TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT FOR CYPRUS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NICOSIA 000915

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, EUR/PGI, EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM KWMN PHUM PGOV PREL SMIG CY
SUBJECT: TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT FOR CYPRUS

REF: A. SECSTATE 146300


B. NICOSIA 00661

C. NICOSIA 00881


1. The Republic of Cyprus (RoC) has made progress in
combating trafficking in persons since the end of last year's
TIP reporting period (March 1, 2007). It passed
comprehensive anti-TIP legislation and ratified the Council
of Europe Convention for Action Against Trafficking in Human
Beings, completed the first phase of a demand-reduction
campaign, and donated funds to help NGOs combat trafficking.
TIP contacts report that the government-owned shelter for
trafficking victims is undergoing finishing touches and will
open by the end of November. Convicted traffickers are
receiving longer prison sentences, and high-level officials
have called publicly for the abolishment of the "artiste"
work permit, a promising development.


2. Responses are keyed to questions posed in Ref A:

A) Status of Passage of Comprehensive anti-TIP legislation:
On July 13, the RoC enacted a new, comprehensive
anti-trafficking law which defines and criminalizes all
severe forms of trafficking. The new law also provides for a
one-month reflection period for victims of trafficking (Ref
B). Furthermore, on October 5 the RoC became the 10th EU
member-state to ratify the Council of Europe Convention for
Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings (Law 38 (II)/
2007). In doing so, Cyprus brought the Convention into force
for the entire European Union.

B) Government Provision of More Dedicated Resources for the
Protection of Trafficking Victims (including the opening of a
Government-run TIP Victim Shelter):

Financial Assistance and Other Dedicated Resources - The
Cypriot Social Welfare Office assisted 60 victims of
trafficking from March - October 2007. Social Welfare
provided shelter for 22 victims in state-run eldercare
facilities, and offered financial assistance to 38 victims
residing in other accommodations. The office also provides
victims with psychological counseling and guidance on their
rights and entitlements (several Embassy sources claim that
delivery of said services is sporadic, however.) In
addition, the RoC is working with and funding Cypriot NGOs
involved in anti-trafficking efforts (Ref C). For example,
the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) recently allocated 10,000 CYP
($25,000) to NGO STIGMA, which runs the island's only shelter
for trafficking victims.

The Shelter - The Ministry of Interior (MoI) claims that the
government-run TIP victim shelter will open its doors by the
end of November 2007. Physically, the structure is ready to
open; the remaining impediment, MFA and MOI contacts claim,
is a procurement technicality regarding MoJ-mandated security
cameras.

C) Demand for More Trafficking Convictions and Longer
Sentences: Since its July 13 passage, there have been three
cases prosecuted under the new anti-trafficking law; two are
pending trial, and one is still under police investigation.
Over the entire March 1 - November 15 reporting period, the
RoC National Police Anti-TIP unit reported ten convictions
for trafficking and prostitution-related cases (in
comparison, there were 20 convictions from March 1, 2006 to
March 1, 2007). In the current period, the sentences given
to traffickers ranged from a CYP 150 fine to 3.5 years
imprisonment, compared to a maximum sentence of two years
given last year.

D) Reducing the number of "Artiste"-category Work Permits:
The number of "artiste"-category work permits issued declined
fractionally compared to the prior period. According to the
Police, 2279 artiste work/residency permits were issued March
1 - November 15, as compared to 3367 during the March 1, 2006
- March 1, 2007 period. On November 6, MoI Permanent
Secretary Lazaros Savvides pledged publicly to abolish

SIPDIS
"artiste" permits altogether. Further, working level MoI
contacts told us November 14 that President Tassos
Papadopoulos had ordered the Ministry to study urgently the
effective abolition of the "artiste" permit by harmonizing
its procedures, requirements, and demands with all other
types of nonimmigrant visas.

E) Demand Reduction Campaign: The RoC recently completed the
first phase of a demand-reduction campaign originally
launched in March, printing and distributing 50,000 flyers
and 800 posters. The MoI also procured
translation/re-broadcast rights to two UN-produced, anti-TIP

NICOSIA 00000915 002 OF 002


spots and aired them on state TV. The government has
allocated an additional CYP 24,000 in FY 2008 for the second
phase of the campaign, which should launch in January 2008.
MoI officials are pressing other ministries to increase their
own funding for anti-TIP efforts. In addition, the MoJ
allotted CYP 4,000 for a joint public awareness campaign by
the Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies, the NGO Action
for Equality, Support, and Anti-racism, and the Association
for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family.

F) Other Developments:

-- The Police Academy has offered four specialized seminars
to train officers in recognizing, investigating and
prosecuting TIP cases under the new law. The
Anti-trafficking unit participated in two five-day seminars
(in June and November) at the European Police College, CEPOL.

-- Via Interpol, the Police assisted in 11 trafficking cases
earlier initiated in non-EU countries, and via Europol, in
seven cases.

-- Seven police officers face sanctions for involvement in
TIP-related corruption in two separate cases. Six face
internal disciplinary actions, while the seventh faces
criminal charges.
SCHLICHER