TIP REPORTS DELIVERED; UNODC AND EU WORKING WITH ECOWAS

UNCLAS DAKAR 001348 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR G/TIP, INL/AAE, AF/RSA AND AF/W E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM KCRM PU SG SUBJECT: TIP REPORTS DELIVERED; UNODC AND EU WORKING WITH ECOWAS COUNTRIES ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REF: A. STATE 079033 ¶B. STATE 078726 ¶1. EmbOffs have delivered the 2007 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) reports to the Governments of Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, and the reports have been posted on the embassy Web site in English and French or Portuguese. In the course of related discussions, Embassy learned that the computer equipment provided to Senegal's Judicial Police to set up a trafficking database in 2004 has yet to be populated with information about traffickers. The database of talibes at the Ginddi Center, however, is being populated, and we are encouraging the Ministries of Interior and Family to share information. We believe that persuading the police that the database could be used for all criminal gangs involved in smuggling people, narcotics ad weapons may be the most effective approach at this point. ¶2. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) told DCM that the European Union (EU) has launched a new initiative with the 15 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member countries to assist with updating and implementing TIP legislation. The EU has suggested that Senegal revise its TIP legislation to discriminate between TIP and migrant smuggling, which the April 2005 legislation does not. The EU is also working with Guinea-Bissau's National Popular Assembly to get TIP legislation enacted before legislative elections in March or April 2008. JACOBS