TIP: PROPOSED PROJECTS TO ENGAGE THE GOVERNMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TASHKENT 001520

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, DRL, AND G/TIP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2017
TAGS: KCRM KWMN PHUM PREL UZ
SUBJECT: TIP: PROPOSED PROJECTS TO ENGAGE THE GOVERNMENT

REF: A. TASHKENT 1512


B. TASHKENT 1419

Classified By: CDA BRAD HANSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D).


1. This is an Action Request; see Para 6


2. (C) Post has experienced greater transparency,
cooperation, and engagement with the Uzbeks on TIP matters
during the last six weeks than in the past two years. We
believe that imposing sanctions at this point will only serve
to discourage further engagement of the GOU with us on TIP
and other human rights issues. For this reason, we are now
proposing additional steps the USG can take with the GOU and
NGOs to advance our shared anti-TIP objectives in Uzbekistan.
The US and Uzbekistan may now have a rare opportunity to
advance our shared anti-TIP objectives.


3. (C) In July, Post presented the MFA with a five-step TIP
action plan which called on the Government to demonstrate
significant efforts in combating trafficking to have its Tier
Three ranking reassessed and avoid the imposition of
sanctions. By the August 12 deadline, the Government partly
fulfilled three of the five steps of the action plan by: 1)
drafting a new law on combating trafficking, 2) drafting
criminal code amendments that increase penalties for
convicted traffickers, and 3) ensuring regular meetings for
the interagency anti-trafficking working group. We believe
that the Government will complete these three steps by the
end of the year by introducing and passing the TIP
legislation in Parliament. In addition, the Government has
at least addressed the remaining two points of the action
plan by providing assistance to 20 trafficking victims at
shelters, drafting a new law on labor migration, and signing
bilateral labor migration agreements with Russia that call
for increased protection for Uzb
ek labor migrants.


4. (C) In order to promote continued engagement with the
Government, Post proposes the following TIP-related projects
for Uzbekistan. We have listed our ideas below, divided by
whether they would involve the participation of the
Government, non-governmental organizations or a combination
of the two. We also have developed a few project ideas that
could be implemented solely by Post.


Projects Involving Government Participation:

-- On July 31, Post invited government officials and NGO
practitioners for a viewing of the film "Human Trafficking."
The film was very well received by all in attendance, and
afterwards, MFA representatives inquired whether it would be
possible to broadcast the movie on (state-controlled) Uzbek
television (ref B). If the Department could secure the
broadcasting rights for "Human Trafficking," Post could
approach the Government again about showing it on Uzbek
television

-- Post could use International Narcotics and Law
Enforcement (INL) program funds to send officials from the
anti-trafficking working group to the United States or a
third country, such as Bahrain or Israel, for TIP-related
training.

-- Likewise, Post could send law enforcement officials for a
course on trafficking at the Central European and Eurasian
Law Initiative (CEELI) Institute or International Law
Enforcement Academy (ILEA),both in Budapest.

-- Currently, visitors to Tashkent International Airport are
greeted by posters about avian influenza. Post could
approach the Government about hanging similar posters on
trafficking at airport departure points, as many trafficking
victims from Uzbekistan are transported by air.

-- At an appropriate time, G/TIP officers could visit
Uzbekistan to discuss with the Government how it could
strengthen its anti-trafficking efforts.


Projects Involving Non-Governmental Organizations'
Participation:

-- The USG could donate the old chancery building to the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) to use as a
shelter or vocational center for trafficking victims.
Currently, Uzbekistan only has two shelters: one in Tashkent

TASHKENT 00001520 002 OF 003


and the other in Bukhara. The current one in Tashkent is
small and overcrowded. To repair and make the old Chancery
usable, however, several hundred thousand dollars in
additional funding would be required.

-- Post could support IOM and local NGOs in opening new
shelters in areas with high numbers of trafficking victims,
such as Samarkand or the Ferghana Valley.

-- Instead of supporting the creation of new shelters, Post
could fund the provision of legal support, vocational
training and medical and psychological counseling for victims
at existing shelters.


Projects Involving Government and Non-Governmental
Organizations' Participation:

-- In conjunction with the opening of a new shelter for
trafficking victims, Post could propose a cost-share to the
Government. For example, Post could agree to pay for the
shelter's overhead if the Government will pay for its
services, including legal support, vocational training and
medical and psychological counseling for trafficking victims.


-- With the support of provincial administrations and IOM's
partner NGOs, Post could arrange for the showing of "Human
Trafficking" at venues across the country. Post also could
invite officials from the Department of Homeland Security's
Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),which is
depicted in the film, to talk to regional law enforcement
officials and others about their real-life experiences on
trafficking cases.

-- Post could send leaders of IOM's partner NGOs and their
Government counterparts to the United States on an
International Visitors (IV) program that focuses on
anti-trafficking efforts in the United States. Although Post
recently sent NGO participants on TIP-related IV programs, we
believe that it would be worthwhile to arrange another
TIP-related IV program if the participation of Government
officials could be secured. Given the high level of
Government engagement on TIP recently, we believe that this
may be possible.

-- Post, along with officials and NGO partners, could
arrange a series of TIP-related events commemorating
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on December 2.
This date has been used by international organizations to
raise awareness of human trafficking as a form of modern-day
slavery.

-- Post could organize a Digital Video Conference with
trafficking experts in the United States or other countries.
Both government officials and NGO practioners could be
invited to attend.

-- After the showing of "Human Trafficking" at the Embassy,
several audience members requested to borrow the movie. Post
could purchase additional copies of the DVD to share with
international organizations, NGOs and government officials


Projects that could be Initiated by Post Alone:

-- If broadcast rights could be secured, Post could arrange
for the broadcasting of "Human Trafficking" on a regional
Russian-language channel or satellite.

-- Post could produce awareness-raising leaflets on
trafficking which can be included in Post's "Dostlik"
newsletter mailings.


5. (C) Comment: By pursuing some of the TIP-related projects
listed above, Post could encourage continued Government
engagement on TIP and support cooperation between officials
and NGO practitioners. We believe that pursuing such
projects at this point is much more likely to elicit further
efforts from the Government to combat trafficking than
applying sanctions against Uzbekistan. End Comment.


6. (C) Action Request: Post requests feedback from SCA and
G/TIP regarding the feasibility and desirability of the
TIP-related projects proposed in this cable. Post further
requests that SCA explore the possibility of negotiating
broadcast rights for the Lifetime film "Human Trafficking" in
Uzbekistan and obtaining 15-120 copies of the film with

TASHKENT 00001520 003 OF 003


Russian subtitles to distribute to NGOs, international
organizations and government bodies. End Request
HANSON