THE GAMBIA: TIP DEMARCHE DELIVERED

UNCLAS BANJUL 000375 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR G/TIP, AF/W E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV KCRM KWMN SMIG GA SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: TIP DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: (a) STATE 085477 (b) BANJUL 64 ¶1. (U) On June 5, Post delivered Trafficking in Persons (TIP) demarche (ref a) to the Foreign Ministry. Copies of demarche and country report were delivered to the Vice President, Secretary General, Attorney General, Secretary of State for Interior and Secretary of State for Health & Social Welfare. On June 12 SIPDIS poloff met with senior Justice Ministry officials and the Director of the Gambian Interagency Anti-TIP task force to review in detail The Gambia's Tier Two rating. ¶2. (U) The Justice Department officials were pleased and relieved to learn that The Gambia had moved up to Tier Two from Tier Two Watch list. Poloff congratulated them on the progress made to date, while advising that continued progress and attention to combating TIP is essential, particularly passage of comprehensive Anti-Trafficking legislation. The Embassy has scheduled additional meetings with the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Department of Social Welfare to review this year's TIP Report and reiterate need for further progress toward achieving Tier One placement. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: As noted in the TIP report, The Gambia made noticeable progress in combating trafficking in 2005, but continued USG support for the GOTG's efforts is essential to continue that progress and to prevent any slippage. Capacity building in law enforcement is necessary and has been consistently requested by our contacts in Justice and Interior Ministries. Post repeats its request (ref B) for Anti-TIP ESF funds for a U.S. Department of Justice International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) in The Gambia. END COMMENT. STAFFORD