ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT EVOLVING ON TIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000168

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

G/TIP FOR MARK TAYLOR AND GAYATRI PATEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: PHUM KCRM KWMN PREL PREF SMIG AG
SUBJECT: ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT EVOLVING ON TIP

REF: A. STATE 9008

B. 07 ALGIERS 859

C. 07 ALGIERS 931

D. 07 ALGIERS 1099

E. 07 ALGIERS 1777

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Thomas F. Daughton;
reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: We received an immediate and unusually
candid response on trafficking in persons (TIP) from the
Algerian foreign ministry after delivering the UN.GIFT
demarche (ref A). The MFA indicated that Algeria planned to
participate in the forum. In addition, our interlocutor used
the meeting to speak at length about Algeria's efforts to
address TIP, and demonstrated an awareness of the issue while
outlining Algerian plans to combat TIP. According to him,
while the Algerian government may not have focused on
trafficking per se, it has addressed issues linked to it,
including by providing assistance to individuals in need and
by prosecuting for criminal activity. The conversation was
unique for its direct assessment of the TIP situation in
Algeria, supporting our sense of gradual Algerian movement on
TIP following the November visit of Ministry of Justice
officials to the U.S. END SUMMARY.

GOING TO VIENNA IN FORCE
--------------


2. (C) We delivered reftel demarche February 11 to Ahmed
Saadi, MFA's deputy director for human rights and
humanitarian affairs. Saadi told us Algeria would be
represented at UN.GIFT Vienna, but was unable to provide a
complete list of names. Algeria's inter-ministerial
delegation to UN.GIFT Vienna will be headed by Lazhar
Soualem, MFA's director of human rights, sustainable
development, and international social and cultural affairs,
and will representatives of the ministries of justice,
interior, and employment. The DGSN (police) will also be a
part of the delegation. Saadi also indicated that at least
one Algerian parliamentarian would be present on February 12,
for a pre-UN.GIFT meeting.


3. (C) What should have been a routine demarche turned into a
forthcoming summary of what Algeria is doing to address the
TIP phenomenon. Speaking without notes and without the
rancor that followed the release of the 2007 TIP report (refs
B, C, D),Saadi told us that an interministerial group had
spent the past two months preparing for UN.GIFT Vienna. He
stressed four points from the group's work: an
acknowledgment of the seriousness of the issue for the
international community; that Algerian laws will be changed
to address trafficking in persons specifically; that changes
in the laws will formally penalize trafficking; and that
elements of existing Algerian laws already address
trafficking. He also stressed that laws are being applied to
deal with trafficking-related issues, though not specifically
on trafficking because the concept does not exist in Algerian
law. (In the Algerian mindset, Saadi maintained, trafficking
is associated with slavery which, he said, does not exist in
Algeria.) Saadi noted as an example routinely inspection of
job sites by labor inspectors. When the inspectors uncover
illegal activity like the employment of undocumented workers,
he said, the individual responsible for the site is charged
appropriately. Saadi readily acknowledged that such
instances do not go after trafficking specifically, but
maintained that they do address issues that may be linked to
trafficking.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS OR TIP VICTIMS?
--------------


4. (C) Saadi indicated that he had had multiple conversations
with members of the security services who informed him that
they had seen neither cases of trafficking nor evidence of
trafficking networks. (Note: This is the first time the
Algerian government has suggested to us the security services
are aware of the TIP phenomenon. End note.) However,
according to Saadi, the security services readily acknowledge
that there are illegal immigrants in Algeria. There are no
specific government services targeted at trafficking victims,
continued Saadi, but there are services available that
trafficking victims can take advantage of, including centers
for battered women and exploited children. Saadi was unable
to say if trafficked individuals or illegal migrants make use
of the services and acknowledged that they may not because of
their vulnerable status. The challenge, he said, is
determining the difference between someone who enters Algeria
illegally, though voluntarily, and someone who is trafficked.



5. (C) We asked if the work of the interministerial group
represented a change in Algerian policy towards TIP. Saadi
first underscored that the group had focused solely on
UN.GIFT Vienna, not TIP writ large, but went on to say
repeatedly that the interministerial group recognized the
international importance of the issue. He also said the
Algerian government was nearly done with its efforts to amend
Algerian laws so that they deal specifically with trafficking
in persons. At present only "bureaucratic" issues remain,
according to Saadi.


6. (C) COMMENT: On the surface, we continue to see a changed
attitude from the Algerians concerning TIP (ref E). We are
also beginning to see glimpses of the government's inner
working of the issue. For several months, we have been told
that Algerian laws will be amended to address TIP
specifically. Actual passage and implementation of
legislation will likely be a slow process, although
conversations such as the one with Saadi already represent a
significant step in the right direction.
FORD