EMBASSY BRIEFS GOC ON USG EFFORTS ON TRAFFICKING

UNCLAS BOGOTA 002555

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KWMN KJUS KFRD CO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY BRIEFS GOC ON USG EFFORTS ON TRAFFICKING
IN PERSONS



1. On March 11, Consul General, Fraud Unit Chief, and
Political Officer briefed Government of Colombia (GOC)
officials and representatives from the International
Organization for Migration (IOM) on U.S. efforts to combat
trafficking in persons. This was the fourth briefing IOM has
organized between Embassy officials from destination
countries and the GOC. GOC participants included
representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Relations,
Department of Administrative Security (DAS)/Interpol,
Prosecutor General's Office ("Fiscalia"),Inspector General's
Office ("Procuraduria"),and the Institute for Family Welfare
(ICBF). The Embassies of Spain, Italy and the Netherlands
have previously participated.


2. GOC participants were primarily interested in consular
issues, such as the types of visas and how the Embassy works
with other entities of the USG and foreign embassies to
combat fraud. Embassy and GOC representatives also discussed
how to increase cooperation in sharing such information.
Embassy officials concluded by responding to questions on the
types of assistance available to trafficking victims in the
United States, the "T" visa (special visa for trafficking
victims),and the State Department's annual report on
trafficking in persons.

--------------
Comment
--------------


3. GOC representatives were very interested in increasing
cooperation with the Embassy. Embassy officials will
maintain contact and work on ways to collaborate. IOM also
notified Embassy of a March 30-31 international conference
they are sponsoring, in Bogota, on trafficking in persons. A
representative from the Department of Health and Human
Services has been invited.
WOOD