TIP: NEW MALAWI GOVERNMENT WORKING TO ADDRESS ROOT

UNCLAS LILONGWE 001022

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP (YOUSEY)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2014
TAGS: PHUM KCRM KWMN MI HIV AIDS
SUBJECT: TIP: NEW MALAWI GOVERNMENT WORKING TO ADDRESS ROOT
CAUSES

REF: A. LILONGWE 710


B. STATE 184081

SUMMARY
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1. (U) Charge and poloff paid an introductory call on
Malawi's Minister of Gender, Child Welfare, and Community
Services, Joyce Banda on October 28. Charge used the
opportunity to follow up on the previously raised issue of
trafficking in persons (TIP) (reftel A),a topic Banda was
eager to discuss. While she expressed some frustration with
the USG's TIP policy, Banda said that the new Malawi
government recognizes the seriousness of the problem and is
taking steps to address the root causes of human trafficking.
END SUMMARY.


CONTEXT, PERSPECTIVE, AND REALITY
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2. (U) The GOM's approach to TIP is that it is a symptom of
a larger problem, and that the underlying causes must be
addressed in order to reduce all forms of TIP. Banda pointed
out that a growing number of households in Malawi are headed
by orphans whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS. A struggling
economy, oppressive poverty, soaring HIV/AIDS infection
rates, and low access to education also limit options for
prosperity. Prostitution, she said, is not an organized
activity and is usually the last resort a young woman may
have in order to survive. Banda said that while disagreeing
with the data in the TIP report, the GOM could not ignore the
existence of TIP - even if it hadn't understood the
definition - and had to "look at the problem critically and
move to work against it".


THE GOM'S SHORT TERM ACCOMPLISHMENTS...
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3. (SBU) Banda noted that following our previous
conversation about trafficking, she passed a copy of the 2003
TIP Report and her concerns about it (and the overall issue)
along to President Mutharika. According to Banda, the
President then called an inter-ministerial meeting to discuss
both the report and the problem. Since that time, she said,
the GOM has developed a National Gender Program to address
cross-cutting gender issues in Malawi. In May, the new
administration conducted a rapid assessment of the situation
of orphans in the country and determined that they are at
particular risk for various forms of exploitation. To counter
this, the GOM has developed and will soon begin implementing
a national action plan for orphans and vulnerable children,
which will aim to reduce the root causes of victimization.
The GOM, with assistance from NGOs and other donors, has paid
the school fees for more than 600 students this year, and the
Minister hopes to reach a target of assisting 10,000 orphans
to return to school in the next year.


...AND LONG TERM STRATEGY
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4. (U) The national action plan for orphans and vulnerable
children will be launched on November 8 with initial training
for more than 200 new child protection officers in every
district of the country. The plan, which is slated to last
for five years, includes six key strategies: Capacity
building, beginning with the initial training and placement
of the officers in each constituency of the country;
household and community education; protection of children in
danger; assistance to victims; skills building, including
vocational training and life skills; and strengthened legal
protections for children and orphans.


COMMENT
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5. (SBU) Banda is new to government, having spent her entire
career working with NGOs as an advocate for the rights of
women and children. She is an energetic public servant who
has clearly placed TIP high on her agenda. She noted that
the new government of President Mutharika is taking the issue
seriously and that the President has taken a personal
interest. Additional work is underway in other sectors of
government to combat the problem. Charge and poloff have, in
numerous meetings with GOM officials, raised the points in
reftel B. Further GOM action will be reported septel.
GILMOUR