Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MINSK1179
2006-11-09 05:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:  

GOB'S EGO OUTSTRIPS ACTIONS IN ANTI-TIP EFFORTS

Tags:  PGOV PREF PHUM BO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4172
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHSK #1179/01 3130543
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 090543Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY MINSK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5310
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1336
RUEHBS/USMISSION USEU 0151
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 001179 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
G/TIP FOR JENNIFER DONNELLY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREF PHUM BO
SUBJECT: GOB'S EGO OUTSTRIPS ACTIONS IN ANTI-TIP EFFORTS

REF: MINSK 1031

Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 001179

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
G/TIP FOR JENNIFER DONNELLY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREF PHUM BO
SUBJECT: GOB'S EGO OUTSTRIPS ACTIONS IN ANTI-TIP EFFORTS

REF: MINSK 1031

Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) The GOB and the International Organization for
Migration recently co-hosted an international conference that
sought to bolster cooperation between source and destination
countries in the battle against trafficking in persons (TIP).
At the conference, GOB officials stressed the importance of
a global approach to TIP, urged increased cooperation with
NGOs, and announced its willingness to share its best
practices with other countries. Yet, despite its claims of
expertise, much work remains for the GOB to do in Belarus to
better combat TIP, including fully implementing the recently
passed anti-TIP legislation and building bridges with
existing anti-TIP NGOs. End summary.


2. (U) On October 26 and 27, the International Organization
for Migration (IOM),the GOB, the United Nations Children's
Fund (UNICEF),and the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe co-hosted an international conference
aimed at bolstering cooperation between source and
destination countries in the battle against trafficking in
persons (TIP). Representatives from 40 countries, including
countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, 13
international organizations (IOs) and 10 non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) participated in the conference.
Following numerous opening presentations from country and IO
representatives on their best anti-TIP practices, the
conference focused on three main sessions: labor exploitation
(chaired by the International Labor Organization),childQ
protection (chaired by UNICEF),and law enforcement
cooperation (chaired by U.N. Office of Drugs and Crime).

GOB Stresses International Approaches to Combating TIP
-------------- --------------


3. (U) GOB officials at the conference repeatedly stressed
the importance of international cooperation between source,
transit, and destination countries in order to eliminate TIP.
They highlighted the UNGA's recent adoption of the
Belarus-sponsored resolution, "Improving the coordination of

efforts against trafficking in persons." This resolution
focused on a global approach to eradicating TIP and called
for the creation of an international coordination group with
headquarters in Vienna. Conversely, Poloff's presentation at
the conference underscored the importance of furthering
regional and bilateral cooperation between governments and
cooperation between governments and the international
organizations and NGOs that are already committed to
eradicating TIP within their countries.

Belarus Ready to Share Its (Feckless) Best Practices
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Interior Minister Vladimir Naumov announced at the
conference that Belarus is ready to share its best practices
in combating TIP with other countries. He referenced the
strides Belarus made in anti-TIP legislation, particularly in
more stringent licensing requirements for modeling,
advertising and foreign-employment agencies. Naumov claimed
that these registration measures were "preventative" and do
not "hamper the departure of our citizens outside the
republic." (Note: Shortly after the anti-TIP legislation was
passed, the GOB refused to allow a group of FLEX students to
study in the U.S. for academic year 2005-2006. End note.)
At a press conference that Interior Ministry hosted on
October 25, IOM Anti-TIP Director Danziger agreed that
Belarus has forged a "comprehensive regulatory framework"
that incorporates IOM#s recommendations but noted that the
GOB still must implement its anti-TIP legislation.

Cooperation with NGO/IOs Important But Still Weak
-------------- --------------


5. (C) Naumov also stressed the importance of cooperation
between the government and NGOs and international
organizations. Naumov stated, "If we don't cooperate with
them, we cannot speak of full-scale prevention." Yet,
despite Naumov's statement, IOM Minsk Office Director Dejan
Keserovic told Ambassador on October 6 that after 14 months,
the GOB still has not registered its USAID-funded anti-TIP
project on economic empowerment of women. This delay
continues even after the enormous effort IOM put forth into
organizing this conference at the request of the GOB.

MINSK 00001179 002 OF 002



Success Stories of GOB International Anti-TIP Efforts
-------------- --------------


6. (U) During his presentation, Director of the Belarusian
Center for Combating TIP Peter Plop described two recent
examples of international cooperation between law enforcement
agencies where information provided by Belarusian authorities
led to the arrests of traffickers in Germany and Spain. He
also announced that Belarusian authorities detected
approximately 500 trafficking-related offenses and identified
450 victims of trafficking. (Note: These 500 offenses were
not specifically defined as trafficking cases; therefore,
this number most likely overestimates the number of
trafficking crimes since it includes a wider spectrum of
trafficking-related crimes. End note.)

Comment
--------------


7. (C) While the conference was a good opportunity for
representatives from different countries to establish
contacts, it did little to provide recommendations on how to
increase international cooperation on a practical level. The
conference was an opportunity for the GOB to brag about its
anti-TIP accomplishments and to further build its
international reputation as a country that is serious about
combating TIP. However, the GOB's emphasis on a global
approach to TIP duplicates efforts of other international
organizations and will likely not be nearly as effective as a
regional approach. Additionally, the GOB's focus on
establishing itself as an "international player" is drawing
its attention away from the serious work that remains in
Belarus, including increasing cooperation with NGOs and IOs
that are committed to fighting TIP (reftel). While the GOB
made some steps in 2005 with the passage of tougher anti-TIP
legislation, much work remains to ensure that the
implementation does not infringe on the righ
ts of Belarusians.

SIPDIS
Stewart