SRI LANKA: WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT SECRETARY ENGAGES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001031 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS MCC FOR D NASSIRY AND E BURKE E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM KWMN KPAO ELAB KCRM SOCI KCUL, CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT SECRETARY ENGAGES ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING REF: COLOMBO 943 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore, for reasons 1.4(b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary. On July 10, Charge and Poloff called on Secretary of the Ministry of Child Development and Women's SIPDIS Empowerment Indrani Sugathadasa to brief her on Sri Lanka's Tier 2 Watch List status and discuss Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) efforts to address trafficking of women and children for involuntary servitude and sexual exploitation. Sugathadasa commented that some of the information contained in the 2007 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report overstates the nature of the problems in Sri Lanka, and that the GSL has taken significant measures to address TIP. She acknowledged that recruitment agents often mislead the women they send overseas, but argued that many women actively pursue foreign employment and know the risks. In Sugathadasa's view, the biggest problem with overseas employment of women is not abuse, but the social impact their absence has on families. Charge described the Tier 2 Watchlist status as an opportunity for the U.S. and Sri Lanka to work together to address trafficking and described upcoming U.S. anti-trafficking programs. Sugathadasa was forthcoming in our meeting and will likely be a good partner for future engagement on TIP. End summary. ¶2. (C) On July 10, Charge and Poloff called on Secretary of the Ministry of Child Development and Women's Empowerment Indrani Sugathadasa to brief her on Sri Lanka's Tier 2 Watch List status and discuss GSL efforts to address trafficking of women and children for involuntary servitude and sexual exploitation. This meeting followed a June 28 call by Ambassador and DCM on Minister of Foreign Employment Keheliya Rambukwella to discuss problems concerning overseas employment. US Report: Overstating the Problem? -------------- ¶3. (C) Sugathadasa, who serves as a member of the Foreign Employment Bureau, commented that some of the information contained in the 2007 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report is unclear and misrepresents the nature of the problems in Sri Lanka. She argued that women and children are not trafficked to the degree described in the report. Children are not trafficked abroad at all, she claimed, and internal trafficking of children for labor has significantly declined the last several years. She said awareness of laws and regulations concerning child labor is improving, and the International Labor Organization has been working in Sri Lanka to address this issue. She acknowledged that women are sometimes brought to Colombo from other parts of the country for prostitution, but said they were not typically sent overseas. She also acknowledged that Sri Lanka is a destination for Russian and Thai prostitutes. ¶4. (C) Sugathadasa argued that the GSL has taken significant measures to address TIP. The government refers victims to NGOs and safehouses overseas, there was an amendment to the penal code to address trafficking in 2006, and the GSL has partnered with UNICEF on a child sex tourism eradication project. Charge noted that collecting information on TIP, both on the problem and on efforts to address it, is challenging and suggested that increased communication and cooperation between the Ministry and the Embassy was in the interest of both the USG and the GSL. Recruitment Agents Mislead Women Workers -------------- COLOMBO 00001031 002 OF 003 ¶5. (C) In January 2007, Sugathadasa participated in a visit to five Middle Eastern countries where she met with over 500 women in various safehouses. The delegation prepared a report for Minister Rambukwella that was critical of recruitment agents both in Sri Lanka and in the destination countries. Agents often send women overseas with no guarantee of where they will be placed, she said. If the sponsor does not like a particular woman, he can send her back to the agent and she may not receive another placement for weeks or months. In the meantime, these women have few options, no income, and may be forced to resort to prostitution. ¶6. (C) Sugathadasa argued that tracking of overseas workers is flawed because women are only counted as they leave, but not as they come back and not when they travel between countries. She argued that better tracking of overseas employment would enable the GSL to take stronger action against corrupt agents. Charge noted that an upcoming USAID sponsored anti-trafficking project will address case monitoring and data collection. Agents Aren't Always to Blame -------------- ¶7. (C) Sugathadasa argued that many women know the risks when they pursue foreign employment. She reported that some repeatedly go overseas, escape from unsatisfactory employment situations, and return to Sri Lanka. She claimed that nearly 75 percent of women who work overseas fall into this category, and that only a minority of the women seeking overseas employment are new recruits. Overseas Workers Straining Families -------------- ¶8. (C) In Sugathadasa's view, the biggest problem with overseas employment of women is not abuse of the women, but the social impact their absence has on families. Many women return to Sri Lanka to find that their husbands have left them or have squandered the money they sent back, she said. Few families are actually able to improve their situation through foreign employment. She explained that the Worker's Welfare Fund addresses this problem by providing funds for migrant women and for their children back home, including school fees. She mentioned her Ministry's efforts to pass a law barring women with children under the age of five from working abroad. She admitted that this proposal was heavily criticized by human rights groups, but argued that it is the GSL's responsibility to protect small children. The legislation is currently on hold pending further discussion. An Opportunity for Engagement -------------- ¶9. (C) Charge described the Tier 2 Watchlist status as an opportunity for the US and Sri Lanka to work together to address trafficking. He described the USAID project through the International Organization for Migration scheduled to begin later this summer that will focus on capacity building and law enforcement training. He noted two proposed projects, one on further law enforcement training and one on community awareness and legal assistance for victims, which are currently under consideration. Sugathadasa requested further information on these programs as they move forward. ¶10. (C) COMMENT: Sugathadasa, a Humphrey fellow at Hunter College from 1990 to 1991, was forthcoming in our meeting and will likely be a good partner for future bilateral engagement on TIP. Post will follow up with her regarding upcoming U.S. COLOMBO 00001031 003 OF 003 anti-trafficking programs and on GSL efforts to address the issue. MOORE