IOM BULLISH ON GOB TIP COOPERATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 001060

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/UMB AND G/TIP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL SMIG KCRM KWMN BO
SUBJECT: IOM BULLISH ON GOB TIP COOPERATION


Classified By: Charge Jonathan Moore for reason 1.4 (d).

Summary
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1. (SBU) DCM, USAID, and poloffs met with Dejan Keserovic,
Minsk Chief of Mission of the International Organization for
Migration (IOM),to discuss GOB cooperation with the
organization's anti-trafficking efforts. Keserovic expressed
a generally favorable attitude towards the GOB and government
policy measures to improve anti-TIP efforts, and mentioned
several examples of increased cooperation from authorities.
Keserovic also discussed the GOB's new three-year plan to
combat trafficking, which includes a compensation fund for
victims. End summary.

Better Relations with the Government
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2. (C) IOM Chief of Mission Dejan Keserovic met with DCM and
Emboffs December 18 to discuss his impression of the
cooperation his organization receives from the GOB. He
pointed out that working with officials has become
significantly easier over the past few years. Approvals that
once required extensive paperwork and lengthy bureaucratic
processing now can be obtained verbally simply by phoning the
relevant authority. In addition, the government has taken a
more active role in strategic planning with IOM, increasing
the number of TIP steering committee meetings from one to
four annually.

Expanded Projects with Border Guards, for Children's Rights
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3. (C) In response to DCM's questions about IOM's work with
the GOB, Keserovic stated that IOM has entered a new
cooperative agreement with the Ministry of Internal Affairs
to assist the Border Guards Committee in reorganizing its
personnel structure. The project is designed to increase the
Committee's efficiency when dealing with trafficking in
persons. In addition, the Ministry of Interior, together
with IOM and the Red Cross will sign a memorandum of
understanding to better coordinate efforts to safeguard the
rights of children.

GOB Plans Rehabilitation and Compensation Mechanism
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4. (U) Keserovic also discussed the GOB's new three-year
anti-TIP strategy, announced December 7. The plan calls for,
among other things, increased cooperation with international
organizations and further development and distribution of
preventive educational materials. It will also increase
focus on special care for child victims of TIP and expands
efforts to prevent labor exploitation.


5. (SBU) According to Keserovic, one of the most interesting
aspects of the new plan, though, is that it calls for the
establishment of a rehabilitation and compensation fund to
benefit returned victims of trafficking. Although details
are still forthcoming, officials plan to model the plan after
organized crime compensation funds used in Italy. That
program reportedly used the appropriation of assets from
organized crime groups to compensate their victims.

Comment
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6. (C) Although the atmosphere for NGOs in Belarus is still
very difficult, and they still suffer from red tape and
bureaucratic harassment, anti-trafficking organizations,
particularly IOM, have been enjoying an increasing amount of
cooperation and support from the GOB. It is clear that
authorities support anti-TIP organizations more than other
types, and are making a concerted effort to cooperate with
them. The GOB's new three-year anti-TIP plan expands
existing efforts, and adds a new and very interesting victim
compensation element. The mechanism is still in the planning
stages, and authorities continue to discuss implementation
and operational details. The obligation of GOB funds to this
project and to their own legal efforts would be important
evidence of the regime's commitment to fight trafficking in
persons.
MOORE