TIP GRANT PROPOSALS FROM SLOVAKIA

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000241 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS G/TIP FOR REBECCA BILLINGS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB KCRM SMIG PHUM PGOV LO SUBJECT: TIP GRANT PROPOSALS FROM SLOVAKIA REF: STATE 28153 ¶I. (SBU) As per reftel, Embassy Bratislava is forwarding four TIP proposals for G/TIP consideration. This cable contains summaries of each project. Embassy TIP officer will email the full project proposals to Rebecca Billings in G/TIP. The proposals are listed in order of priority of recommendation. If only one project can be funded, we recommend the first one, which falls under ESF funding. If one project from each category is funded, we also recommend the second project, which falls under INCLE funding. ¶1. (SBU) First recommendation: Name of organization: Kulturne Zdruzenie Romov Slovenska (KZRS),(Cultural Association of Roma of Slovakia, an NGO) Name of primary contact: Andrea Buckova Requested funding amount from USG: USD 49,940 Total cost of project: USD 80,274 Project title: Prevention of Trafficking in Persons in Roma Communities Project duration: 24 months Category: ESF funding Proposal abstract: "Extend of TIP in Slovakia is not big in numbers. Nevertheless comparing the year 1998 with 3 cases of TIP with last year (40 cases) shows an increase. The problem is latent as everywhere in the world, but in Slovakia the situation is specific because of the very fast growing gap between those living in bigger cities, having good education and work and those others. Rich and poor live different lives especially after Slovakia joined the EU and the gap is expected to rise with the approaching of the Schengen . Also the victims' identity is more visible. Those, whose number increases enormously are Roma women. The inhabitants of Roma communities - especially women and children - are the at most group at risk. The reason for this is a wide complex of problems connected with poverty: - in some social marginalized areas the unemployment reaches 100 percent - influence of newly arising social and cultural phenomena has destroyed Roma system of cultural values and has stimulated spread of socio-pathological occurrences - knowledge of these factors enables the traffickers direct way into the communities with minimal risk This shows that at most jeopardized by trafficking are those communities which as a result have got very little access to information, to institutional help or counseling and where there is a low level of education involved. The main objectives of this submitted project is to react to these reasons and to bring the issue of TIP into Roma communities. In Slovakia there does not run any similar program or project. The KZRS has been cooperating with the Alliance of Women and its daughter organization the Way Out on the issue of TIP for a longer period. The Alliance has got the longest experience in Slovakia with the theme of TIP not only because of directly helping the victims but also theoretically - lobbing, advocacy activities, educating, writing, in media appearances, etc. In 2004 the Alliance has already run a project together with the network LA STRADA called Prevention of Traffic in Women in Central and Eastern Europe followed by the project Trilateral Initiative to Prevent and Combat Trafficking in Women Within Roma Communities in CEE in 2005. The Alliance has already worked with Roma communities also in a series of other projects. Together with this organization we would like to create a sustainable system of prevention and assistance in the Roma communities (especially in Roma settlements) by trainings on TIP of the Roma social workers (RSW) working directly in the Roma communities. Very carefully chosen 50 people out of them will become TIP Educated RSW, who we will call for the goals of this project TIPERSW. They will work with Roma people especially women and children to prevent their trafficking and to assist event. victims. They will create their local nets of various professionals (police, judges, doctors, etc.) who deal with assistance to victims of TIP. They will also cooperate with the local governments and relevant NGOs. Educational methods used and amended according to the feed back and evaluation of the project, will become a part of the curricula for further education of the RSW. In this way the project will be sustainable." Embassy evaluation: This project focuses on both prevention and follow-up identification and referral to protective services for TIP victims in the Romani community, which is disproportionately affected by trafficking in Slovakia. Its intent is to train an already-existing network of social workers who interact with the Romani population, with the goal of adding the training to the social workers' standard curriculum. The proposal makes efficient use of established institutions and field workers who are already dedicated to helping a marginalized community and therefore has a high chance of widespread impact and long-term sustainability. ¶2. (SBU) Second recommendation: Name of organization: Ministry of Interior in partnership with 3 local NGOs (Prima, Storm, and Dotyk) Name of primary contact: Jozef Hlinka Requested funding amount from USG: USD 43,835 Total cost of project: USD 43,835 Project title: Training Programs on the Issue of Trafficking in Persons in the Slovak Republic Project duration: 12 months Category: INCLE funding Proposal abstract: "The project aims to make the criminal prosecution in trafficking in persons more effective and to reinforce mutual cooperation of the involved parties via training programmes for the existing capacities of the investigative, prosecuting and adjudicating bodies, for the selected Police Force members and employees of the Migration Bureau of the Ministry of Interior of the SR. In creation of internal legal regulations on fight against trafficking in persons, the Slovak Republic responded to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially in Women and Children supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, as well as to the corresponding EU Council directives concerning trafficking in persons. The absolute ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the President of the SR represents a significant step in this area. In 2006, under decree of the SR Government, National Plan of Action in Fight against Trafficking in Persons per 2006 - 2007 was adopted. This April, Report on Discharge of the Tasks Ensuing from this Plan of Action was submitted for discussion to the SR Government. The Ministry of Interior of the SR (hereinafter only the "Ministry") discharged 17 out of the total number of 19 tasks, whereas the other two tasks have been assigned deadlines in 2007. Regarding the fact the SR has not so far possessed enough experience in suppression of this form of criminal activity and does not dispose of trained capacities able to identify a victim, to communicate with the person effectively, or to efficiently detect and investigate the crime of trafficking in persons, we find establishment of qualified personnel base in this area a priority. The defined objective has been divided into three specific objectives: ¶1. detection of crime of trafficking in persons, ¶2. explanation of crime of trafficking in persons, ¶3. cooperation between the Ministry and the non-governmental organisations and the activity thereof. We aim to achieve the above objectives by means of training programmes focusing on the issue of trafficking in persons depending on individual target groups. The training activities shall be realised at the premises of the Police Force Academy in Bratislava, in the course of 12 months, and that in quarterly intervals in a form of week training courses. The training courses shall consist of theoretical and practical exercises categorised under the following 6 training programmes: ¶1. situation in the area of trafficking in persons in the SR; ¶2. identification of the victims of trafficking in persons; ¶3. communication with the victims of trafficking in persons; ¶4. detection and investigation of the criminal activity of trafficking in persons; ¶5. cooperation with non-governmental organisations; ¶6. activities of non-governmental organisations. Upon realisation of the planned training programmes, the SR shall dispose of competent government employees, capable in particular of identifying a victim, communicating with the person effectively, with the aim to motivate the victim to cooperate with the investigative, prosecuting and adjudicating bodies, and thus contribute to detection and explanation of the particular criminal activity and punishment of the offenders thereof. In addition, the training courses shall significantly affect cooperation between the Ministry and the non-governmental organisations, thus improving also the help provided to the victims of trafficking in persons. From a long-term perspective, the training courses can affect positively also the confidence on the part of the victims in the Police Force. The Ministry presents this project in cooperation with partnership non-governmental organisations currently participating in the Programme of Support and Protection of Victims of Trafficking in Persons realisation In terms of the Ministry organisation chart, the experts of the Consultation and Advisory Department of the Minister's Cabinet, of the Police Force Academy in Bratislava, and of the Special Unit for Fight against Organised Crime of the Presidium of the Police Force shall participate in the project realisation." Embassy evaluation: With the Ministry of Interior's authority to ensure that the relevant government officials (police officers, migration officers, etc.) participate in the training programs, this project has a realistic potential to reach an audience of approximately 400 officials, most of whom would have life-long careers with the government, enabling the project to have a long-term impact. The NGOs will provide the expertise. The negative aspect of government involvement is that the proposed budget is not as efficient as it could be, e.g., it includes the purchase of a copy machine and two desktop computers rather than using the existing office equipment of any of the four partnering organizations. The Ministry of Interior has told us that its own TIP budget for 2008 (estimated USD 75,000) would be directed entirely towards victim protection and support services if this training project receives USG funding. ¶3. (SBU) Third recommendation: Name of organization: International Organization for Migration (IOM) Name of primary contact: Zuzana Vatralova Requested funding amount from USG: USD 53,945.26 Total cost of project: not specified although some co-funding would come from an existing project Project title: Establishment and Pilot Operation of a Shelter in Order to Improve the Quality of Assistance to Trafficked Persons in Slovakia Project duration: 12 months Category: ESF funding Proposal abstract: "The overall goal of the project is to contribute to improving the quality of assistance to both Slovak and foreign trafficked persons in Slovakia by the establishment and pilot operation of a safe accommodation facility providing comprehensive assistance to victims of trafficking in persons. As of now, the provision of assistance to trafficked persons in Slovakia faces the critical problem of the non-existence of a shelter facility that would be designed specifically for victims of trafficking in persons and would ensure sufficient and sustainable capacity to accommodate beneficiaries. As of now, trafficking victims are accommodated in facilities designed for victims of domestic violence or in safe flats that are, however, not funded continuously so as to ensure available capacity to accommodate beneficiaries at any time. The project will therefore focus on the selection and training of an NGO that would be able to run a shelter facility fulfilling the internationally recognized standards of assistance to trafficked persons and also the practical operation of the shelter under ongoing practical tutoring and monitoring of IOM over the course of this project. This way the project will ensure the transfer of knowledge gained by IOM through its Programme of Return and Reintegration of Trafficked Persons to a selected NGO that would be ready to become an exclusive partner of the Slovak Government for the implementation of state-funded of assistance to trafficked persons." Embassy evaluation: While establishing a dedicated shelter for TIP victims in Slovakia is a goal that we have encouraged the GOS to consider, this project's somewhat small scope (i.e., the shelter would be one apartment that could house a maximum of six victims at a time) duplicates certain aspects of the current year-long pilot project of the NGO Dotyk to provide sheltering apartments to victims on an as-needed basis. What IOM's proposal offers that the similar existing project does not is: a full-time social worker and training from the best expertise that Slovakia can offer. However, sustainability is not guaranteed since the project proposes to train only one NGO on how to run a TIP shelter and the prospects of funding for the shelter after 12 months are questionable. ¶4. (SBU) Fourth recommendation: Name of organization: Aliancia Zien Slovenska (Alliance of Women of Slovakia, an NGO) Name of primary contact: Katarina Farkasova Requested funding amount from USG: USD 45,416 Total cost of project: USD 63,416 Project title: Training on Trafficking in Persons for Institutions Project duration: up to 24 months Category: INCLE funding Proposal abstract: "The recent situation in the field of TIP in Slovakia has been newly finally evaluated by the US Department of State in the report as a Tier 2 country: 'the Slovak government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so'. Indeed, the Slovak Government has ratified the Palermo Protocol, the CE Declaration which it ratified as on of the first 3 countries. Recently, there was set a special police unit, which is supposed to disclose secret trafficking in humans along with cases of sexual exploitation (Police Force Headquarter Organized Crime Bureau - Department of TIP). In addition, the government adopted the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and a commission of experts has been established. A new programme for victims of TIP has started and the Ministry of Interior co-operates with 2 street workers organisations and one organisation which operates at the frontier area with the Czech Republic and deals with smugglers and various type of violence. Despite of all these measures the most important part is missing - informed and educated professionals who come into contact with victims of trafficking (policemen, functionaries at the Migration Department, prosecutors, judges, etc.) Atmosphere of positive implementation, good empathy of the officials for victims of TIP and good knowledge of the issues from their perspectives are missing. There is a great gap between those who are to help and those who need the help. Nevertheless we consider this situation as solvable with the help of a mediator who knows the experience of the victims and at the same time knows how to address the officials - professionals who are to help. The NGO Alliance of Women is such a mediator. It has got a special position in Slovakia. Not only it works with victims directly, but also prepares analyses, reports, publications, articles and outcomes for various media. Representatives of the Alliance have been invited for all media events and very often they are invited to utilise televisions in Slovakia to speak about TIP. The organisation also gives trainings and courses to various organisations, institutions (such as Law Faculty in Trnava, Social Work Faculty in Bratislava and others),and official and also to other NGOs. The Alliance already conducted a very successful intensive 3 days training for employees of the Police Corps, which was only possible because of the US Department of State report in 2005 which showed Slovakia as the Tier 2- country. For the training on TIP the Alliance has got an accreditation of the Ministry of Education, as the only organisation in Slovakia. This project, which we submit, would secure training on TIP of all state institutions whose work is connected with TIP, with an address sequence starting from the highest positions (Ministry of Interior, Presidium of the Police, Migration Department, Ministry of Justice, etc.) and also introduction of TIP as a field of study - part of study curricula for Police Academy, Judges Academy, secondary schools for policemen and all other possible training institutions such as law faculties, social work faculties etc. The Alliance has already co-operated with many of them, has got good experience and feed back. Many of them have shown interest already and expect further conjunction." Embassy evaluation: This project has a commendably broad scope of training all relevant departments of the government (police, judges, prosecutors, etc.) on TIP and encouraging the future inclusion of the training in the respective training academies. However, though the NGO has prior experience in training government officials, there is no guarantee nor even an agreement in principle between the NGO and the various government offices to allow the training. This is why the proposal does not come with a timetable - the organizer recognizes the need to be flexible to fit the governmental schedules. Unlike project #2 above, the organizer does not have the authority to oblige the branches of government to accept the training. In light of the successful collaboration of this NGO and some branches of the government in the past, the project is worth consideration. The broad scope and target audience would enable a long-term impact. SILVERMAN