GREECE TIP REPORT SUBMISSION 2008 - PART 2

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 000365 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR EUR/SE, EUR/PGI, G/TIP, INL/HSTC, G, DRL, PRM, IWI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREL PREF ELAB GR SUBJECT: GREECE TIP REPORT SUBMISSION 2008 - PART 2 REF: State 2731 ATHENS 00000365 001.2 OF 003 Sensitive but Unclassified -- Protect Accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Below are Embassy Athens' responses to the 2008 TIP report questionnaire. Text is keyed to Ref request for "Prevention" Section. This is the second of four cables. ¶2. (SBU) PREVENTION: -------------- -- A. Does the government acknowledge that trafficking is a problem in that country? If not, why not? The government, including high-ranking officials, publicly acknowledges that trafficking is a problem in Greece. -- B. Are there, or have there been, government-run anti- trafficking information or education campaigns conducted during the reporting period? If so, briefly describe the campaign(s), including their objectives and effectiveness. Please provide the number of people reached by such awareness efforts if available. Do these campaigns target potential trafficking victims and/or the demand for trafficking (e.g. "clients" of prostitutes or beneficiaries of forced labor)? In 2007, the government continued the same television campaign used in previous years as its public awareness campaign. Additionally, it continued to finance an IOM-produced information card in Greek, English, Romanian and Russian to alert potential victims to the law enforcement resources available to help them. The card is distributed at all check points to women entering Greece from specific countries. Anecdotally, the card has also been observed posted in police stations. -- C. What is the relationship between government officials, NGOs, other relevant organizations and other elements of civil society on the trafficking issue? Government and NGOs largely enjoy good ongoing formal cooperation in providing assistance and support to victims. The GoG provided funds to NGOs and IOM to conduct prevention programs in origin countries. Government and NGOs cooperate on the basis of a Memorandum of Cooperation signed in 2005. Both parties further enhanced the MOC in 2007 by adding a new annex that describes the services available to victims by NGOs and by accepting new NGOs as signatories to the MOC. One new NGO, Nea Zoi, signed the MOC in 2007. NGOs and police work directly -- formally and informally -- on �0A;identifying and screening victims. In 2007, for the first time, police notified NGOs before conducting a raid on locations with suspected TIP victims. The NGOs provided victim screening and referring women to appropriate services and shelters and was seen by both police and NGOs as being an excellent success. NGOs, including "the Smile of the Child," European Network of Women, and others are now regularly called to teach at different training seminars for police personnel, justices, prosecutors and other trafficking related professionals. An NGO called Med.in, supported by the Ministry of Public Order, has an office and a medical unit within the major detention center for illegal aliens in Athens. It provides brochures about trafficking to potential victims and staff members encourage victims to speak with law enforcement after admitting to social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists or medical staff that they have been trafficked. ? Thessaloniki-based NGO, the Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture (CRVT),reports that there have been several occasions when it has not been informed by the police of important TIP cases, despite it having the only psychiatrist experienced in working with trafficking victims. According to CRCT, the fact that the Public Prosecutor makes the referral decision only after an individual is acknowledged as a victim, necessarily excludes their psychiatric expertise in recognizing victims and results in victims being overlooked. CRVT complained that it had only received two referrals in the two months previous to this report. Many NGOs continue to report difficulties in getting funding that ATHENS 00000365 002 OF 003 was promised by the GoG. The GoG reports that one half of funding is distributed at the beginning of a project and the rest is paid upon submission of appropriate documentation. Some NGOs, says the GoG, fail to comply with the documentation requirements and some change the scope of their previously approved projects. In 2008 the GoG announced that it would review its budget for different NGO projects and would limit the number of NGOs receiving funding. The reviewing process has not been completed yet, and its results have not been announced. -- D. Does the government monitor immigration and emigration patterns for evidence of trafficking? Do law enforcement agencies screen for potential trafficking victims along borders? Law enforcement authorities, including border patrol officers and airport authorities, screen arrivals for possible TIP victims and travelers with fraudulent documents as part of its Schengen responsibilities. Airport and immigration law enforcement specialists are included in TIP training programs and are members of the diplomatic-NGO-governmental authorities "Working Group." Greece has acceptable border controls in general, though thousands of illegal immigrants cross or are smuggled into the country every year. -- E. Is there a mechanism for coordination and communication between various agencies, internal, international, and multilateral on trafficking-related matters, such as a multi-agency working group or a task force? Does the government have a trafficking in persons working group or single point of contact? Does the government have a public corruption task force? There is an Interministerial Committee at the Secretary General level that in previous years met regularly and shares TIP information, progress, programs, and trends among ministries, headed by the MOJ. In 2007, the group did not meet between March 2007 and January 2008. The MFA and MPO take the lead on coordinating with multilateral bodies, such as OSCE, on TIP. A TIP "Diplomatic Forum " was established by the MFA and IOM in November 2005 between origin, transit, and destination country diplomats, NGOs, and working level government authorities, and they reportedly met one time in 2007. The "Diplomatic Forum" has said it will meet again in March 2008. The Ministry of Public Order has an anticorruption unit in its Bureau of Internal Affairs, which has investigated a limited number of TIP-related cases. -- F. Does the government have a national plan of action to address trafficking in persons? If so, which agencies were involved in developing it? Were NGOs consulted in the process? What steps has the government taken to disseminate the action plan? The GoG has a National Action Plan (NAtled "National Action Pngs." TheQ 2005 TVPRA, what measures has the government taken during the reporting period to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts? (See ref B, para. 9(3) for examples) --Commercial sex is legal in Greece; we are not aware of measures taken by the government to reduce the demand for it. -- H. Required of Posts in EU countries and posts in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong: As part of the new criteria added to the TVPA's minimum standards by the 2005 TVPRA, what measures has the government taken during the reporting period to reduce the participation in international child sex tourism by nationals of the country? Article 323 B of the Greek Penal Code provides for imprisonment for up to ten years for "any person who organizes, finances, advertises or negotiates for tourism, the intention of which is to perform sexual intercourse or other lewd acts with a person under the age of 18 and further provides for at least one year imprisonment for any ATHENS 00000365 003.2 OF 003 person who engages in such travel. -- I. What measures has the government adopted to ensure that its nationals who are deployed abroad as part of a peacekeeping or other similar mission do not engage in or facilitate severe forms of trafficking or exploit victims of such trafficking? The Hellenic Army General Staff confirmed that TIP training is included in the pre-deployment training for Greek forces that deploy abroad. The training is included in the module for Border Security. Additionally, as a NATO member, Greece has committed to follow the NATO Policy on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, which includes a commitment that all personnel taking part in NATO-led operations should receive appropriate training to make them aware of the problem and how this modern day slavery trade impacts on human rights, stability and security. NOMINATION OF HEROES AND BEST PRACTICES -------------- ¶A. Emma Skjonsby Manousaridis (an Amcit) is the director of the faith-based NGO New Life (Nea Zoi). She and her staff of volunteers, night after night walk into brothels and up to street-walkers to talk to them about getting out of prostitution. She and her staff frequently face threats of volnce. They cooperate closely with the Embassy, with the GoG and with Greek Police and are always willing to share their helpful insights. ¶B. Major George Vanikiotis is the head of the Athens Anti-TIP unit and has taken important steps towards eradicating TIP in Greece. In the summer of 2007, Major Vanikiotis notified one anti-TIP NGO 24 hours prior to a massive raid. The NGO was not told specific details but was advised to be at the ready. Shortly before the raids, NGO staff came to the police station and Anti-trafficking officers brought arrested women to speak with the NGO personnel, including a psychologist. Approximately 6 victims were identified. ¶C. Ms. Eva Roussou is a trained psychologist working at the Klimaka shelter in Athens. She works tirelessly on behalf of TIP victims and has worked to develop a strong relationship between NGOs and the Greek police. Best practices As described above, Major Vanikiotis' working in advance with a trusted NGO and having them at the police station to meet with victims is a best practice that approximates the role of victim-witness advocates in the United States and should continue to be used by police departments. Greece 2008 TIP Report Submission Continued Septel.