TIP SUBMISSION - ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BRIDGETOWN 000267 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM, AND WHA/CAR STATE PASS TO USAID/LAC/CAR-RILEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN ELAB SMIG ASEC KFRD PREF SC XL SUBJECT: TIP SUBMISSION - ST. KITTS AND NEVIS REF: 06 STATE 202745 ¶1. (U) As requested in reftel, below are Post's responses to questions regarding St. Kitts and Nevis for the annual Trafficking in Persons Report. Post consulted with the Royal St. Christopher (Kitts) and Nevis Police Force, the Ministry of National Security, and NGOs and has received no reports of any form of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) as defined in reftel. -------------- Para 27 - Overview -------------- ¶2. (SBU) ¶A. Is the country a country of origin, transit, or destination for internationally trafficked men, women, or children? St. Kitts and Nevis is neither a country of origin nor a destination point. -------------- Para 28 - Prevention -------------- ¶3. (SBU) ¶B. Which government agencies are involved in anti-trafficking efforts and which agency, if any, has the lead? The Ministry of National Security. ¶C. Are there, or have there been government-run anti-trafficking information or education campaigns? There have been no government-sponsored anti-trafficking campaigns. Churches have been vocal on anti-prostitution and anti-trafficking issues. ¶D. Does the government support other programs to prevent trafficking? No. ¶E. What is the relationship between government officials, NGOs, other relevant organizations and other elements of civil society on the trafficking issue? There is a good working relationship between the government and NGOs on promoting human rights; however, there are no specific collaborations on TIP issues. ¶F. Does the government monitor immigration and emigration patterns for evidence of trafficking? Do law enforcement agencies screen for potential trafficking victims along borders? There is monitoring and screening on criminal activity in general, but nothing special to TIP. ¶G. Is there a mechanism for coordination and communication between various agencies, internal, international, and multilateral on trafficking-related matters, such as a multi-agency working group or a task force? There is no formal mechanism for collaboration across agencies or departments within the government on TIP issues. The Immigration Department is part of the police force under the umbrella of the Ministry of National Security. From time to time, the Deparment of Gender Affairs will coordinate with the police force on issues of crimes against women. ¶H. Does the government have a national plan of action to address trafficking in persons? If so, which agencies were involved in developing it? There is no national anti-trafficking plan. The Immigration Act deals with people that enter St. Kitts and Nevis illegally and is the closest national legislation. -------------- -------------- Para 29 - Investigations and Prosecutions of Traffickers -------------- -------------- BRIDGETOWN 00000267 002 OF 003 ¶4. (SBU) ¶A. Does the country have a law specifically prohibiting trafficking in person--both for sexual and non-sexual purposes (e.g., forced labor)? If so, please specifically cite the name of the law and its date of enactment. Does the law(s) cover both internal and external (transnational) forms of trafficking? If not, under what other laws can traffickers be prosecuted? There are no anti-trafficking in persons laws. Traffickers could be prosecuted under immigration, prostitution, and/or labor laws. ¶B. What are the penalties for trafficking people for sexual exploitation? N/A. ¶C. Punishment of Labor Trafficking Offenses: What are the prescribed and imposed penalties for trafficking for labor exploitation, such as forced or bonded labor and involuntary servitude? There are no specific laws against trafficking for labor exploitation. Such practices would be considered slavery or bondage that is outlawed by the St. Kitts and Nevis constitution. It would involve the crime of false imprisonment which is a felony. ¶D. What are the prescribed penalties for rape or forcible sexual assault? How do they compare to the prescribed and imposed penalties for crimes of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation? The maximum penalty for rape is life imprisonment. Indecent assault on a minor carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. ¶E. Is prostitution legalized or decriminalized? Specifically, are the activities of the prostitute criminalized? Prostitution is illegal. ¶O. Has the government signed, ratified, and/or taken steps to implement the following international instruments? Please provide the date of signature/ratification if appropriate. a. ILO Convention 182 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor: Ratified October 12, 2000. b. ILO Convention 29 and 105 on Forced or Compulsory Labor: Ratified October 12, 2000. c. The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography: Not a party to the protocol. d. The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime: Accessioned May 21, 2004. -------------- - Para 30 - Protection and Assistance to Victims -------------- - ¶5. (SBU) ¶C. Do the government's law enforcement and social services personnel have a formal system of identifying victims of trafficking among high-risk persons with whom they come in contact (e.g., foreign persons arrested for prostitution or immigration violations)? BRIDGETOWN 00000267 003 OF 003 There is no system or screening process which can readily identify TIP victims. ¶G. Does the government provide any specialized training for government officials in recognizing trafficking and in the provision of assistance to trafficked victims, including the special needs of trafficked children? The government has provided no specialized training. OURISMAN