TIP IN ECUADOR: TRAINING, RAIDS, AND THE ABA'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 QUITO 002595

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR WHA/PPC, WHA/AND, AND G/TIP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL EC
SUBJECT: TIP IN ECUADOR: TRAINING, RAIDS, AND THE ABA'S
PROJECT

REF: QUITO 2519


1. (U) Summary. The International Labor Organization (ILO)
and Ecuadorian police began their joint training series on
September 23 to teach the police about commercial sexual
exploitation of minors (CSEM). The police conducted 25 raids
from September 3 to 8 and rescued 30 minors. The American
Bar Association (ABA) continued its project to combat
trafficking in persons (TIP) in Ecuador by sending experts on
September 20 to analyze the problem and suggest additional
solutions. The press actively reported on alien smuggling
and TIP issues, such as the accusations that several
officials (including Jorge Poveda, the head of the National
Police) supported alien smugglers, and the decision that
Amcit Joseph Day, suspected of child pornography, will be
prosecuted first in Ecuador and then in the U.S. End Summary.

-------------- --------------
DINAPEN: CSEM TRAINING BEGINS AND RAIDS CONTINUE
-------------- --------------


2. (U) On September 23 - 24, the ILO kicked off its series of
training sessions with DINAPEN, the unit of the police that
protects children. The police are providing partial
financing. Seven two-day training sessions will occur to
train all 250 DINAPEN police in Ecuador. A full day of the
training focuses on CSEM. Sessions included an analysis of
CSEM in Ecuador, the government's policy on protecting
children, and a small group session to plan intervention and
prevention strategies. PolOff attended the opening session.


3. (U) At a breakfast with the Ambassador on September 24,
Minister of Government Raul Baca told her that at the
training, the police offered to allocate additional vehicles
to use in DINAPEN raids. Baca also said he recently
discussed the importance of TIP with President Gutierrez and
encouraged him to make it a priority.


4. (U) DINAPEN continued raiding establishments suspected of
employing child prostitutes. From September 3 to 8, DINAPEN
conducted 25 raids and found 30 minors. (Report faxed to
WHA/PPC on September 22.) All children were returned to
relatives. Fully two-thirds of the minors were found in
Azuay province although only 3 raids were conducted there.
In addition to the 30 minors believed to be engaged in
prostitution, police found an additional 62 minors in these
raids, some of whom were abandoned, living on the streets,
and inhaling glue fumes.

--------------
ABA BEGINS ITS PROJECT IN ECUADOR
--------------


5. (U) The ABA sent two TIP experts from Johns Hopkins
University to Quito from September 20 to 24. The experts
analyzed the TIP problem in Ecuador, met with charities and
NGOs that may be able to assist victims, and will report on
their findings and suggested ways for combating TIP to us.
They are expected to attend some of the DINAPEN training
sessions on September 24. They also will return in November
to conduct site visits to areas where TIP is a particular
problem.

-------------- --------------
PRESS REPORTS ACCUSATIONS OF ALIEN SMUGGLING AND PORNOGRAPHY
-------------- --------------


6. (SBU) A suspected migrant smuggler accused General Poveda,
several other police officers, and members of the military of
also being involved in alien smuggling. Attorney General
Mariana Yepez is investigating the accusations, and no
charges have been made. Embassy sources cannot confirm the
accusations; they may be retaliatory or a ploy to gain
leniency. However, we will consider closely our ties with
Poveda should facts bear out accusations.


7. (U) On September 22, "El Comercio" newspaper reported that
a judge in Guayaquil reaffirmed his decision to deny the
attorney general's request to extradite Joseph Day to the
U.S. on child pornography charges. Day will be tried in
Ecuador on charges of minor corruption. (There are currently
no laws penalizing child pornography, but the Ministry of
Government is drafting a law to criminalize child pornography
and use of the Internet for this purpose.) The media reports
that after being tried in Ecuador, he will be deported to the
U.S. for a trial on child pornography charges. This case
appears in "El Comercio" and several other newspapers
frequently and has raised public consciousness about child
pornography.


8. (U) At the ILO/DINAPEN training, Baca publicly spoke about
the importance of fighting CSEM. He said training the police
was vital. Media was present, and PolOff will notify the
Department next week of any mention on television or in the
newspaper of Baca's speech.


9. (U) Comment. PolOff recently gave Ecuadorian officials
the Tier 2 Watch List action plan. We will continue to work
with them and NGOs to encourage them to comply and provide
the Department with a report by November 15. The Embassy
will encourage congresspeople to speak out against TIP and
enact the pending anti-TIP legislation in a quick manner. We
also will follow up with the ILO and DINAPEN to monitor the
training series in other provinces. End Comment.
KENNEY