Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TALLINN541
2006-06-07 09:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tallinn
Cable title:  

ESTONIA: 2006 TIP REPORT DEMARCHE DELIVERED

Tags:  KCRM KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL EN 
pdf how-to read a cable
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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 070924Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8708
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0281
UNCLAS TALLINN 000541 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL EN
SUBJECT: ESTONIA: 2006 TIP REPORT DEMARCHE DELIVERED

REF: STATE 86133

UNCLAS TALLINN 000541

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL EN
SUBJECT: ESTONIA: 2006 TIP REPORT DEMARCHE DELIVERED

REF: STATE 86133


1. (U) On June 5 we delivered reftel points
informing the GOE of the release of the 2006 TIP
Report and Estonia's Tier 2 status to Mai Hion, MFA
Director for Human Rights, and Karen Tikenberg, MFA
TIP Desk Officer. The Estonians were pleased to
hear that the Report acknowledged progress the GOE
has made in combating TIP, principally in regards to
the National Action Plan (NAP). Hion said that the
GOE?s main TIP priority in the short and mid-term is
successful NAP implementation.


2. (U) In response to probing, Hion said that
regional cooperation on TIP remains strong.
Information-sharing among regional law enforcement
officials has aided in the investigation and
prosecution of a number of trafficking rings and
gangs, including most recently successful raids and
prosecutions in Finland. Estonia is also actively
seeking to work more closely with Russia. On June 1
in Moscow a regional Roundtable Forum on trafficking
was organized by the Estonian Ministry of Social
Affairs, the Nordic-Baltic Task Force, and Russian
NGOs which brought together government officials,
law enforcement, and NGOs. Tikenberg said that law
enforcement officials found the roundtable useful in
sharing best practices and common challenges.


3. (U) Asked whether the GOE intended to introduce
trafficking-specific legislation to help in the
fight TIP, Hion said the Ministry of Justice had
identified 15 different articles in Estonian law
that could be brought to bear in trafficking cases.
Going forward, the MoJ would analyze the
effectiveness of current legislation and then make
recommendations on required amendments or additions.


4. (U) In response to reftel recommendation that the
GOE expand public awareness campaigns to reduce
trafficking demand, Hion said the GOE had taken a
number of steps to inform the Estonian traveling
public about the dangers of trafficking, including
through brochures distributed at the airport.
However she acknowledged that more could be done to
inform foreign tourists coming into Estonia about
trafficking and the sex industry.


5. (SBU) Comment: We found Hion and Tikenberg to be
focused on the substance of the fight against
trafficking, rather than on the nuances of tier
classification and cross-country comparisons. This
is a positive sign and, we believe, one that
reflects the increasing sensitization of GOE
officials to the need for action in fighting TIP on
multiple fronts.

WOS