Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SANTIAGO304
2006-02-10 14:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:  

HEADS UP: IOM SEEKS TO REPROGRAM CHILE PROJECT

Tags:  PHUM PREL CI GTIP OIM TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTIAGO 000304 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PRM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL CI GTIP OIM TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
SUBJECT: HEADS UP: IOM SEEKS TO REPROGRAM CHILE PROJECT
FUNDS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTIAGO 000304

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PRM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL CI GTIP OIM TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
SUBJECT: HEADS UP: IOM SEEKS TO REPROGRAM CHILE PROJECT
FUNDS


1. This is an action request. See paragraph 6.


2. Summary: The International Office of Migration (IOM) in
Chile has asked for Post's assistance in obtaining Department
approval to reprogram USD 160,000 in State/PRM funding from
an existing trafficking in persons program to a new one. GOC
authorities have taken responsibility for funding the
existing program. IOM's new program would address
trafficking in persons and commercial sexual exploitation of
children (CSEC). End summary.


3. IOM Chile Country Director Gabriela Rodriguez met with
poloff on January 26 and requested Embassy's assistance in
securing the Department's approval to reprogram USD 160,000
from an existing program to a new one. According to
Rodriguez, Chile's National Children's Service (SENAME) has
taken over responsibility for an existing project in San
Antonio, Chile, following a funding gap during the third and
fourth quarters of 2005. (See paragraph seven for project
details.)


4. IOM believes the Los Andes region (one of Chile's main
entry/exit points) warrants greater attention. In an earlier
meeting, outgoing IOM Country Director Pedro Hernandez
presented an IOM proposal for the Los Andes region titled
"Assistance for an Analysis, Report, Training, and Prevention
of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Illegal
Migration and Trafficking of Persons in the Province of Los
Andes." (See paragraph eight for project details; a copy of
the IOM proposal has been faxed to Monique Ramgoolie,
PRM/PRP.) Given the GOC's commitment to fund the San Antonio
project and the importance of the Los Andes region, IOM
requests the Department reprogram the FY2006 USD160,000 funds
committed to San Antonio to support the Los Andes project.


5. Comment: Post supports IOM's request. The Los Andes
project will establish a baseline of the trafficking in
persons situation in Chile from which future TIP-related
activities could be developed. It also will increase the
cadre of knowledgeable and experienced GOC officials.


6. Action request: Post requests guidance to respond to IOM's
request.

The San Antonio Project
--------------


7. The San Antonio project was originally funded by a
STATE/PRM grant to IOM, administered through IOM's regional
office in Buenos Aires. IOM's project established a
counseling and outreach center in San Antonio, a major port
city approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Santiago. In
2005, the center assisted 33 children and adolescents who had
been victims of commercial sexual exploitation of children
(CSEC),and another 97 who were identified through local
networks as potentially involved or at risk of CSEC. The
project also trained 104 local government and NGO social
workers in San Antonio. Former IOM Country Director Pedro
Hernandez told poloff in December 2005 that IOM began
preparations to shut down the center after the project ran
into funding troubles during the second quarter of 2005. At
that time, SENAME stepped in and funded the center's
operation until further funding could be secured. SENAME
subsequently offered to fund the center and provide
assistance to CSEC victims in San Antonio indefinitely. The
University of Chile has agreed to integrate IOM's training
materials into its continuing education programs for
GOC-sponsored CSEC prevention efforts.

Los Andes Project
--------------


8. Los Andes Province lies to the northeast of Santiago, and
runs from the foot of the Andean range to the border with
Argentina. It includes the Los Libertadores border crossing
- the major transit point for cross-border commerce
(trucking) and one of three major land entry points for
Chile. Although trafficking in persons has not been reported
in Los Andes, high risk factors exist. Former IOM Country
Director Hernandez said there is anecdotal evidence
suggesting that truck drivers "contract" prostitutes to
accompany them on trips from Brazil or Argentina to Chile.
As a major port of entry, Los Andes is a logical area to
detect trafficking for labor exploitation or other purposes.

IOM's proposal for the Los Andes project contains the
following elements:

--Evaluate and quantify the cross-border trafficking problem
through Los Libertadores and Los Andes;

--Inform and sensitize regional authorities to the issues of
trafficking and CSEC;

--Provide educational materials to area schools and civic
associations; and,

--Provide training to regional law enforcement and border
control officials, as well as social workers in Los Andes to
help them identify and assist trafficking victims.

Although CSEC would be a major focus of the Los Andes
Project, IOM would integrate anti-trafficking materials to
address broader trafficking issues and would establish a
baseline on illegal migration and trafficking in persons.
KELLY