REGIONAL PROGRESS ON COMMIT PROCESS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 000977

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KWMN CB
SUBJECT: REGIONAL PROGRESS ON COMMIT PROCESS


1. SUMMARY: The Coordinated Mekong Ministerial
Initiative Against Trafficking (COMMIT) held the Fourth
Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM 4) on human trafficking
in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on May 10-12, 2006. Over
thirty senior government officials from the six Greater
Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Governments (Cambodia, China,
Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam) attended the meeting
to review and assess the progress of cooperation on
trafficking to realize a vision of a trafficking-free
Mekong region. Each country briefed on its efforts in
bilateral cooperation, development of legal frameworks,
and implementation of other actions to eradicate
trafficking in the region. The meeting closed with the
group updating COMMIT's Sub-Regional Plan of Action to
focus attention on the areas of law enforcement and
criminal justice while maintaining focus on efforts on
prevention, protection, recovery and reintegration of
victims. END SUMMARY.

Country-by-Country Progress Report
--------------


12. Cambodia: The Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC)
reported several achievements in bilateral cooperation
as well as in several internal areas. The RGC reported
signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for
Eliminating Trafficking in Children and Women and
Assisting Victims of Trafficking with both Thailand and
Vietnam. Also reported was that the new anti-
trafficking law was drafted by the Ministry of Women's
Affairs, and forwarded to the Ministry of Justice to be
reviewed and finalized; the law is expected to be sent
to the Council of Ministers by the end of 2006. The
Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth
Rehabilitation (MOSAVY) is working on a National Child
Protection Policy. The RGC presentation noted that the
five-year National Plan of Action (NPA) against
trafficking in persons and sexual exploitation would be
finalized in 2006. The Ministry of Women's Affairs
(MOWA) reported its work with the International Office
of Migration (IOM),supported by funding from USAID,
and MOWA's collaboration with the Ministry of Interior,
the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs to implement prevention programs in awareness-
raising, economic development and legal protection of
victims. The MOSAVY reported work with IOM to
establish reintegration services for Cambodian victims
of trafficking from Vietnam and Malaysia; development
of a specialized police unit since 2002; and the
training of senior anti-trafficking officials along
with prosecutors, judgers and students of the Royal
School of Judges and Prosecutors.


3. China: Chinese delegates reported China's
participation in the first conference on "Against Human
Trafficking between Myanmar and China," and on a
campaign including both Chinese and Vietnamese police
on cross-border trafficking of Vietnamese women.
China's delegates also reported that transit centers
for trafficked women and children have been
established, including the first transit center for
foreigners.


4. Laos: Laotian delegates reported that the Lao
People's Democratic Republic has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with Thailand on cooperation to combat
trafficking in persons, especially women and children,
and has approved the Lao Women's Union (LWU) law-
implementing decree on the "Protection and Development
of Women" law. The report noted that dissemination
workshops have been held countrywide by LWU to promote
the Protection and Development of Women law. LWU has
also officially opened a Counseling and Protection
Center for victims. Laos reported on establishment of
a special trafficking unit called the Lao anti-people
trafficking unit (LAPTU),Child Protection Networks in
five provinces and plans for a National Workshop in
Human Trafficking and Labor Migration in Vientiene.


5. Burma: Burmese delegates reported the signing of a
Regional Treaty on mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal
Matters (Malaysia, January 2006) and reported
strengthening of relationships with Thailand and China
through multiple bilateral meetings. Other reported
progress included enacting an Anti-Trafficking in
Persons law, completion of national level workshops on
the implementation, development, and distribution of a
screening checklist for "victim identification," and

PHNOM PENH 00000977 002 OF 002


related training in its use, and conducting four in-
country workshops on Child Sex Tourism.


6. Thailand: Thai delegates reported signing
Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation of
anti-trafficking of women and children with Cambodia
and Laos, and noted that they are in the process of
finalizing a MOU with Vietnam on elimination of
trafficking in children and women and on the rescue of
victims of trafficking. Also reported was: Thailand
has signed a MOU on Employment Cooperation with
Cambodia, Laos and Burma; Thailand's Cabinet has
approved a national policy and plan on prevention,
suppression and handling of trafficking in children and
women in domestic and cross-border situations; the Thai
government has passed a resolution and opened the
region's first integrated anti-trafficking center; in
December 2005, the Cabinet passed a resolution
approving a special scheme for employment of illegal or
undocumented migrant workers from Burma, Laos and
Cambodia; the Thai government has established a one-
stop service center to document and provide work
permits for undocumented migrant workers from Burma,
Lao and Cambodia. Also reported was that, while
Thailand is currently using an existing law on
prevention and suppression of trafficking in women and
children to fight trafficking, the Cabinet has approved
a new bill on prevention and suppression of trafficking
in persons and the bill is now being considered by the
Judicial Council. And finally, in cooperation with the
U.S. Embassy in Thailand, and other agencies, Thailand
is planning an international conference on trafficking
in Greater Mekong Sub-region for 22-24 May 2006.


7. Vietnam: Vietnamese delegates reported signing of a
Bilateral Cooperation Agreement with Cambodia, and that
a Bilateral Agreement with Thailand on "Elimination
Against Trafficking in Women and Children and Support
for Victims" is being finalized. Delegates supported
China's country report by noting that Vietnamese and
Chinese Ministries of Public Security carried out
border province campaigns to rescue and return victims
and apprehend traffickers. The Vietnam presentation
also noted publication in September 2005 of a handbook
to help prepare "intending migrant workers," and the
development of standards and standard operating
procedures for victim identification and for providing
protection and support, especially in Vietnam-China and
Vietnam-Cambodia border provinces.

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


8. The Secretariat for the COMMIT Process -- the UN
Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking in the GMS --
organized and funded the COMMIT SOM4 with Cambodia's
Ministry of Women's Affairs. The event gave
governments and partners a chance to review priorities,
demonstrate action taken, and revisit plans for
activities in the coming year. The COMMIT Sub-regional
Plan of Action hopes to set the standard for anti-
trafficking work in the Asian region, including
establishment of the legal framework to support anti-
trafficking efforts. The hosting of the event in
Cambodia helped Cambodia's Ministry of Women's Affairs
demonstrate its lead role in fighting trafficking.
MOWA's Secretary of State chaired both the Cambodia
COMMIT Task Force and the SOM4 Organizing Committee for
this event. The event also drew attention to the
challenges that Cambodia faces in developing and
implementing a legal framework to combat anti-
trafficking in humans. With the anti-trafficking law
of Cambodia still in a draft and review stage, Cambodia
is challenged to compete with neighboring countries
that have already established anti-trafficking laws.
End Comment.

STORELLA