IMPLEMENTING CHINA'S ACTION PLAN TO COMBAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003779 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/CM JCARTIN; G/TIP; EAP/RSP DTIKVART E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2018 TAGS: PHUM KTIP PGOV KWMN PREL KCOR KCRM KFRD KJUS CH, XB SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTING CHINA'S ACTION PLAN TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson for reasons 1.4 (B/D). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) As part of its effort to combat trafficking in persons (TIP),China is working to implement its National Plan of Action (NPA) issued by the State Council on December 13, ¶2007. Both the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Civil Affairs are coordinating a national plan to combat trafficking, and several provincial action plans are close to implementation. China's involvement in the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT) process has increased China's visibility in the region on anti-trafficking, and has provided further incentive for it to show leadership and progress on the issue. End Summary. Implementing the National Plan of Action -------------- ¶2. (C) In order to meet its commitments to combat trafficking in persons, China is working to implement the National Plan of Action (NPA) its State Council issued on December 13, ¶2007. National Working Committee for Children and Women (NWCCW) Deputy Director Wan Yan told PolOff September 18 that despite setbacks to implementation efforts faced due to the May 12 Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan Province, as well as the Beijing Olympics, progress is being made on clarifying roles and responsibilities amongst the 26 departments involved in implementing the NPA, of which NWCCW is an integral part. She pointed out that provincial action plans are being drafted, and that Guangdong, Fujian, Hainan and Shaanxi Provinces are well on their way toward implementing province-specific anti-trafficking measures. Four P's -------------- ¶3. (C) NWCCW Deputy Director Wan added that the NPA's main focus is on "the four P"s: policy, prevention, prosecution and protection. Although China's tendency in the past was to concentrate on prosecution of criminal activity related to trafficking, Wan explained, the NPA has expanded the Government's responsibilities to include prevention and victim rehabilitation. She added that 21 "operational measures" are laid out in the plan. Ministerial responsibilities -------------- ¶4. (C) Since the NPA was issued, Wan pointed out, several ministries have taken steps to implement anti-trafficking measures. The Ministry of Public Security (MPS),the NPA-designated lead anti-trafficking agency, commissioned a national survey to obtain a clearer picture of the trafficking problem in China, and has integrated 10 different departments into its anti-trafficking office. That office is now responsible for collecting and coordinating each ministry's action plan and implementation responsibilities under the NPA. ¶5. (C) The Ministry of Civil Affairs has conducted several training sessions targeted at provincial-level civil affairs departments and heads of shelters for street children in order to increase awareness of trafficking issues. The NWCCW has also conducted training sessions, one of which was for local officials in Guizhou, Guangxi and Henan Provinces to sensitize them to the NPA and assist them in developing action plans. Extraordinary events in 2008 -------------- ¶6. (C) International Labor Organization (ILO) Project to Prevent Trafficking in Girls and Young Women for Labour Exploitation within China (CP-TING) Project Director Kathleen Speake (protect) and International Organization for Migration (IOM) International Project Manager Kieran Best (protect),in meetings with PolOff, mentioned that they were forced to suspend many programs due to the extraordinary events of 2008 (i.e., the earthquake and hosting the Olympics). Nonetheless, both believed, the suspensions were atypical and understandable and not attempts by China to avoid making progress on trafficking. IOM's Best indicated that after issuing the NPA, China needs time for awareness of the need to combat trafficking to grow. According to him, IOM has been approached by the Ministry of Civil Affairs to assist in the development of its NPA implementation plan, and this BEIJING 00003779 002 OF 002 approach reflects a desire to move forward on the issue. Increased visibility and leadership -------------- ¶7. (C) Best added that China's involvement in the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT) process, begun in October 2004 and culminating in the hosting of the sixth Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) in Beijing December 2007, has increased China's visibility in the region on trafficking, and has provided further incentive for it to show leadership and progress on the issue. PICCUTA