GUATEMALA TIP PROJECT PROPOSALS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUATEMALA 000779 SIPDIS STATE FOR G/TIP, WHA/PPC, DRL/IL AND WHA/CEN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FOR ILAB DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR OPDAT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG ASEC PREF ELAB GT SUBJECT: GUATEMALA TIP PROJECT PROPOSALS REF: A. STATE 28738 ¶B. GUATEMALA 508 ¶1. Summary: The new Government of Guatemala is giving TIP priority attention. A major step forward has been the creation of an anti-TIP unit in the Public Ministry's Office of the Special Prosecutor for Women, which is taking the lead on TIP investigations and has launched a series of operations to rescue victims and arrest traffickers. We believe that providing material support for this new unit has the strongest potential benefit for USG TIP interests. The GOG has also requested USG support for victim assistance programs for a planned shelter for TIP victims, which we include as a possible future project. We also note that OPDAT anti-TIP training is already planned for August 2004. End Summary. ¶2. A. Title: Strengthening Law Enforcement Project We request G/TIP support of $86,000 in 2004 to purchase equipment (vehicles and computer equipment) and supplies for the new GOG anti-TIP unit. ¶B. Background: Of greatest immediate priority under the Embassy's anti-TIP strategy is the support we can provide to GOG law enforcement efforts to combat TIP. The GOG has demonstrated the political will to combat TIP by forming the new anti-TIP unit within the Prosecutor for Women's Office. The unit is staffed by the Prosecutor for Women, an auxiliary prosecutor, and two agents. The unit has already launched a series of operations in coordination with the national civilian police and the Immigration Directorate to rescue victims (six minors engaged in prostitution have been rescued thus far) and arrest traffickers (five are in custody). Members of the unit received DHS TIP training during the week of March 22 (with approximately 400 government law enforcement and judicial officials). The new unit is led by an energetic and committed individual, but lacks resources to perform effectively. To achieve results, transportation and information system upgrades will give the unit greater mobility (it has national responsibility, but is forced to depend on the Public Ministry's inadequate motor pool resources to travel outside the capital). ¶C. Project Description: --1) Goal: Provide support which gives the anti-TIP unit the means to effectively combat TIP by rescuing victims and 
arresting traffickers. --2) Objectives: Double the rate of rescues/arrests of TIP victims and traffickers. --3) Activities: Purchase two 4WD vehicle at $40,000 each. Purchase three computers at $2000 each. --4) Timeline: One year. --5) Sustainability: The Public Ministry will maintain the equipment after purchase. Embassy will monitor the use of the equipment and report on the productivity of the unit's anti-TIP efforts. --6) Performance Indicators: Number of arrests/rescues of TIP victims before and after USG material support. --7) Evaluation Plan: Embassy will collect data on arrests and rescues at the time equipment is provided, and monthly until the end of March 2005, when they will be reported to G/TIP. --8) Cost estimates: 2x4WD vehicles (at $40,000 each): $80,000 3xcomputers (at $2,000 each): $ 6,000 Total: $86,000 ¶3. A. Title: Victim's Assistance Project We request G/TIP consideration of future support to a new Government shelter for TIP victims, to be created by the Government Secretariat for Social Welfare and run by an NGO. Program and equipment support of $71,250 for the first year of operation would commence once the shelter is established (planned for later this year). The GOG shelter would complement the network of NGO-based shelters proposed by USAID. ¶B. Background: The GOG plans to create a new shelter for adolescent TIP victims, to implement its commitments under the National Action Plan Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents, approved by the Cabinet in 2001. The Government Secretariat for Social Welfare is charged with providing integrated protection and services to victims under the Plan. ¶C. Project Description: --1) Goal: Provide support to a new government shelter for TIP victims. The shelter is located in Coatepeque, an urban center near the Mexican border and on the main coastal highway to the Guatemalan-Mexican border. --2) Objectives: Provide integrated assistance and rehabilitation to up to 60 child and adolescent TIP victims of sexual exploitation between ages 11-17. --3) Activities: A multi-disciplinary team would provide the following services to victims: mental health (emergency, individual and group therapy, detox) health services (treatment, exams, prevention) education and vocational training legal counsel (in coordination with prosecutors to charge TIP traffickers) social support (case planning, domestic visits, re-insertion in family and community, follow-up once victim leaves shelter) prevention (participation in network of shelters) --4) Timeline: one year, renewable if funding permits --5) Sustainability: The Presidential Secretariat for Social Welfare will assume any ongoing program costs. --6) Performance Indicators: Number of shelter staff trained and TIP victims served. --7) Evaluation Plan: Embassy will monitor monthly number of victims served and report results at the end of the project period. --8) Cost estimates: teaching materials: 1,875 vehicles: 20,625 travel: 2,500 training workshops: 31,250 microenterprise credits: 12,500 staff training: 2,500 Total: $73,250 ¶4. Embassy POC for TIP-related issues is Political Officer Erik Hall, who can be reached at (502) 331-1541 ext. 4635; fax: (502) 334-8474. HAMILTON