PROJECT PROPOSALS: VENEZUELAN NGO TAKES ON TIPS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 CARACAS 000202

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR INL/G/TIP ETERNO, MENARES-BURY, WHA/PPC MPUCCETTI
NSC FOR CBARTON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SMIG KCRM KWMN ELAB EAID VE
SUBJECT: PROJECT PROPOSALS: VENEZUELAN NGO TAKES ON TIPS

REF: STATE 265981

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Summary
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1. (U) Per reftel instructions, Embassy is submitting a
proposal by the NGO FUNDACEM for funding consideration. The
proposal includes research to understand Venezuela's
trafficking problem culminating in a published report,
developing training and public awareness materials, workshops
with government authorities and NGOs, public awareness
seminars for the general population, and legal and
sociological assistance for victims. In June 2004
Venezuela was dropped from Tier 2 to Tier 3 in the Annual
Trafficking in Persons Report because the GOV did not
acknowledge trafficking as a significant problem or meet
minimum standards for combating trafficking as established in
the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of

2003. FUNDACEM has GOV buy-in, previous experience with
studies and projects, and a network of NGOs making their
project both attractive and sustainable. A list of five
additional project proposals submitted to Embassy appear at
paragraph 5. We would also recommend the physical
infrastructure project as a second priority if funding is
available. End Summary.

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Background
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2. (U) In June 2004, Venezuela dropped from Tier 2 to Tier 3
per criteria established in the Trafficking Victims
Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003. While Venezuela is a
source, transit, and destination country for women and
children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation,
in 2003 the GOV did not acknowledge trafficking as a
significant problem and made no substantial efforts to comply
with minimum standards to combat it. While human rights
organizations and police have received some complaints about
trafficking, no comprehensive statistics about trafficking
exist in Venezuela.


3. (U) There has been some minor progress in 2004 and early

2005. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) chaired an
interdepartmental working group created in January to develop
plans to combat trafficking in persons. While the plans are
unimplemented, the working group does exist, with the Crime
Prevention section of the Ministry of Interior and Justice
identified as the lead organization in the GOV,s emerging
efforts to combat trafficking. The International
Organization for Migration (IOM) is holding a two-day
anti-tip conference under the auspicious of the OAS in
Caracas Jan. 27-28. Representatives from the Crime
Prevention section will be there. Also, the Crime Prevention
representatives asked CEM, not INAMUJER, to coordinate with
other women's NGOs to participate in a meeting to begin
discussing the trafficking situation. CEM has been working on
women's rights issues for 12 years and has recently created
and is continuing to work on a national NGO network of
women's groups. Although progress is slow, the USG's efforts
have increased awareness of trafficking in persons as a
growing regional and national problem both within the GOV and
the NGO community that focuses on women and children.

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The Proposal
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4. (U) TITLE: Spotlighting and Fighting Trafficking in Women
of All Ages in Venezuela

ORGANIZATION: FUNDACEM, the operational arm of the Center for
Women's Studies (CEM) Universidad Central de Venezuela

DURATION: 18 months

DESCRIPTION: The project is to be carried out in 4 stages
including: research, preparation of materials for training
and distribution, seminars and working groups to raise
awareness and training with authorities and the general
public, and publication of results. The project includes
researching the problem of trafficking in Venezuela,
collecting and analyzing statistical information as well as
information presented throughout the awareness and prevention
training, and publishing the results. CEM will prepare
materials for training working groups, the authorities, and
for a public information campaign. Awareness and prevention
training is to be directed at anti-trafficking actors in
Venezuela like the police and prosecutors, the Ministries,
the Protection Councils, the judicial system, service
providers (medical, etc. and NGOs through working groups and
forums with speakers. CEM's project proposal also includes
an informational campaign to raise awareness for the general
public, and workshops throughout the country given by
various NGOs (most of which have previously dealt with
prostitution or violence against women and children). The
project would also provide funding for legal and sociological
attention for victims and women at risk.

JUSTIFICATION: CEM's proposal is a comprehensive program that
addresses Venezuela's lack of information about its
trafficking in persons problem, the absence of public
awareness, and the authorities' lack of training and
trafficking information. It addresses victim care with legal
and mental counseling. The strengthening and training of a
NGO network to address anti-trafficking needs would be a
positive and effective asset for sustainability of
anti-trafficking programs. The CEM has both previous
experience working with the GOV and buy-in from the GOV as
evidenced by the Crime Prevention sections request for
assistance on an anti-trafficking meeting with other NGOs.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS: Increased visibility of the
trafficking in persons problem, distribution of printed
materials throughout Venezuela in different geographical and
social areas, increased capacity for the authorities to
combat trafficking and specific action plans to prevent
trafficking and assist victims, putting trafficking in
persons on the agenda for NGOs and human rights groups, and a
significant number of personnel trained to assist victims and
provide further training.

EVALUATION PLAN: CEM directors will evaluate progress every
trimester, meeting with trained government officials and NGO
representatives. They will attend follow-on workshops and
training sessions and analyze reports from experts working to
assist victims.

BUDGET BREAKOUT: In USD

Administrative/Professional assistance staff 12,000
Research
9,000
Preparation of Working Groups-team and design 12,000
Editing of Final Report 3,000

Design and printing of publicity materials 12,000
Logistics/Publicity for working groups/seminars 30,600
Regional Experts and Speakers 20,500
Bank Costs 14,865

TOTAL 113,965

PROPOSED FUNDING MECHANISM: Grant

EMBASSY POINT OF CONTACT: Carolina Hidea, Political Section.
Phone: (0212) 907-8493. Fax: (0212) 907-8033. Email:
hideac@state.gov.


5. (U) Five other proposals were submitted but not selected.
None were as comprehensive as the chosen proposal and limited
to certain states or populations. The CEM also has
government buy-in and is well established with the ability to
sustain the project after USG funding expires.

--A House and Home. Submitted by: Women,s Association for
Well-being and Reciprocal Assistance (AMBAR) (NGO). Budget
$129,375. Shelter for victims of trafficking.

--International Trafficking in Women for Sexual Exploitation
in Venezuela. Submitted by: IOM. Budget $120,000. Based off
Peru project.

--Information Campaign to Confront the Sexual Exploitation of
Children and Trafficking in Persons. Submitted by: AMBAR.
Budget $116,000.

--Training the Authorities for Trafficking in Persons and
Information Exchange. Submitted by: AMBAR. Budget $95,750.

--A Childhood and Adolescents Free of Smuggling, Trafficking
and Exploitation. Submitted by: UNICEF. Budget $135,000.


6. (U) As a second priority, Embassy recommends "A House and
Home" project with an 18 month duration submitted by AMBAR as
a physical infrastructure project. AMBAR has worked on
large-scale projects with victims of sexual exploitation in
the past including an assistance and rehabilitation program
limited by funding.

DESCRIPTION: The purpose is to create a shelter for women,
children and adolescents who were victims of trafficking or
sexual abuse. Psychological, medical, legal, and
educational/professional training services and a familial
environment would be provided to prepare the children for
reentry into their family (when possible) or societal group.
Services would also be provided to parents and family members
of those living in the shelter, especially through workshops
and specialized training. Some specialized professionals
would need to be hired and additional training provided to
current staff members. Follow-up with victims would occur
after they left the shelter through home visits and monthly
meetings at the shelter. With a trained staff and facilities,
the project that began with USG funds could continue
indefinitely.



BROWNFIELD