Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TUNIS771
2006-03-31 14:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:
TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS: CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
how-toVZCZCXYZ0017 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHTU #0771 0901405 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 311405Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0302 INFO RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAWJB/DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS TUNIS 000771
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG - LAWRENCE, NEA/RA - MENARD, G/TIP -
PATEL, G, INL, DRL, PRM, IWI
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KCRM KWMN ELAB SMIG ASEC KFRD PREF TS
SUBJECT: TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS: CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
UNCLAS TUNIS 000771
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG - LAWRENCE, NEA/RA - MENARD, G/TIP -
PATEL, G, INL, DRL, PRM, IWI
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KCRM KWMN ELAB SMIG ASEC KFRD PREF TS
SUBJECT: TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS: CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
1. (SBU) On March 27, Poloff met with Ahlem Belhadj and
Hafidha Checkir of the Tunisian Association of Democratic
Women (ATFD) to discuss their 2002 report on child sexual
exploitation, titled "A Situational Analysis of Commercial
Sexual Exploitation of Children in Tunisia." (NOTE: This
report includes official statistics from a 2001 GOT report on
the state of children and unofficial analysis of child sexual
exploitation and can be found at:
www.ecpatinternational.org/eng/Ecpat inter/
projects/monitoring/rabat/tunisia.pdf. END NOTE.) Checkir
explained that Tunisian laws related to trafficking in
persons (TIP) and child sexual exploitation are appropriate
and adequate. However, comprehensive application of these
laws is sometime limited by overlapping responsibilities
among GOT ministries, lack of resources and cultural
sensitivities.
2. (SBU) Belhadj said that many different GOT ministries and
departments are involved in combating child sexual
exploitation, providing shelter and counseling for victims,
and investigating allegations; therefore sometimes
coordination was an issue. Since children's issues were
moved to the Ministry of Women's Affairs, Family, Children
and Senior Citizens (MWAFCSC),some of these problems have
lessened. However, Belhadj said it is unclear to what
extent, as government statistics have limited distribution.
Therefore, they had no new information or details to add to
their report, which was completed in 2002.
3. (SBU) When asked if GOT limitations in this area were due
to resources or mentality, Belhadj said both are a problem.
The GOT has established a High Commission for the Protection
of Children under the MWAFCSC, which has a representative in
each of Tunisia's governorates. However, Belhadj said these
representatives often lack the staff and material resources
to effectively investigate reported abuses, including
vehicles to travel outside of major cities. Additionally,
abuse cases may spend years in the legal system, due to the
complex and time-intensive nature of the Tunisian legal
system.
4. (SBU) Regarding medical care and counseling for victims,
Belhadj and Checkir noted that cultural stereotypes about
mental health treatment make victims and their families
reluctant to utilize such services. Also, the field of child
psychology is new in Tunisia and only ten doctors nationwide
have appropriate expertise. They said that both citizens and
the GOT consider psychological care or counseling to be a
luxury, and GOT efforts in the medical field are currently
focused on providing basic health care to all citizens.
5. (U) Post has also requested a meeting with the Ministry of
Women's Affairs, Family, Children and Senior Citizens to
obtain more detail on GOT efforts and any available
statistical data.
HUDSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG - LAWRENCE, NEA/RA - MENARD, G/TIP -
PATEL, G, INL, DRL, PRM, IWI
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KCRM KWMN ELAB SMIG ASEC KFRD PREF TS
SUBJECT: TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS: CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
1. (SBU) On March 27, Poloff met with Ahlem Belhadj and
Hafidha Checkir of the Tunisian Association of Democratic
Women (ATFD) to discuss their 2002 report on child sexual
exploitation, titled "A Situational Analysis of Commercial
Sexual Exploitation of Children in Tunisia." (NOTE: This
report includes official statistics from a 2001 GOT report on
the state of children and unofficial analysis of child sexual
exploitation and can be found at:
www.ecpatinternational.org/eng/Ecpat inter/
projects/monitoring/rabat/tunisia.pdf. END NOTE.) Checkir
explained that Tunisian laws related to trafficking in
persons (TIP) and child sexual exploitation are appropriate
and adequate. However, comprehensive application of these
laws is sometime limited by overlapping responsibilities
among GOT ministries, lack of resources and cultural
sensitivities.
2. (SBU) Belhadj said that many different GOT ministries and
departments are involved in combating child sexual
exploitation, providing shelter and counseling for victims,
and investigating allegations; therefore sometimes
coordination was an issue. Since children's issues were
moved to the Ministry of Women's Affairs, Family, Children
and Senior Citizens (MWAFCSC),some of these problems have
lessened. However, Belhadj said it is unclear to what
extent, as government statistics have limited distribution.
Therefore, they had no new information or details to add to
their report, which was completed in 2002.
3. (SBU) When asked if GOT limitations in this area were due
to resources or mentality, Belhadj said both are a problem.
The GOT has established a High Commission for the Protection
of Children under the MWAFCSC, which has a representative in
each of Tunisia's governorates. However, Belhadj said these
representatives often lack the staff and material resources
to effectively investigate reported abuses, including
vehicles to travel outside of major cities. Additionally,
abuse cases may spend years in the legal system, due to the
complex and time-intensive nature of the Tunisian legal
system.
4. (SBU) Regarding medical care and counseling for victims,
Belhadj and Checkir noted that cultural stereotypes about
mental health treatment make victims and their families
reluctant to utilize such services. Also, the field of child
psychology is new in Tunisia and only ten doctors nationwide
have appropriate expertise. They said that both citizens and
the GOT consider psychological care or counseling to be a
luxury, and GOT efforts in the medical field are currently
focused on providing basic health care to all citizens.
5. (U) Post has also requested a meeting with the Ministry of
Women's Affairs, Family, Children and Senior Citizens to
obtain more detail on GOT efforts and any available
statistical data.
HUDSON