TIP PROPOSALS SUBMITTED BY AFGHANISTAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 001350 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, AND G/TIP STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR HARRIMAN OSD FOR SHIVERS CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-82 POLAD SENSITIVE, SIPDIS E.O. 12958 N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PHUM AF SUBJECT: TIP PROPOSALS SUBMITTED BY AFGHANISTAN REF: STATE 28150 ¶1. (U) This cable contains an action request. -------------- -------------- GAPS IN AFGHANISTAN'S CAPAPCITY TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) In both 2006 and 2007, the State Department's Global Office on Trafficking and Persons considered downgrading Afghanistan's TIP Tier Ranking from Tier 2 to Tier 2 Watch List. On both occasions, post took the position that the lack of progress in Afghanistan's fight against trafficking in persons was due to a lack of capacity on the part of the government, not its lack of willingness to address the issue. This year, post has worked closely with two international organizations - International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) - to develop a comprehensive strategy that pinpoints and addresses Afghanistan's capacity needs to combat human trafficking. Both proposals are two-year projects. Post strongly recommends that G/TIP provide full funding for both in order to ensure the greatest success in building capacity to fight human trafficking in Afghanistan. Specifically, these two proposals complement ongoing activities to combat trafficking to address the following capacity needs: -- Build capacity within the Ministry of Justice to draft anti-trafficking legislation, investigate, and prosecute trafficking cases. It will also build the capacity of MOJ officials to document and verify trafficking cases as well as analyze trends. -- Build capacity of the Ministry of Interior (Afghan National Police) to investigate, document, and arrest perpetrators of trafficking cases. It will also build the capacity of MOI officials to document and verify trafficking cases as well as analyze trends. -- Identify and build the capacity of NGOs throughout several provinces to raise awareness of the trafficking issue, operate hotlines to receive reports of trafficking cases, and disseminate reports to the Ministry of Interior for further investigation. -------------- PROPOSAL ABSTRACTS -------------- ¶3. (U) Text of proposals: -- Applicant: International Organization for Migration Requested Funding: $650,265 Project Title: Combating TIP in Afghanistan, "Prevention and Prosecution" Project Duration: 2 years Abstract: This 2-year project has three primary goals: (1) to build the capacity of local NGOs to detect, investigate, document and report cases of trafficking in persons to appropriate government agencies; (2) to build the capacity of the Afghan law enforcement community to arrest and prosecute human traffickers; (3) to educate the Afghan public about the perils of human trafficking and solicit their assistance in reporting cases to the NGO and law enforcement communities. Proposed activities include: (1) the identification of focal-point NGOs in the provinces of Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kandahar, Heart, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kunduz, KABUL 00001350 002 OF 003 Badakhshan, Khost, and Kunar that will attend Training of Trainers (TOT) workshops to establish a hotline for receiving information from the public on trafficking cases; (2) training of Ministry of Interior and police officials in those same provinces to detect, investigate, and document trafficking cases, and to make arrests where appropriate; (3) training of the staff at the Ministry of Interior's new office on counter-trafficking; (4) development of a manual for prosecutors and judges on how to investigate and prosecute trafficking cases; (5) conduct two study tours in which government and NGO employees who work on trafficking issues will travel to neighboring countries to learn best practices for countering trafficking in the region; (5) training for current students at the Police Academy; (6) creation of brochures, posters, radio spots, DC's and DVD's, and television broadcasts to educate people on the issue of trafficking and how to report cases to the appropriate NGOs and government agencies. Expected Results include: (1) an increase in number of cases reported to MOI from provincial NGOs; (2) increased number of prosecutions; (3) increased number of TIP arrests; (4) an increased number of TIP convictions, and (5) increased public involvement in reporting TIP cases. -- Applicant: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Requested Funding: $498,900 Project Title: Prevention of Human Trafficking in Afghanistan Project Duration: 2 years Abstract: This project will take place over a 24-month period and proposes working with and mentoring government officials from several different ministries to create a legal framework by which justice officials can address and ultimately decrease the extent to which human beings are exploited by organized crimes operations. It is expected that at the end of the project the Afghanistan will have basic legislation in place to ratify and implement the anti human trafficking protocol as part of the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. UNODC will prepare a report highlighting trends and recommendations on anti- trafficking strategies and on improvement of the protection and support systems for victims and witnesses of trafficking. The report will include an analysis of the human trafficking situation and involvement of organized crime groups. Strong attention will be placed on refugee camps that harbour thousands of undocumented individuals. The build up of professional national experts will be accomplished through training, networking, and the sharing of information. Regional cooperation will be established for the exchange of information on human trafficking with the six neighbouring countries of Afghanistan. The project proposes designing and implementing training programs for members of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary with the emphasis on prosecution of human trafficking cases. The training course would address such substantive topic areas as: recognized investigative techniques for law enforcement officers, exchange of intelligence information within police agencies, regional and international intelligence sharing, regional law enforcement conferences, methodology of criminal organization in relation to target groups, human trafficking routes, and protecting the rights of victims. It is also anticipated that a cadre of judges and prosecutors will be trained to review, investigate, and prosecute human trafficking cases. -------------- A COMPLEMENT TO ONGOING ACTIVITIES -------------- These two proposals will be implemented in 2008-2010 and have been coordinated to complement ongoing KABUL 00001350 003 OF 003 activities, implemented by IOM and UNICEF in 2006- 2007, that include the following: -- Training for primary and secondary school teachers to identify TIP cases. -- Establishment of 15 information centres outside of Kabul that will be located inside secondary schools. Trained teachers will be focal points in the districts responsible for the spreading information about human trafficking. -- Survey on trafficking trends in Afghanistan will be finished in August 2007 and will analyze patterns, data and trends observed over the last 3 years. -- Study tour for law enforcement officials to Tajikistan (April 16-20, 2007). The participants will be trained on the investigation and prosecution of TIP cases. Another study tour to Italy for 4 government officials. -- Printed materials for prevention of trafficking in children will be developed and distributed among targets. -- Development of a special manual for social workers to treat children who have been victims of human trafficking. -- Building of a shelter to house and provide treatment to victims of trafficking. -- Creation of cross-border committee with activists from Iran and Pakistan to address cross-border links to trafficking in Afghanistan. -- Assistance to the Ministry of Justice for drafting anti-trafficking legislation. Note: Ongoing efforts are nascent and are largely focused on the issue of child trafficking. These proposals submitted by UNODC and IOM will expand efforts to address human trafficking as a whole, including adult men and women. End note.