TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT: SOME PROGRESS, BUT STILL NO

UNCLAS CHISINAU 001354 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/UMB, EUR/PGI, G-ACBLANK, G/TIP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM KWMN PHUM PGOV PREL SMIG MD SUBJECT: TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT: SOME PROGRESS, BUT STILL NO PROSECUTIONS OF SENIOR OFFICIALS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. REF: STATE 146300 ¶1. (U) Post's interim assessment for EUR Special Watchlist countries is keyed to the questions in reftel para. 6B. ¶2. (SBU) According to the Center for Combating Trafficking in Persons (CCTIP),Government of Moldova (GOM) authorities opened 429 cases against traffickers (a 7.7% rise over the same period in 2006),comprising 223 trafficking in persons, 35 trafficking in children, 125 pimping, and 46 illegal-migration cases. In the same period, 103 persons were convicted of trafficking offenses: 27 for trafficking in persons, 6 for trafficking in children, 66 for pimping, two for organizing illegal migration, and two for organizing begging. Of these 103, 34 were imprisoned, 62 were fined, and the rest were given suspended sentences or amnestied. No details of sentences, or of the offenses for which the convicted were imprisoned, were given. The GOM has made no progress in prosecuting senior officials allegedly complicit in trafficking in persons. ¶3. (SBU) Lacking an official head (who must by law be a Deputy Prime Minister or higher),the National Committee on anti-trafficking efforts is not fully meeting its responsibilities to plan and implement the National Action Plan (NAP) on Preventing Trafficking in Persons. For instance, the GOM made no report on the 2005-2007 implementation of the NAP, and its activities have been limited to organizing meetings and seminars. The draft of an updated NAP, which was completed in August by various GOM agencies with NGO input, has not yet been submitted to Parliament. According to our contacts, increased funding for NAP implementation has been cleared by the Ministry of Finance, but specific amounts have not been revealed. ¶4. (SBU) The GOM has increased in-kind contributions, such as premises, and staff from other ministries have been seconded to the Ministry of Social Protection, Family, and Child (MinSPFC). MinSPFC established National Referral Service pilot programs in five districts (raions) in June 2006. The pilot program has brought together local authorities and NGOs to provide assistance to 130 trafficking victims between June 2006 and October 2007 in the five pilot raions. From August through October 2007, 20 victims from six other districts were assisted by new centers. Direct budgetary support from the GOM pays the salaries of 547 social workers, who provide services to victims and potential victims. The Chisinau Rehabilitation Center, run by the International Organization of Migration to provide social assistance to victims of trafficking, was built on land donated by the Ministry of Health. The GOM has not increased monetary contributions for victim assistance and protection. ¶5. (SBU) We have no evidence that the GOM has proactively identified trafficking victims by vigorously investigating allegations of trafficking and interviewing potential victims for indications of trafficking. ¶6. (SBU) Most of our contacts in the GOM and the NGO community note that no victims of trafficking have been arrested for prostitution, and that police, through the efforts of authorities and of NGOs, have been sensitized to the issue. We have heard anecdotal reports of victims being threatened with charges by low-ranking police officers, but no reports that these threats have been carried out. KIRBY