Baden-Wuerttemberg NGOs Target TIP Demand Reduction

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 FRANKFURT 003004 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PGOV KWMN SMIG GM SUBJECT: Baden-Wuerttemberg NGOs Target TIP Demand Reduction REF: A) 04 FRANKFURT 6697, B) BERLIN 0692, C) 04 STATE 166443 Sensitive but unclassified; not for Internet distribution ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Baden-Wuerttemberg NGO Women's Information Center (Fraueninformationszentrum) and Protestant charity Diakonisches Werk (DW) have pioneered a new TIP (trafficking in persons) secular outreach program centered on reducing demand for trafficking victims forced to work as prostitutes. The initiative includes TV commercials, an Internet website, and a podium discussion entitled "Men Bear Responsibilities" at this year's Lutheran Church Congress in Hannover to explain the link between customer demand and increased TIP victimization in order to build awareness among men. The program is part of a nationwide initiative by the Protestant Church to promote demand reduction as an effective long-term strategy for combating TIP. END SUMMARY. -------------- Baden-Wuerttemberg TIP Overview -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Baden-Wuerttemberg reported 98 TIP victims in 2003, up from 27 in 1999. Most victims come from Eastern Europe and are in their teens. Law enforcement and government officials attribute the increase to relaxed border controls in the lead-up to EU enlargement in 2004. The Baden- Wuerttemberg Social Ministry has announced plans to implement the federal government's "cooperation concept," bringing together government officials, NGOs, law enforcement agencies, health care providers and immigration offices to assist TIP victims who testify against traffickers. The program provides pre- and post-trial assistance to these women and facilitates return to their countries of origin. -------------- Focusing Attention of Customers on Victims -------------- ¶3. (SBU) FIZ (Fraueninformationszentrum) Deputy Chairperson Traute Wolk explained that changing the attitudes of prospective customers of trafficked prostitutes was crucial to making progress against TIP. Diakonisches Werk convened a workshop in December of 2004 targeting demand reduction and the responsibility of male clients of prostitution to identify possible TIP victims. The workshop included representatives from the Family Ministry and other parts of the federal government. Wolk told ConGen representative that FIZ and Diakonisches Werk would soon debut a multimedia initiative targeting men to raise their awareness of the problem. The program will include a website and two television commercials ("Human trafficking - why does it concern me?" and the short film "Lilya - 4 Ever") that depict the fate of trafficked women. This year's German Protestant Church Congress (an annual three-day series of events sponsored by the Protestant Church and open to the public) in Hannover will include a discussion of this topic as part of the "Men Bear Responsibilities" campaign. The coalition distributed over 32,000 copies of its flyer "Prostitution and Human Trafficking -- Why Should We Care?" in 2004 and convened a working-level meeting focused on demand reduction for TIP experts in March. ¶4. (U) The FIZ also plans to target traditionally male- dominated clubs (e.g., for sports or hunting),particularly in rural areas. The effort includes speakers who will explain TIP to male audiences, providing potential male customers a list of signs that might indicate a prostitute is a TIP victim. -------------- Assistance to TIP Victims -------------- ¶5. (U) Wolk has extensive experience in TIP issues. The organization has provided assistance to TIP victims since 1988 and receives funding from the Baden-Wuerttemberg government. FIZ assistance ranges from counseling to immigration assistance and German language training. The FIZ and Diakonisches Werk also provide housing to TIP victims not selected to participate in the state's witness protection program. (NOTE: Not all victims are selected as witnesses for each individual case, since B-W prosecutors typically do not need all the TIP victims in a given case to testify as the information supplied varies little from victim to victim -- END NOTE.) They also maintain contact with women's NGOs in many TIP countries of origin, working with the latter to facilitate victim repatriation. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) As part of a Mission Germany effort, the Consul General stressed strong USG support for state-level measures to reduce TIP demand as part of the 2004 benchmarks for Germany (ref C) in calls on the Interior Ministers from Hesse, Baden-Wuerttemberg, and Rheinland-Pfalz. This NGO initiative demonstrates B-W's growing recognition of the need to address demand for trafficked prostitutes as part of preventing and fighting TIP. END COMMENT. BODDE _______________________________ 1Needs a Hamburg clearance (Hannover conference).