Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06OSLO448
2006-04-06 14:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:  

SUPPORTING NORWAY'S ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORTS

Tags:  PHUM SMIG ASEC PREF ELAB NO KCRM KWMN KFRD 
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VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNY #0448/01 0961415
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061415Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3764
INFO RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 2051
RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PRIORITY 7782
RUEHRK/AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK PRIORITY 0674
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 2815
UNCLAS OSLO 000448 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

COPENHAGEN FOR LEGATT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SMIG ASEC PREF ELAB NO KCRM KWMN KFRD
SUBJECT: SUPPORTING NORWAY'S ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORTS

SUMMARY
----------

UNCLAS OSLO 000448

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

COPENHAGEN FOR LEGATT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SMIG ASEC PREF ELAB NO KCRM KWMN KFRD
SUBJECT: SUPPORTING NORWAY'S ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORTS

SUMMARY
--------------


1. Norway continues to expand its anti-trafficking efforts,
which include government funding of NGO-run programs, media
campaigns and intensive law enforcement training. Despite
such preventative measures, trafficking does exist, as
indicated by a recently publicized trafficking case in the
city of Trondheim (located in central Norway). Recognizing
the importance of supporting Norway's anti-trafficking
measures, Post recently completed several outreach events,
including Ambassadorial visits to NGOs assisting trafficking
victims. In addition, the Ambassador and Mrs. Whitney
attended the FBI-sponsored, two-day conference, "Sexual
Exploitation: Victims and Perpetrators" held at the offices
of Kripos (the Norwegian law enforcement division handling
such cases). The Ambassador also hosted a reception
acknowledging the conference, drawing together national law
enforcement officials and members of prominent NGOs.

GOVERNMENT AND NGO ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORTS
--------------


2. Norway is a Tier 1 country in the annual Trafficking in
Persons Report. Norwegian officials estimate there are about
100 trafficked victims per year. The recent Trondheim
anti-trafficking case demonstrates some links between female
prostitution and trafficking. Actual numbers of trafficking
victims who are forced into prostitution are unknown.
Prostitution is generally legal in Norway (although pimping
and operating a brothel are illegal). An estimated 2,500 to
3,000 prostitutes are in Norway (65% of which are
foreigners). According to NGO sources, the number of
foreign-born prostitutes increased dramatically over the last
five years. Recognizing the need to combat trafficking, the
Norwegian government adopted Action Plans to Combat
Trafficking in 2003 and 2005. The Plans coordinate the
efforts and resources of various governmental ministries.
Under the Plans, trafficking victims are offered a 45 day
"reflection period," during which they may reevaluate their
situation and consider cooperating with the police to

prosecute the trafficking organizers. During this period,
foreign victims cannot be deported. Victims may also be
granted relief from deportation by applying for asylum. In
2005, the government prosecuted 8 trafficking cases.
Traffickers may receive a maximum sentence of 5 years in
prison, which may be increased to 10 years depending on
aggravating circumstances. Traffickers convicted of slavery
may receive a prison term of up to 21 years.


3. The Norwegian government recently announced increased
media efforts and training, with a goal of alerting society
to the dangers of trafficking. The government, in accordance
with the Action Plans, will launch an anti-trafficking media
campaign in April. Arranged by Norway's Ministry for Children
and Equality, the campaign targets young male students and
military recruits. Minister Krait Bekkemelem noted in a
recent newspaper interview that the campaign's goals include
providing "good and objective information" about the health
risks involved and the plight of women engaged in
trafficking. The campaign seeks to reverse a perceived trend
of increased prostitution. The Ministry of Defense is also
implementing special anti-trafficking measures, including
providing information materials to schools, while also giving
Norwegian soldiers participating in international operations
(who may be exposed to trafficking issues) anti-trafficking
information.


4. The Norwegian government is considering amendments to the
2005 Action Plan. These amendments would extend the 45 day
reflection period to 90 days for those trafficking victims
who testify against the trafficking organizers. The
government may also allow these victims the option of
permanent residency in Norway. Critics are concerned that
women will feign trafficking abuse in order to gain permanent
residency. Post will continue to report on related
developments.


5. Government funding supports NGOs such as the Rosa Project
and ProSenter. Rosa, established in 2005, provides
information and assistance to trafficking victims (most
notably counseling and shelter opportunities) throughout
Norway. In its first year, the Project directly assisted 20
victims, while handling approximately 645 telephone
inquiries. Rosa placed 18 women in government-funded
long-term shelters. A major fundraising effort to support
Rosa involves a nail polish campaign, where famous female
Norwegian celebrities model the polishes. Proceeds are
directed to a special fund used for social efforts to support
trafficked women. Another notable NGO is ProSenter, which is
organized to assist men and women engaged in prostitution.
The center provides counseling, support and therapy, while
emphasizing health education. With the use of cultural
mediators, ProSenter conducts an extensive outreach program,
often focusing on migrant women. These mediators are
particularly useful, able to connect to victims by
understanding the prostitute's culture and language.
ProSenter presently employs Russian, Albanian, Dominican,
Thai and Nigerian cultural mediators.

TRAFFICKING HITS TRONDHEIM
--------------


6. On March 29, two males (one Norwegian, the other Eastern
European) were detained in Trondheim and charged with
trafficking. A third Eastern European was charged but not
detained. In 2005, Trondheim was shaken by a case in which
two men were convicted for trafficking Estonian women.
Trondheim Police Chief Ove Sem publicly disclosed that "this
is a classical trafficking case with several victims." In
addition to apprehending the alleged traffickers, female
prostitutes were driven by authorities to a secret location
for protection. Post will continue to report on this
situation as it develops.

POST'S ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORTS
--------------


7. Post continues its intensive anti-trafficking efforts,
with Ambassadorial visits to NGOs and public support of joint
U.S. and Norwegian law enforcement cooperation. The
Ambassador and Mrs. Whitney have toured the Rosa and
ProSenter facilities. The Ambassador provided interviews to
local newspapers, which produced positive media coverage. The
newspaper Dagbladet quoted the Ambassador as saying that
trafficking is "Modern slavery, which is against my view of
right and wrong...it is a tragedy and the trafficking victims
have to be supported as best we can by society." TV2
Nettavisen published a story noting the Ambassador's tour,
and quoted him as saying "Trafficking is the slavery of our
time and ought to be handled the same way as slavery based
upon race." In his press remarks, the Ambassador emphasized
various U.S.-Norwegian cooperative efforts in the fight
against trafficking, including NATO's "zero tolerance"
trafficking policy. In addition, he referenced Post's
continuing outreach efforts, including supporting Voluntary
Visitors to the U.S. and hosting digital video conferences.
These efforts contribute to information exchanges between
leading Norwegian and U.S. law enforcement officials, and
members of prominent Norwegian NGOs. Post also assisted the
FBI-sponsored sexual exploitation conference at Kripos on
March 30 and March 31. The Ambassador, accompanied by Mrs.
Whitney, opened the conference, and sponsored a well-attended
reception.
Visit Oslo's Classified website:
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WHITNEY