Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIJING3780
2008-09-29 07:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

CHINA CONSIDERS ACCESSION TO UN PALERMO PROTOCOL

Tags:  PHUM PGOV PREL ELAB KTIP KHUM KWMN KCRM CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3614
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #3780 2730717
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 290717Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0221
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003780 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/CM JCARTIN; G/TIP; EAP/RSP DTIKVART

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL ELAB KTIP KHUM KWMN KCRM CH
HK, MC, XC
SUBJECT: CHINA CONSIDERS ACCESSION TO UN PALERMO PROTOCOL
AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson
for reasons 1.4 (B/D).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003780

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/CM JCARTIN; G/TIP; EAP/RSP DTIKVART

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL ELAB KTIP KHUM KWMN KCRM CH
HK, MC, XC
SUBJECT: CHINA CONSIDERS ACCESSION TO UN PALERMO PROTOCOL
AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson
for reasons 1.4 (B/D).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) China is seriously considering acceding to the UN
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in
Persons, Especially Women and Children, according to a
Ministry of Foreign Affairs official. China will hold a
symposium October 23-24, co-hosted by the UN Inter-Agency
Project on Human Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region
(UNIAP),to discuss China's accession to the protocol,
implications for China, and the impact on China's legal
system. Although China has made the policy decision to
accede to the protocol, one contact said, accession is
unlikely before spring 2009. End Summary.

Symposium on Palermo Accession
--------------


2. (C) China is seriously considering accession to the UN
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in
Persons, Especially Women and Children (Palermo Protocol),
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Treaty and Law Division
Deputy Director Xu Yu told PolOff September 9. Deputy
Director Xu said China will hold a symposium October 23-24,
co-hosted by the UN Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking
in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (UNIAP),to discuss China's
accession to the protocol, implications for China, and the
impact on China's legal system.


3. (C) Xu noted that proposed symposium sessions include
contributions from the Ministry of Public Security, the
National Working Committee for Children and Women (NWCCW),
UNIAP and the UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC). At the
meeting, experts will explain the provisions of the protocol
and suggest legislative, administrative and law enforcement
measures China will need to enact to meet its obligations
under the protocol.


4. (C) Additional sessions will focus on the National Plan of
Action on Combating Trafficking in Women and Children
2008-2012 (NPA),and there will be a panel discussion on
potential challenges to China's accession. Participants will
include legal experts, law enforcement officials, authorities
from MFA and NWCCW, as well as representatives from UN
agencies, including International Organization for Migration
(IOM),International Labor Organization (ILO),UN Children's
Fund (UNICEF),World Vision and Save the Children UK. (NOTE:
Contrary to past refusals, MFA has approved Post's request
to attend this event as an observer.)

No major obstacles
--------------


5. (C) Although China has been considering accession to the
Palermo Protocol for some time, experts say China is now
actively pursuing the issue. ILO Project to Prevent
Trafficking in Girls and Young Women for Labour Exploitation
within China (CP-TING) Project Director Kathleen Speake
(protect) told PolOff September 10 that Chinese officials
have indicated to her not only China's intention to adhere to
several ILO conventions on forced labor, but also China's
plans to accede to the Palermo Protocol in the near future.
According to Speake, China is well aware that in acceding to
the protocol, it would be required to undertake substantive
revisions of its legal system in order to comply with
specific provisions, including inclusion of men and boys in
its legislation protecting trafficking victims.

Not before 2009
--------------


6. (C) Despite China's need for enabling legislation, Speake
said that she did not believe there are any major legal
obstacles to accession and that the policy decision has been
made to accede. Speake noted that while China has in
principle agreed to accede and Hong Kong has given its
consent, Macau has yet to indicate its decision. Deputy
Director Xu indicated that due to complex procedural issues
and the fact that the National People's Congress (NPC) is
ultimately responsible for approving China's accession,
accession is unlikely before spring 2009.
PICCUTA