Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04QUITO3257
2004-12-17 22:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Quito
Cable title:  

DECEMBER TIP UPDATE

Tags:  PHUM PGOV PREL EC 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS QUITO 003257 

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL EC
SUBJECT: DECEMBER TIP UPDATE

REF: QUITO 3099

UNCLAS QUITO 003257

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL EC
SUBJECT: DECEMBER TIP UPDATE

REF: QUITO 3099


1. Summary. Ecuadorian police conducted 130 raids from
November 12 to December 9 and found 28 minors who may be
trafficking victims. The congressional committee reviewed
the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) bill, and it has been
amended and is ready for Congress' second reading. Several
embassies are committed to fighting trafficking, and we will
work with them to promote GOE engagement. The new Minister
of Government has named an undersecretary as his ministry's
POC on TIP. End Summary.

Police Conduct 130 Raids Looking for TIP Victims
-------------- --


2. The unit of the police dedicated to protecting children,
DINAPEN, conducted an impressive 130 raids from November 12 -
December 9. DINAPEN clarified that males found in these
raids are not believed to be TIP victims; they are usually
picked up for underage consumption of alcohol or, in a
lesser number of cases, soliciting the services of sexually
exploited females. Twenty-eight females were found who may
be trafficking victims.

TIP Bill Ready for Congress' Second Review
--------------


3. The congressional committee reviewing trafficking
legislation recently gave us the revised version Congress
will debate after the holidays. (A copy was emailed to
WHA/PPC and G/TIP on December 15.) The bill correctly
defines the crime of TIP and raises the age of consent to 18.
The penalties for traffickers range from 12 to 25 years, and
criminals typically receive a more severe sentence when the
victim is a minor. The ABA will travel to Ecuador in
mid-January and will review anti-TIP bills.

Diplomatic Community Supports Trafficking Fight
-------------- --


4. Several other embassies are interested in working to
encourage the GOE to fight TIP. We have spoken with the
Spanish, French, Peruvian, Colombian, Belgian, and Dutch
embassies between November 29 and December 9. All expressed
interest in cooperating with us and the GOE to combat TIP.
PolOff will contact the MFA and set up a joint meeting with
the other embassies to show the importance of combating
trafficking to jointly encourage GOE anti-TIP efforts.

New Advisor for TIP
--------------


5. On December 15, PolChief and PolOff met with newly-named
Undersecretary of Government Eduardo Ruiz, who was designated
by Government Minister Damerval to handle the TIP portfolio.
We explained the differences between trafficking and alien
smuggling, the USG's trafficking report and tier levels, and
our impressions of the GOE's efforts to fight TIP. We
encouraged Ruiz to convoke the GOE's inter-institutional
anti-TIP group, which his minister heads. He pledged to do
so, and said Minister Damerval was ready to lobby Congress in
support of pending anti-TIP legislation.
KENNEY