Peru: 2006 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Report

UNCLAS LIMA 000826 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM, IWI, WHA/PPC, WHA/AND STATE PASS TO USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB PE SUBJECT: Peru: 2006 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Report REF: A) STATE 03836 B) 05 Lima 3643 C) 05 LIMA 0307 D) 05 Lima 4643 E) 05 Lima 0333 F) 04 Lima 3422 G) 05 STATE 191674 H) 04 LIMA 4110 I) 05 LIMA 4394 J) 04 Lima 3737 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Much of the work in Peru on TIP has been the result of the initiatives of the GOP's Multisectoral Committee (MSC) for TIP. The MSC consists of 10 ministries, 4 national NGOs, and 3 international organizations. Other government agencies, international organizations, and NGOs can attend as observers/participants. During the past year, the MSC has achieved some encouraging results. It produced the first-ever review of all the TIP efforts undertaken by the GOP, NGOs, and international organizations, a kind of one-stop-shopping document on TIP that will provide an annual baseline that the GOP can use to both measure and coordinate its own efforts in this area. The Women's Ministry (MIMDES) was particularly active in the fight against TIP, holding nearly 30 trainings, meetings, or events dedicated to the TIP theme. Much of the legal framework is in place, and a draft TIP law is in Congress and scheduled for consideration during the next session. Interested GOP ministries took vigorous action to ensure that the bill would not be watered down (Ref C). The GOP continues to actively cooperate with NGOs and IOs in training police, local officials, and civil society in TIP issues by making people and facilities available for training even though no GOP funds were available. Continued police raids on unlicensed, clandestine brothels and awareness- raising activities by NGOs have ensured that TIP remains a high profile issue in the media. Unfortunately, this police work has not yet led to any convictions. Because of slow judicial processes; the average criminal trial in Peru lasts nearly three years. MSC members realize that weak institutions -- particularly the understaffed and inefficient police and the weak judiciary -- and lack of resources seriously hinder Peru's ability to enforce its laws, monitor its borders, treat/rehabilitate TIP victims, and educate the public. So far, the GOP has shown the political will to address TIP and has put many of the pieces in place. Once the new TIP law has passed, the surveys completed, and databases designed, the GOP will still have to reform and strengthen its judiciary and enhance its police capacity (particularly in the area of witness protection) in order to make further headway against TIP. Peru has made a solid start, but this is only the beginning of a long road. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Following is a checklist of answers to Ref A, Para 21, (Overview): ¶A. Peru is a country of origin for international trafficking in persons, but is not/not a country of transit or destination for trafficking in persons, according to investigations by post and reports from the GOP and local NGOs. International trafficking appears to be present, but few cases have been uncovered (Ref B). Internal trafficking is, by far, the greater problem. NGOs and international o