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