Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DARESSALAAM369
2006-02-27 11:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Cable title:  

Tanzania TIP report

Tags:  KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREF ELAB TZ ASED 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 DAR ES SALAAM 000369 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM, IWI, AF/RSA, AF/E

AIDAC

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREF ELAB TZ ASED
SUBJECT: Tanzania TIP report

REFTEL: STATE 03836, STATE 25229

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 DAR ES SALAAM 000369

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM, IWI, AF/RSA, AF/E

AIDAC

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREF ELAB TZ ASED
SUBJECT: Tanzania TIP report

REFTEL: STATE 03836, STATE 25229


1. (U) Post submits the following responses to questions
posed in reftel A regarding the sixth annual trafficking in
persons report. Point of contact for trafficking issues in
Tanzania is Political Officer Maureen B. Latour who may be
reached by telephone at 255.22.2668001, extension 4107 and
by fax at 255.22.2668224. The responses herein were
prepared by one Political Officer and one Political
Assistant over approximately 40 hours each.


2. (SBU) Tanzania is a country of origin, transit and
destination for women and girls trafficked for forced labor
and sexual exploitation and, to a lesser extent, boys
trafficked for forced labor. Most trafficking is internal
and young girls are at a higher risk of being trafficked.
Victims are lured by the promise of an income, the
opportunity to attend school and better living conditions,
especially from rural to urban areas. Boys are trafficked
for exploitative work on farms, in mines, and in the large
informal sector. Girls from rural areas are trafficked to
urban centers for involuntary domestic labor, but many flee
abusive employers and turn to prostitution for survival.
Tanzanian girls are also reportedly trafficked to South
Africa, Oman, the United Kingdom, and possibly other
European or Arabian countries for forced domestic labor.


3. (SBU) In order to determine the extent and magnitude of
the trafficking problem, a data collection project began in
six regions in February 2005. Conducted by Research
International through the International Organization for
Migration and with the cooperation of the government, the
systematized data collection project will result in an
integrated database on human trafficking. The reliability
of the numbers and the sources of data are anticipated to be
very high.


4. (SBU) The political will to address trafficking in
persons in Tanzania increased from the prior year. A low
level of knowledge about the full extent of the problem
(which the March-April research assessment will address)
persists, but officials recognize the term "trafficking in

persons", acknowledge that persons are trafficked in
Tanzania and are particpating in the March research
assessment to . A few key officials are taking active roles
in increasing awareness of the problem and proposing revised
legislation and tracking of prosecutions.


5. (SBU) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assumed the lead
in coordinating government agencies and chairs the inter-
ministerial committee on trafficking in persons. A cross-
section of government officials, NGO representatives and
media attended a three-day off-site conference "Concepts,
Challenges and Strategies to Combat Human Trafficking in
East Africa." The government named an assistant
superintendent of police as Research Coordinator for Human
Trafficking. The Research Coordinator and an official from
the Ministry of Justice attended a three-day training of
legal experts on the formulation and implementation of the
SADC Declaration and Plan of Action against Trafficking in
Persons. A review of Tanzanian law on the subject prompted
debate in several ministries regarding whether and how to
revise the law to better address trafficking in persons.


6. (SBU) At least some traffickers are based in urban areas
and travel to rural areas specifically to recruit young
girls. Traffickers frequently make an agreement with the
child's parents, agreeing to pay between 10,000 shillings
(approximately 8 USD) and 30,000 shillings (approximately 25
USD) to take the child with the additional promise that the
child will be earning an income which could be shared with
the family. Traffickers indicate this income would be paid
to the child but in reality no income is paid to anyone for
the child's work.


7. (SBU) Trafficked victims are transported by various
means. Some traffickers put the recruited children on
trucks transporting produce to the urban areas because this
is cheaper than buses. When the truck arrives at the city
or town, another trafficker meets the truck and they are
offered to persons as domestic servants. Other children are
rescued from railway stations, found by police and referred
to NGOs for assistance. Other trafficking victims are
picked up by truck drivers on long runs of up to one month.
The drivers sexually abuse the trafficked victims and then
abandon them.


8. (SBU) The government's ability to address this problem
is limited by funding constraints, a lack of comprehensive
legislation concerning trafficking in persons and a lack of
knowledge beyond a central core of key officials. Training
of police and prosecutors is needed and the possibility of
corruption must be addressed. Increased awareness and
prosecutions will necessitate increased capacity for
assisting victims.


9. (SBU) The government acknowledges that trafficking is a
problem in Tanzania. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs chairs
an inter-ministerial committee on trafficking in persons.
Other participating ministries are: Justice; Public Safety
and Security; Home Affairs; Labor, Youth and Employment;
Community Development, Gender and Children; Education and
Vocational Training; and Natural Resources and Tourism.
Additionally, representatives from the President's Office,
Tourism Commission of Zanzibar, Zanzibar Chamber of
Commerce, NGO's and the media participated in a training
workshop on trafficking in persons.


10. (SBU) The government does not have the resources to
undertake an anti-trafficking education campaign; however,
the government welcomes the information disseminated by
NGOs. The government does not yet monitor its anti-
trafficking efforts as they are at the beginning stages.


11. (SBU) The Ministry of Education and Vocational Training
has assumed responsibility for over 300 centers that keep at-
risk children in school. The Time-Bound program funded by
the U.S. Department of Labor funded the creation of over 300
centers as well as printed and recorded educational
materials for use in Interactive Radio Education (IRE).
This method has proved effective in reaching children in
remote areas and without fully-trained teachers. The
Ministry of Education and Vocational Training and Radio
Tanzania have committed to continue this program for the
coming school year.


12. (SBU) The relationship between government officials,
NGOs and other elements of civil society is good; however,
the NGOs are convinced the problem is severe while the
government officials believe trafficking in persons to be
serious, but relatively infrequent. The relationship
between NGOs and the Dar es Salaam police is particularly
cooperative.


13. (SBU) The government needs additional training and
resources in order to monitor immigration and emigration
patterns for evidence of trafficking. Law enforcement
agencies do not screen for potential trafficking victims
along borders.


14. (SBU) The government's inter-ministerial committee on
trafficking in persons provides a mechanism for
communication and coordination between various agencies.
The committee designated a Research Coordinator for Human
Trafficking who serves as the point of contact for
trafficking in persons issues. The Prevention of Corruption
Bureau, a semi-autonomous department under the supervision
of the President's Office, addresses and combats public
corruption.


15. (SBU) Key government officials met and discussed the
drafting of a national plan of action to address trafficking
in persons. The meeting yielded an outline of
recommendations for a national plan.


16. (SBU) The law criminalizes "trafficking in persons";
however, the term is defined so as to include some acts that
are not considered trafficking in persons under the
international definition and excludes most other acts that
are so considered. The law states any person who engages in
the buying, selling or bartering of any person, or in the
promoting, facilitating or inducing the buying or selling or
bartering or the placement in adoption of any person commits
the offense of trafficking. The law addresses both internal
and transnational movement of persons. Sexual offenses and
forced labor offenses are addressed in separate sections of
the penal code and are not linked to any definition of
trafficking in persons. Tanzanian law is inadequate to
cover the full scope of trafficking in persons as it lacks
precise definitions and significant parts of the offense.
In order to effectively address trafficking in persons, the
following provisions of Tanzanian law should be reviewed and
harmonized: Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Act, Extradition
Act, Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act,
Evidence Act, Immigration Act, Passport and Travel Documents
Act, Transfer of Prisoners Act and other subsidiary
legislation.


17. (SBU) The Tanzanian definition of trafficking in
persons is punishable by imprisonment for not less than 20
and not more than 30 years, a fine of not less than 100,000
shillings (approximately USD 85) and not more than 300,000
shillings (approximately USD 255),or both. In addition,
the court may order the convicted trafficker to pay
compensation to the victim in an amount determined by the
court. Sexual offenses, including forcible sexual assault,
are punishable by imprisonment of a term from three years to
life. Forced labor offenses are punishable by imprisonment
for from one to ten years. The penalty for rape is
imprisonment for up to 30 years and restitution to the
victim. Therefore, forced labor offenses have a less
stringent penalty than trafficking, but sexual offenders may
incur a penalty either more or less stringent than for
trafficking.

18. (SBU) Prostitution is criminalized and carries a
penalty of imprisonment for a term of not less than ten
years and not exceeding twenty years, a fine of not less
than 100,000 shillings (approximately USD 85) and not more
than 300,000 shillings (approximately USD 255),or both.
The law addresses any person who "procures or attempt to
procure" a person to become a prostitute or who transports a
person for the purpose of prostitution, but does not
specifically address clients or enforcers. The laws are
enforced occasionally, but not consistently.

19. (SBU) The government prosecuted two cases against
suspected traffickers in 2004, and both resulted in
acquittals. The Research Coordinator for Human Trafficking
cannot identify any specific pending cases against
traffickers. The different definition of "trafficking in
persons" used in Tanzanian law and the lack of comprehensive
legislation in this area makes tracking prosecution of
trafficking in persons offenses particularly difficult.


20. (SBU) Reports of who is behind the trafficking are
speculative. There are no reports of organized crime
groups, and no connection with narcotics or arms trafficking
is suspected. The limited information available indicates
trafficking occurs in Tanzania due to freelance operators
working individually or in small groups and government
officials willing to turn a blind eye for a price.


21. (SBU) The government does not actively investigate
cases of trafficking due to the confusion of the legislative
definition. Techniques such as electronic surveillance,
undercover operations and mitigated punishment or immunity
for cooperating suspects exceed the capacity of Tanzanian
law enforcement. The criminal procedure code does not
prohibit the police from engaging in covert operations. The
government would appreciate training in how to recognize,
investigate and prosecute instances of trafficking but does
not yet have the capacity to provide such training itself.
Interpol is present in Tanzania but no cooperative
international investigations of trafficking in persons have
occurred. The government is not prohibited by law from
extraditing its own nationals, but had no information on any
extraditions regarding trafficking in persons.


22. (SBU) Government involvement in, or tolerance of,
trafficking is suspected but not proven. The most common
accusation is that law enforcement officers will overlook
prostitution in exchange for a fee.


23. (SBU) Child sex tourism is not identified as a problem
in Tanzania.


24. (SBU) Tanzania signed and ratified the following
international instruments on the dates listed:

ILO Convention 182 concerning the prohibition and immediate
action for the elimination of the worst forms of child
labor, October 2000;
ILO Convention 29 and 105 on forced or compulsory labor,
1962;
The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the
Child (CRC) on the sale of children, child prostitution, and
child pornography, April 2003;
United Nations' Convention Against Transnational Organized
Crime, July 28, 2005;
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in
Persons, especially Women and Children, July 28, 2005; and
Protocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and
Air, July 28, 2005;

25. (SBU) The government provides assistance to victims
through NGOs. The government provides family planning
services, condoms and medical supplies, including drug
regimens for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV test
kits, to NGOs that assist trafficking victims. The
government also trains the NGO staff members on health and
family planning issues and provides trafficking victims
access to health clinics. This assistance is also available
to repatriated nationals who are being assisted by the NGOs.
Government authorities refer trafficking victims to NGOs
where there are NGOs providing services; however, there are
areas without any such assistance and the fate of victims in
those areas is not known.


26. (SBU) The government respects the rights of victims;
however, some individuals who are deported may have been
victims of trafficking but were deported before an
assessment can be completed. Victims may file civil suits
against the traffickers and there is at least one such case
(for sexual offenses) pending. No one impedes victims'
access to legal redress and a victim is allowed to appear in
camera.


27. (SBU) The government sent four police officials (the
head of the Interpol Unit and three prosecutors) and four
immigration department to training on conducting trafficking
investigations in October 2004. These individuals have been
sharing their training with their colleagues informally,
thereby increasing awareness of trafficking in persons.


28. (SBU) Victim assistance is provided by local NGOs
KIWOHEDE (Kiota Women's Health Center),CHODAWA
(Conservation Hotel Domestic and Allied Workers Union) and
the International Office of Migration. These organizations
enjoy cooperation from local authorities, having formed task
forces with local leaders, police and government officials.

RETZER