TAIWAN: 2007 TIP NARRATIVE AND DEMARCHE DELIVERED

UNCLAS TAIPEI 001344 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV TW SUBJECT: TAIWAN: 2007 TIP NARRATIVE AND DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: STATE 78365 ¶1. The Acting Deputy Director (ADDIR) delivered the 2007 TIP Report Taiwan narrative and demarche to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Deputy Director General of North American Affairs Christine M.Y Hsueh on June 12. Hsueh was accompanied by National Immigration Agency (NIA),Director of Immigration Affairs Chien Hui-Juan. Per reftel instructions, ADDIR noted that Taiwan had been removed from the Tier 2 Watch List in light of Taiwan's clear progress over the past year in addressing its sex and labor trafficking problem. However, because Taiwan does not fully comply with the minimum standards to eliminate trafficking, Taiwan will remain on Tier 2. ADDIR urged the Taiwan authorities to improve protections for victims of trafficking, to better protect laborers from forced deportation by labor brokers, and to punish labor trafficking offenses with criminal, not administrative, penalties. ADDIR commended Taiwan's recent success in disrupting several human trafficking rings, and the decision to house trafficking victims in NGO shelters, not detention facilities. ADDIR also noted the new "anti-demand" standard imposed by the 2005 amendment to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA),and emphasized the USG intention to continue assisting Taiwan anti-trafficking efforts in any way possible. ¶2. NIA Immigration Affairs Director Chien acknowledged that Taiwan immigration, labor, law enforcement, and justice authorities still have much to do to meet international anti-trafficking standards, and are working in earnest to do so. Chien said she intends to enhance NIA's working relationship with Taiwan NGOs, using the United States experience as a model. Chien added that Taiwan's anti-trafficking task force is developing a standard procedure for the release of TIP victims into NGO care, and is seeking to secure a permanent budget for that purpose. She promised to provide AIT with the task force's next progress report, which should be released in the near future. YOUNG