IOM's Return and Reintegration of Lao TIP Victims

UNCLAS VIENTIANE 000310 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MLS DEPT FOR PRM/FO DEPT FOR PRM/ANE DEPT FOR G/TIP DEPT FOR DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SMIG PHUM SOCI ELAB KWMN PREL LA SUBJECT: IOM's Return and Reintegration of Lao TIP Victims Ref: A) 06 VIENTIANE 1035 The contents of this telegram are SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; please handle accordingly. ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph nine. ¶2. (SBU) Summary: The International Office for Migration (IOM) signed a long-awaited Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Laos (GoL) on February 27. Based on the MOU, IOM plans to be more active in capacity-building and the reintegration of trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. IOM plans to open a small project office in Laos in late April, thus allowing closer monitoring of return and reintegration activities. Traditionally, the U.S. State Department's Office of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) has been the primary source of funding for the return of Lao TIP victims from Thailand to Laos. However, PRM-provided funding for this activity is expected to run out in June 2007. In order to continue the return of Lao TIP victims from Thailand to Laos, IOM needs funding of USD 60,800 for the coming twelve-month period. End Summary. Long-Awaited MOU -------------- ¶3. (U) On February 27 the Government of Laos (GoL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Office for Migration (IOM). Specifically, the MOU was signed by IOM, the Lao Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (MLSW),and the Lao Women's Union (LWU). The MOU covers three core activities: capacity building of technical staff; direct return and reintegration assistance to victims of trafficking in persons (TIP); and research and information development to include the development of a training manual for Lao staff who work with returned trafficking victims. The three-year $378,000 USD MOU will continue through 2009. The MOU comes after five years of effort on the part of IOM to obtain MOU approval. As part of the agreement, IOM plans to open a small office in Vientiane on April 20 to provide closer oversight of return and reintegration as well as capacity-building activities. ¶4. (U) Speaking at the MOU signing ceremony, IOM's regional representative Ms. Irena Vojackova-Sollorano told the audience that the MOU would put IOM in a better position to provide assistance to Laos. She noted that Laos is a crossroads in the region and that migrants flow from all directions. She also remarked that, in terms of ethnicity, victims from Laos are now more diverse than before. (Note: Since 2001 IOM and the GoL have worked together under a regional return and reintegration project to return more than 800 trafficking victims from Thailand to Laos. In 2006 alone, 260 Lao TIP victims were returned from Thailand to Laos with IOM assistance. End Note.) Seeking Funds for Return of Victims -------------- ¶5. (SBU) IOM - GoL efforts to return Lao trafficking victims from Thailand to Laos have been a notable success. The return of trafficking victims has primarily been funded by the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). PRM funding also supported the establishment of the MLSW's Transit Center for the processing of returned TIP victims. Based on existing funds, however, IOM's ability to continue supporting the return of TIP victims from Thailand to Laos will cease in June 2007. Hopeful of locating additional funding sources for its return and reintegration activities, IOM representatives attended a donors meeting in Bangkok on March 13. Unfortunately, the donors meeting resulted in no additional funding leads. ¶6. (SBU) IOM expenses for returning TIP victims to their countries of origin within the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) average USD 10,000 per month, approximately half of which is for return of Lao TIP victims. In-country expenses for returned Lao TIP victims include costs associated with food, family assessments, healthcare, travel, translation/interpretation, and minor costs associated with administration of the MLSW Transit Center. Since IOM's Regional Return and Reintegration Program was instituted in 2000, the percentage of returned TIP victims from Laos has increased from 24 percent of total returns throughout the GMS during the first few years to more than 51 percent of total returns in the past three years. These figures, and the continued increase in Lao TIP victims requiring assistance to return to Laos, demonstrate the seriousness of the problem that will result if additional funding is not secured to continue the return of Lao TIP victims. According to IOM representatives, in order for IOM to continue returning Lao TIP victims to Laos, approximately USD 60,800 is required for a twelve-month period of time. In order to continue returns of TIP victims within the GMS as a whole, USD 122,500 would be required for the coming year. ¶7. (SBU) IOM has submitted an Economic Support Funds (ESF) proposal to Embassy Vientiane that would partially address the need for ongoing support for returning Lao TIP victims from Thailand and the related operations of the MLSW's Transit Center. The proposal also includes activities to support the eventual establishment of a transit center in Savannakhet Province. However, given the timing required for review and potential funding of ESF proposals, any funds associated with this proposal, if selected for funding, would likely not be available until early to mid-2008. (Note: The Embassy plans to submit IOM's ESF proposal as one of the leading five TIP proposals from Laos. End Note.) Capacity Building Funds -------------- ¶8. (U) While PRM has funded IOM's return activities in Laos for several years, the Australian Government's Overseas Aid Program (AUSAID) has provided most of IOM's funding for capacity building. AUSAID, however, does not support direct assistance costs, such as expenses associated with returns. Because many capacity building activities were delayed due to the lack of an MOU, IOM still has AUSAID funds available for some previously planned capacity building activities and plans to dramatically increase its capacity building efforts after establishment of an IOM office in Laos on April 20. Action Request -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The Embassy requests the Department's consideration of emergency continued funding of USD 60,800 for the continuation of IOM activities to return Lao TIP victims from Thailand to Laos for the July 2007 - July 2008 time period. With the number of Lao TIP victims rescued and assisted by shelters in Thailand increasing, it is vitally important that efforts to return Lao TIP victims to Laos continue. IOM's assistance to the GoL for return of Lao TIP victims from Thailand has been successful and has been a means by which to begin building the capacity of GoL officials so that they can eventually conduct such activities without significant assistance. Given the recently signed MOU and the planned establishment of an IOM branch office in Laos, the Embassy expects IOM's role to increase - particularly in regard to capacity building, reintegration, and monitoring efforts, all of which would be undermined by a lack of funding for the return of TIP victims. The local office also allows IOM a foot in the door for possible future assistance to Lao-Hmong refugees, currently in Petchabun Camp in Thailand, some of whom may be returned to Laos. HASLACH