SRI LANKA: PROPOSAL FOR INCLE FUNDS

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000219

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KWMN CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: PROPOSAL FOR INCLE FUNDS

REF: 2005 STATE 221416


1. Summary: Per Reftel request, this message contains
Post's endorsement for the International Organization of
Migration (IOM)'s proposal to combat trafficking in
persons. IOM representatives informed us they have
forwarded the proposal directly to G/TIP. IOM
has a proven track record within Sri Lanka and has
worked closely with the Attorney General's office
to strengthen anti-trafficking legislation as well
as with local NGOs to assist victims of
trafficking. IOM's proposed project, budgeted for
299,985 USD, addresses improved prosecution,
legislation, and protection for victims. Post
fully endorses IOM's proposal. End summary.


2. Project Description:

IOM will focus on the following areas to support
the Sri Lankan authorities to combat trafficking:
-Prosecution and Criminalization Assistance
(64,200 USD)
-Legislation and Advocacy (29,866 USD)
-Protection and Reintegration (in partnership with
the NGO Women in Need (WiN)) (145,249 USD)

Prosecution and Criminalization Assistance
--------------

KAP (Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices) survey:
-IOM will do a KAP survey on TiP of law
enforcement, border control and
lawmakers.

Skills-building and materials:
-On the basis of the survey results, IOM will
develop multi-media publications based on existing
IOM training materials (IOM Counter-Trafficking
Training Module on capacity-building; law-
enforcement manuals originally developed for IOM
Ukraine, manuals for Sri Lankan border control, etc.
-IOM will hold practical skills-building workshops
to assist police officers, border control
officials, SLBFE staff, prosecutors and judges to
accurately recognize and process VoTs and refer
them to appropriate services.
-Materials will present past Sri Lankan cases and
review investigative and prosecuting options and
techniques through hypothetical case scenarios.
-Workshops will familiarize participants with
changes to TiP-related laws resulting from the new
Act, including the concept of abuse of a position
of vulnerability.
-Senior Government of Sri Lanka GSL, NGO, IOM,
and foreign consular personnel, will assist as
facilitators or speakers.
-GSL participants will give their time, input and
feedback.

Case management database software development:
-IOM will support the development for key
personnel (in the AG's Department and the Police)
of case management database software
-IOM will provide a data entry operator (within
the AG's Department, which will provide office
space) to input existing and new TiP-related
cases, and to train key personnel to use the
software to access and manage cases.
-IOM and relevant GOSL agencies will ensure that
adequate data security is built into the software
and the system and that users respect this.

Technical equipment and training:
-To support the use of the tools, IOM will
provide, in the framework of law enforcement
trainings, internet-linked IT equipment, and train
key staff in their use to allow them to research
and access case data.
-The GOSL will identify personnel to access the
tools and undergo training and will give their
time for training.

Technical assistance to Central Authority:
-IOM will provide technical assistance to support
the Central Authority in executing its judicial
cooperation functions under the terms of the
Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act of 2002.
-The Authority will assist the Central Investigative
Division (CID) to collect evidence and share
information with appropriate foreign investigative
authorities, inform IOM of TiP-related enforcement
measures, and seek advice and support in case of
repatriation measures for VoTs.

Institutions established/Coordination:
-IOM will advocate for the GOSL to assign an anti-
trafficking focal point - a key staff person in
the police department - and an anti-trafficking
working group in parallel with the anti-smuggling
focal point and working group.
-The focal point will receive training as part of
this project.

Networking and study visits:
-IOM has previously organized networking and study
visits for key GOSL migration management officials
to the USA, Europe (including Interpol) and in the
region. Consequently, GOSL law enforcement
personnel have relationships with their
counterparts in the FBI, ICE, and European
immigration authorities.
-This project will develop this cooperation
through study tours of personnel working to
counter TiP. The visits will allow decision-making
law enforcement and SLBFE personnel to observe how
law enforcement systems function in relation to
TiP and to encourage networking with U.S.
counterparts.
-The visit will include a workshop to adapt
lessons learned to the Sri Lankan system. GOSL
participants will develop work plans and commit to
working towards implementation of planned
activities.
-IOM will facilitate, and law enforcement
personnel, Women in Need (WiN) staff, and
legislators will participate in meetings and
visits to improve mutual understanding, share
practical ideas, identify resources, and network.

Legislation and Advocacy
--------------

Skills-building and materials:
-To follow up on the (EC-funded) IOM TiP awareness
seminar due in March 2006 for parliamentarians,
IOM will organize a half-day seminar to evaluate
how to amend Sri Lankan law to comply with other
UN Protocol requirements.
-Ministry of Justice (MoJ) staff will nominate
participants.

Institutions established/Coordination/Advocacy:
-IOM will provide technical assistance to the MoJ
in establishing a Criminal Justice Advisory Board
(CJAB).
-The Board will provide a forum for dialogue
between the criminal justice system and civil
society.
-IOM will provide reference materials on
international criminal law to the CJAB, who will
make it available to appropriate GOSL and other
personnel.
-IOM, as a CJAB member, will coordinate inter-
agency technical input on issues to assist the
Board to research developments in international
criminal law and potential influences on the
national legal system (e.g., victim and witness
support provisions, freezing of trafficking
assets, and advocacy for victim compensation,
etc.) and to draft legislation in line with the UN
Protocol.
-Civil society interlocutors will likely include
the Human Rights Commission desk in the Parliament
complex, the Centre for Policy Alternatives,
Lawyers for Human Rights and Development, WiN
legal staff and the Weeramantry Centre for Peace,
Education and Research (Legislation/Advocacy),as
well as the Sri Lankan Law Commission and legal
academicians at the University of Colombo, and the
Sri Lankan Open University.

Press conference:
-IOM will organize a press conference to educate
the media, highlight project activities and
provide visibility.

Protection and Reintegration
--------------

Women in Need (WiN) staff training:
-IOM will ensure that all WiN staff are trained in
sensitivity, safety, and confidentiality
requirements and that all project staff receive
training in trafficking issues and national and
international efforts to combat trafficking.
-Under the supervision of the IOM psychosocial
officer, and in close collaboration with WiN, the
project will develop/adapt educational materials
including IOM's "Direct Assistance to Victims of
Trafficking Manual."
-Existing materials, particularly multi-media
(DVDs, CD-ROMs),will be used as appropriate and
shared with NGO partners for their own training
purposes.
-NGO counseling staff will be trained to identify
and counsel victims of trafficking and receive
advanced training in treatment and referral of
associated psychological disorders.
-They will also advance skills in counseling on
sexually transmitted diseases and HIV, as well as
collection of medical evidence, and vocational
counseling and in linking victims to other capable
resources.

Training of WiN lawyers:
-IOM will provide specific training on trafficking
victims' legal needs for WiN legal staff and
personnel of other NGOs and GOSL bodies who
provide legal aid services.
-IOM-facilitated meetings between WiN lawyers and
GSL personnel will establish the base for a
government-run support structure, to include legal
assistance for trafficking victims willing to
testify against their perpetrators, offer victim
protection, compensation, and other related legal
assistance.

Study visits:
-IOM will organize a study tour for WiN project
staff to another IOM project to observe
activities, learn from more experienced IOM and
NGO partner staff, and network with peers abroad.
-The visit will include a workshop focusing on how
to implement lessons learned into the Sri Lankan
project.

WiN capacity-building:
-IOM will provide additional office tools such as
computers and an additional phone line to enhance
effectiveness and will support running costs of
shelters and crisis centers with a full range of
services in Colombo, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna,
Puttalam, Anuradhapura and Badulla to provide
protection services for trafficking victims.
-IOM will also support the capacity-building and
sustainability of the WiN shelters and crisis
centers by training key finance and administrative
staff to write winning proposals and to manage
grants.


3. Performance Indicators:

Prosecution and Criminalization:
-60 percent of workshop participants have increase
in knowledge (KAP surveys and evaluations)
-60 percent increase in number of cases identified
as trafficking crimes (Police data and case
database)
-Study tour participants devise and implement ten
percent of their action plan within the project
duration
-Custom case database management software for TiP-
related cases updated at least monthly
-75 percent of trained law enforcement personnel
have managed and researched TiP-related cases via
case management database software at least twice
since training
-50 percent increase in number of VoTs referred to
appropriate protection service providers (NGO/IOM
records)
-Type of action taken by Anti-Trafficking work
group/focal point; and level of attendance
(meeting minutes)
-50 percent increase in number of victims referred
to protection service providers (NGO/IOM records)

Legislation and Advocacy:
-Amount of trafficking-related legislation
introduced in Parliament
-60 percent of Attorney General's Department and
police workshop participants have increased
knowledge of new Sri Lankan laws related to
trafficking (KAP surveys and evaluations)
-35 percent increase in prosecutors and judges
accessing textual and electronic information on
TiP-related crimes in Sri Lanka and abroad (pre-
and post-survey)
-Number and quality of recommendations by CJAB on
TiP-related legislation to Parliament
-Number of TiP-related articles appearing within
10 weeks after press conference

Protection and Reintegration:
-Number of international VoTs NGO reports to IOM
within 2 days (NGO and IOM records)
-100 percent of trained crisis center/shelter
staff comply with confidentiality requirements
(survey)
-70 percent of reintegrated VoTs employed or in
school at project end (follow-up by NGO staff)
-Amount of funding/Number of partner NGO projects
funded.

COMMENT AND POC
--------------


4. Comment: IOM's work to date, along with that
of proposed partner WiN, proved successful in
limiting trafficking and assisting victims
following the December 2004 tsunami. IOM's
proposal is a three-pronged approach that will
assist the GSL's capacity as well as provide much-
needed assistance to trafficking victims.
Considering the scope of the work to be done,
granting 299,985 USD to IOM will provide excellent
value for investment. End comment.



5. Post point of contact is Anamika Chakravorty.
Phone 94-11-244-8007 ext. 2425, e-mail
ChakravortyA@state.gov






LUNSTEAD