blame (it's all a jewish conspiracy, how dare the USA comment on our problems when they have their own problems such as Guantanamo, Abu-Graib, etc, blah, blah, blah...) and pleading to get back up to level 2 again. And, Bush will probably cave in again. I wonder if the next President will be as easily coerced.