MACAU WOMEN'S COMMISSION SEEKS TO ANSWER THE CALL

C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 002640

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G/TIP AND EAP/CM
NSC FOR DENNIS WILDER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2032
TAGS: KCRM SMIG SOCI PGOV PHUM HK CH MC MG
SUBJECT: MACAU WOMEN'S COMMISSION SEEKS TO ANSWER THE CALL
AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

REF: HONG KONG 02360

Classified By: E/P Chief Laurent Charbonnet. Reasons: 1.4 (b, d).


1. (SBU) Macau Chief Executive Edmund Ho chaired a meeting
of the Consultative Commission on Women's Affairs (CCWA) on
October 10, wherein the Commission briefed the Chief
Executive on recent activities, including its meeting in
August to study ways to improve efforts to combat trafficking
in persons and raise awareness among Macau's citizens about
the dangers and pitfalls related to trafficking. Commission
Secretary General Tang Wai-lin on October 10 told the press

SIPDIS
that the Commission sought to address concerns raised by a
second consecutive ranking of "Tier 2 Watch List" in the
State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP)
report. (Note: The CCWA is a 25-member body established in
Macau in 2005 to promote women's rights and interests. End
note.)


2. (C) The Commission, which includes representatives from
government, private companies, legal and social
organizations, submitted to Chief Executive Ho its
recommendations on how to combat human trafficking in Macau.
In particular, the Commission agreed to conduct a study of
women's issues in Macau and set up a webpage on women's
affairs in 2008. Sister Juliana Devoy, Director of the Good
Shepherd Sisters' women's shelter in Macau and a member of
the Commission, told poloff that a small group of Commission
members would specifically study trafficking victims'
rehabilitation and treatment. (Note: The Commission small
group is awaiting Sr. Juliana's return from medical
treatment, given that she is a vocal member on trafficking
issues and a strong victims' advocate.) Sr. Juliana also
said that Secretary for Administration and Justice Florinda
Chan (the second-ranking official in the Macau government)
recently called her to discuss trafficking and victims'
issues, and asked her for a report on the April 2007 Vital
Voices summit on human trafficking held in Hong Kong, and for
a copy of the MTV "End Exploitation and Trafficking" ("EXIT")
video.


3. (C) Comment: As an advisory body to the government, as
well as a vehicle for outreach to the community on women's
affairs, the Commmission has helped bridge the gap between CE
Ho and Macau's evolving society on women's issues. It also
can spur the government's implementation of anti-TIP
measures. While the Chief Executive has always been the
titular head of the CCWA, he usually delegates presiding over
meetings to Secretary Chan. We are encouraged that the Chief
Executive -- after repeated conversations with the Consul
General on trafficking -- has so publicly lent the weight of
his office to the Commission's efforts to combat trafficking
and improve conditions for women in Macau. End comment.
Marut