ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) PROJECT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 003435

SIPDIS

STATE FOR G/TIP, INL, WHA/PPC, WHA/CEN, PRM, AND DRL
DOL FOR ILAB
STATE PASS AID FOR EGAT/WID
JUSTICE FOR OPDAT
PANAMA FOR CUSTOMS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM PHUM SMIG PREL ELAB EAID KPAO KWMN HO
SUBJECT: ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) PROJECT
PROPOSALS FOR HONDURAS

REF: STATE 224985


1. Post welcomes the opportunity to submit anti-Trafficking
in Persons (TIP) project proposals. After discussing reftel
among the Political, Public Affairs, and Consular Sections,
as well as INS and USAID, Post proposes two Honduras-specific
program recommendations. Embassy is also collaborating with
other regional embassies on a regional project to
survey/measure the extent of TIP in Central America, to be
submitted separately. Post also strongly supports a proposal
previously submitted by the Department of Justice's Criminal
Division's Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance,
and Training (OPDAT) for anti-TIP training to Central
American prosecutors and police. Post believes that it is
essential that any regional anti-TIP programs be coordinated
with the DOL-funded International Labor Organization's
International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor
(ILO-IPEC) project "Contribution to the Prevention and
Elimination of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in
Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic," a
three-year, approximately USD 3.8 million, project that began
June 30, 2002.


2.

Project I
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A.PROJECT: Public Awareness Campaign Regarding Severe Forms
of Trafficking in Persons (TIP)
B.ORGANIZATION: A variety of GOH agencies, NGOs, and
international organizations, such as the Office of the First
Lady, National Women's Institute, Institute of the Child and
the Family (IHNFA),Ministry of Labor, Public Ministry,
Immigration, Casa Alianza, Human Rights Commission, IOM,
UNDP, and UNICEF.
C.DURATION: 2 years
D.OBJECTIVE: (1) To focus Honduran audiences on the existence
of TIP, especially those affecting women and children; (2) to
organize a forum of GOH agencies, NGOs, and international
organizations (listed above) to address the problem of TIP
and seek public policies to combat it. This forum would
build on the already exisiting commission to combat
commercial child sexual exploitation that includes many of
the same organizations.
E.JUSTIFICATION: Honduran authorities and the general public
need to focus attention on the problem of TIP, especially
those involving women and children. Many human rights
organizations have not included TIP as a top priority in
their organization's agenda. The media has reported
incidences of TIP, but there has been no public service
campaign against TIP. With a per capita GDP of USD 920 and
approximately half the population of Honduras under age 16,
poverty and unemployment exacerbate the number of potential
TIP victims.
F.PERFORMANCE MEASURES: Radio and TV campaigns; audience
levels can be determined. Number of hot line calls to
prevention center can be tallied. Statistics on number of
victims assisted and/or criminals prosecuted.
G.BUDGET BREAKOUT: 100,000 USD/year to develop and place
radio and TV public service announcements (PSAs) involving
sports and cultural figures and for sponsoring a forum in
Honduras of interested parties. Recent studies in Honduras
have found that the frequency of PSAs is the key to having an
impact on society. Unfortunately, Honduran radio and TV
stations do not run PSAs free of charge. Seed money
(approximately USD 10,000 of the USD 100,000 total budget) to
launch a national forum on TIP.
H.GOH CONTRIBUTION? In-kind support.
I.OTHER DONOR COUNTRIES CONTRIBUTING? none
J.PROPOSED FUNDING MECHANISM: Public Affairs Section grants
to the co-sponsoring institutions.
K.EMBASSY POINT OF CONTACT: Derrick Olsen, Deputy Political
Chief/Labor Attache, (504) 236-9320, ext. 4394, and Melissa
Cooper, Public Affairs Officer, (504) 236-9320 ext. 4139.

Project II
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A.PROJECT: Assistance to Victims of Trafficking
B.ORGANIZATION: Governmental agencies Honduran Institute of
the Child and the Family (IHNFA) or National Women's
Institute, NGO Women's Studies Center (CEM-H),or UNICEF.
C.DURATION: 2 years
D.OBJECTIVE: Assist victims of trafficking, primarily women
and children, to reinsert themselves into productive society,
by providing counseling, education, and social support.
E.JUSTIFICATION: Victims of trafficking may be reticent to
become active members of society because of the stigma of
their exploitation. Victims often lack life skills and have
substance abuse problems, thus making reinsertion difficult.
F.PERFORMANCE MEASURES: Number of victims served.
G.BUDGET BREAKOUT: 50,000 USD/year to establish a counseling
center, have NGO train IHNFA staff, provide training to
clients.
H.GOH CONTRIBUTION: In-kind contributions from IHNFA or
National Women's Institute.
I.OTHER DONOR COUNTRIES CONTRIBUTING? none
J.PROPOSED FUNDING MECHANISM: Public Affairs Section grants
to IHNFA or National Women's Institute.
K.EMBASSY POINT OF CONTACT: Derrick Olsen, Deputy Political
Chief/Labor Attache, (504) 236-9320, ext. 4394.
Palmer