CAMBODIA: TIP ASSESSMENT VISIT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PHNOM PENH 000534

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR G/TIP, EAP/MLS AND EAP/RSP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL CB
SUBJECT: CAMBODIA: TIP ASSESSMENT VISIT



1. Summary: Representatives from G/TIP and EAP/RSP met with
Cambodian government officials and NGOs on March 17 to gauge
the Cambodian government's efforts to combat TIP.
Anti-trafficking NGOs unanimously agreed that the government
has significantly increased its efforts and NGOs are
receiving good cooperation from officials, although more
remains to be done,. The MOI reported that it held a
national seminar on law enforcement against trafficking,
which brought together NGOs, government ministries,
provincial police and governors, and international
organizations to discuss strategies to improve cooperation
and anti-trafficking efforts. MOI and MOJ reported increased
arrests and prosecutions of traffickers. End Summary.


2. G/TIP program officer Sally Neumann and David Atkinson of
EAP/RSP traveled to Cambodia March 17-18 to gauge the
Cambodian government's efforts to combat TIP. The team met
with multiple anti-trafficking NGOs, international
organizations, and government ministries to assess the TIP
situation.

The Government Perspective
--------------


3. Prum Sokha, MOI Secretary of State, explained that
political will and actions to combat TIP have steadily
increased in the past year. Sokha cited the MOI's annual
national seminar on law enforcement against sexual abuse,
exploitation, and trafficking of women and children that was
held on March 15. Minister of Interior Sar Kheng opened the
event, which was attended by all government ministries,
provincial governors, provincial police commissioners, and
many international organizations and NGOs. Sokha noted that
there has been a steady and significant increase in the
numbers of trafficking victims rescued and perpetrators
arrested over the past years. Sokha attributed this to
increased police training and the implementation of the
National Action Plan (which was created after Cambodia was
given a Tier 3 ranking last year) that focused on five target
provinces. Sokha noted that the National Action Plan will
now expand to cover all 24 provinces and also to the district
level. Sokha noted that cooperation between law enforcement
agencies and NGOs has improved during the past year. He did
express his concern, however, that some NGOs are overstepping
their boundaries by conducting investigations, which Sokha
believes should be done by law enforcement officials.
Finally, Sokha explained that the recently-drafted
trafficking law has been sent to the National Assembly and
should provide clearer guidelines for government officials.


4. Minister of Women's Affairs Ing Kantha Phavi stated that
her ministry continues to be heavily involved in combating
trafficking. She stated that labor migration and TIP are
closely linked and she has requested that the government
place labor attaches at its embassies so that migrant workers
have assistance abroad should their rights be violated.
Phavi noted that labor recruitment agencies should be more
involved in educating workers of their rights and should
conduct periodic inspections to ensure that workers are not
being abused. Phavi remarked that Women's Affairs is deeply
involved with prevention and awareness campaigns throughout
the country, but that more needs to be done. She noted that
these campaigns need to be focused not only on those
vulnerable to trafficking, but on those who are responsible
for prosecuting traffickers, i.e., judges and police. Phavi
also noted that the government is heavily dependent on NGOs
for providing shelters to victims and she is concerned about
their security. Finally, Phavi said that without an improved
economy and increased job opportunities, many victims will
become re-trafficked.


5. Ministry of Justice Secretary of State, Neou Kassie,
explained that the Cambodian government's will to combat
trafficking is strong and that there has been an increase in
convictions of traffickers over the past year. Kassie
remarked that the government is currently pursuing the
extradition of an Australian pedophile who escaped to
Australia. He said that it appears that the Australian
government is willing to cooperate and that the MOJ will
secure a conviction. Kassie noted that the MOJ is currently
cooperating with the Department of Homeland Security to
prosecute an accused AmCit pedophile in the U.S. Kassie
remarked that the will to combat TIP goes to the highest
levels of the government, citing a recent directive by Prime
Minister Hun Sen, which instructed the judiciary to issue
strong sentences for convicted traffickers. Nonetheless,
Kassie mentioned that there are inter-ministerial turf
battles, such as a recent memo sent out by National Police

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Commissioner Hok Lundy that stated that judicial police would
remain under his authority, even though according to Kassie,
they should be under MOJ authority. Kassie also mentioned
that progress has been made on corruption, as evidenced by
the recent arrest of a police officer who accepted a bribe
from a suspected Korean pedophile.


6. G/TIP program officer informed Kassie that $200,000 of
program money has been set aside to fund a judicial training
program on TIP. Kassie noted that very little has been done
in this sector and that the funding would be very useful to
everyone involved in the judiciary. He remarked that the new
trafficking law should be approved by the National Assembly
soon and that the timing for this training would be optimal.


NGOS: THE GOVERNMENT IS IMPROVING
--------------


7. Anti-trafficking NGOs universally noted that cooperation
with the government is good and that they are seeing a
greater will by the government to combat trafficking. NGO
AFESIP co-founder Mam Somaly said that she recently met with
National Police Commissioner Hok Lundy to discuss TIP-related
cooperation. Somaly stated that AFESIP had some difficulties
getting police action in the past, but now she speaks
directly to Lundy regarding complaints and that cooperation
with the police is good. Lundy provided Somaly with the
Deputy Police Commissioner's direct phone number so that she
could report any difficulties with inaction on the part of
the police. Somaly noted that AFESIP has very good
cooperation with the Ministry of Women's Affairs and that the
Ministry of Justice is continually improving. AFESIP
continues to receive victim referrals from government
officials.


8. NGO Hagar reported that the anti-trafficking environment
has greatly improved because there is now the political will
necessary to take significant action. Hagar has seen an
increased success rate on its court cases and an overall
improvement in the legal environment. He noted that TIP is
part of a greater gender-based violence problem in Cambodia
and that there has been an inordinate amount of attention
given to trafficking for sexual exploitation, when domestic
violence and sexual assault are much bigger problems. Hagar
noted that there is a strong need to train judges, as they
are not very sensitive to the needs of children.


9. NGO World Vision reported that there has been a steady
improvement in the government's efforts to combat
trafficking; however, the government still needs to be
monitored. World Vision noted that it has seen a significant
improvement in cooperation with high-level officials when
cases are not receiving action from local officials. World
Vision explained that its relationship with the
anti-trafficking police and Phnom Penh police continues to be
very good.


10. MOI law enforcement advisor Christian Guth and NGO
International Justice Mission (IJM) Director Kaign Christy
reported a steady increase in government cooperation and
action, despite an initial slow-down following the Chhay Hour
II/AFESIP incident. According to Guth and Christy, arrests
and rescues have increased significantly during the past year
and the government's will to combat trafficking has
strengthened. Both men remarked that there is much work to
be done, but they believe that the government is committed to
fighting TIP.


11. During a briefing on labor trafficking, the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the
International Labor Organization (ILO) informed that
trafficking for labor exploitation is a serious problem in
Cambodia, although it does not receive the attention that
trafficking for sexual exploitation does. Both organizations
reported that the Ministry of Labor is committed to fighting
trafficking, but it lacks the capacity to do so. According
to these organizations, there are 180,000 registered
Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand, but the number of
irregular workers is unknown. They reported that one of the
most significant problems for trafficked Cambodian workers is
Thailand's failure to recognize them as victims, but as
illegal migrants.


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


PHNOM PENH 00000534 003 OF 003



12. The Cambodian government has made good progress over the
past year in addressing trafficking in persons issues on a
variety of fronts: prevention programs, law enforcement
actions, and judicial prosecutions. The Prime Minister and
senior MOI officials have been reinforcing the message that
the RGC takes this issue seriously and is committed to
reducing TIP in Cambodia. NGOs are unanimous that
cooperation with the government has improved. Post welcomes
the proposed judicial training program, which will complement
some of our other rule of law programs. End comment.

Mussomeli