MACEDONIA: TIP SOLICITATION FOR G/TIP-MANAGED FY07

UNCLAS SKOPJE 000299 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR G/TIP (REBECCA BILLINGS),DEPT FOR EUR/SCE, DOJ FOR OPDAT (CARL ALEXANDRE) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC ELAB KCRM PHUM PREL SMIG MK SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: TIP SOLICITATION FOR G/TIP-MANAGED FY07 FUNDS REF: STATE 28153 ¶1. (U) Per reftel instructions, we recommend for funding the following two anti-TIP projects for G/TIP-managed FY 2007 ESF and INCLE funds, as described in paragraphs 2 and 3. Post believes both proposals address G/TIP criteria for projects that focus on strengthening rule of law and the criminal justice system. These proposals have been vetted by Post's inter-agency anti-TIP committee (DCM, POL, PAO, ICITAP, OPDAT and USAID). ¶2. (U) Strengthening the TIP Capacities of the Ministry of Interior Name of applicant: Ministry of Interior (MOI) Total funding amount: USD 150,000 Project title: "Strengthening the capacities of the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) in effectively combating human trafficking through enhanced ability to identify, assist, and protect actual and potential victims of human trafficking" Project duration: 15 months Proposal abstract: The project proposal identifies the following areas where the MOI needs intensive work to face the new challenges of anti-TIP work related to the prevalence of internal TIP victims, the changed modus operandi of traffickers, and the increase in the number of TIP victims who are minors. To address these issues, the MOI project encompasses activities related to: -- Prevention: Educational and training campaigns by local police, targeting school-age students; strengthening the role of Police Bike Teams in developing communication with TIP risk groups; and forging closer cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education regarding TIP. -- Protection: Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for identification and assistance of victims; distribute written SOPs to all police, including the Border Police; equip police stations in 2-6 TIP "hot spots" to better accommodate children victims; establish stand-by expert TIP teams (i.e. a social worker, a psychologist, etc.) to act as immediate victim support after police raids; and incorporate the current Guidelines for Victims of TIP into the application of the new Law on Aliens. -- Training: Provide special training in the fields of identifying child victims, new trends in TIP, interviewing techniques, dealing with post-trauma stress, etc.; sign bilateral witness protection agreements regionally; and provide public relations training to MOI staff to enhance media outreach efforts. ¶3. (U) TIP Training for Legal Professionals Name of applicant: Academy for Training of Judges and Prosecutors Total funding amount: USD 71,566 Project title: "Prosecuting trafficking in human beings cases" Project duration: 8 months Proposal abstract: Judges and prosecutors in the country are increasingly faced with the issue of prosecuting and sentencing traffickers. In Macedonia, there are approximately 200 criminal law judges, 50 investigative judges, and 200 prosecutors. Prosecuting and adjudicating TIP cases is a new and developing skill, and a very limited number of judges and prosecutors have been properly trained in the internationally-accepted procedures required to do so efficiently and correctly. To this end, the project proposal concentrates on the following activities: -- Provide 100 judges and prosecutors specialized anti-TIP training in four separate workshops. -- Improve judicial and prosecutorial skills for investigating and prosecuting TIP cases by including TIP training as part of the regular curriculum of the Academy for Training of Judges and Prosecutors, which is a public institution under the Macedonian Ministry of Justice. ¶4. (U) Post requests more detailed guidance regarding fund disbursement and next steps in the application process. MILOVANOVIC