BELIZE - EIGHTH ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELMOPAN 000147 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR G/TIP (FLECK),G, INL, PRM DEPT FOR WHA/PPC (PUCCETTI), WHA/CEN (BEAL) GUATEMALA FOR USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB BH SUBJECT: BELIZE - EIGHTH ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT (PART ONE OF THREE) REF: A) STATE 02731, B) 06 BELIZE 673 This cable is sensitive but unclassified. ¶1. (U) Responses are keyed to the checklist (paras 27-32) in reftel ¶A. ¶2. (SBU) Overview of Belize's Activities to Eliminate Trafficking in Persons ¶A. Belize is a transit and destination country for internationally trafficked men, women, and children. Trafficking occurs within the country's borders primarily in the form of "sugar daddies" - adult men who engage in sexual activity with pre-teen and teenage girls in exchange for money or gifts, often with the consent of the girls' parents. In November 2006 Belize, through an ILO/IPEC study, acknowledged that the commercial sexual exploitation of children does exist within its borders. Although the Government of Belize (GoB) has maintained statistics on trafficking in persons since 2003, the records are sparse. In the last year, the GoB's Anti-Trafficking in Persons Committee has taken the lead to see that more thorough records are maintained. The Police Department's Joint Information Coordinating Center (JICC) is responsible for gathering intelligence from other agencies like Customs and Immigration and collecting TIP data. Between March and December 2007, there were three (3) cases of trafficking reported. This resulted in the identification of fourteen (14) trafficking victims. Trafficking, when compared to alien smuggling, is a small problem in Belize. Most non-governmental organizations recognize that the problem exists, but their limited resources have prevented them from addressing it effectively. In 2006, the GoB's Anti-Trafficking in Persons Committee became the focal point for all government anti-TIP activities in the country. In September 2007, the U.S. Embassy awarded an $80,735 INL-Economic Support Funds grant to the Ministry of Human Development to assist with training programs and refurbishment of the trafficking shelter. There is evidence that labor trafficking also exists in Belize, particularly in the citrus and banana regions of the country. UNICEF's country representative in Belize stated that most agricultural workers come to Belize voluntarily but noted that there is some anecdotal evidence that some employers do withhold workers' passports or demand sexual favors. There are no particular groups that are targeted for trafficking through or to Belize. The victims identified by the Tripartite Team (Department of Immigration, Police Department and Department of Human Services) have tended to be mainly young women and on occasion children and men. ¶B. The origins and composition of trafficking victims have changed minimally since the last report. According to the NGOs in regular contact with commercial sex workers (CSWs),most trafficked women come to Belize to work as bar waitresses and are given lodging by the bar owners. After several weeks of legitimate waitress work, the women are "asked" to provide sexual services to the patrons. If they refuse, they are threatened with deportation or worse. In most cases, the bar owners take possession of the women's passports under the pretext of safeguarding them in case of a police raid. In other cases, school girls are encouraged by their parents to engage in sexual relations with older men as a way to pay for school books, uniforms, or other expenses. Police indicate that the patterns of trafficking have changed recently noting that often the traffickers do not accompany the victims. They will meet a driver at the border point who will take them from border point to border point to move them through Belize and into Mexico for further transit to the U.S. Because of this trend, little is known about the trafficking in and around Belize. ¶C. The government's Anti-Trafficking in Persons Committee, a multi-agency body, is tasked with coordinating and monitoring anti-trafficking activities executed by immigration, police and Human Services in Belize. The Committee comprises representatives from the Ministries of Human Development, Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, the Attorney General's Office, the Department of Immigration and Nationality (DINS),the Belize Police Department, the Labor Department, the Customs Department, the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP),the National Committee for Families and Children (NCFC),the Belize Tourism Board (BTB),the National Organization for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NOPCAN), BELMOPAN 00000147 002 OF 002 and Youth Enhancement Services (YES) and is the lead agency for the government's anti-trafficking efforts. The Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Human Development leads the Committee which monitors the movements of people within and outside Belize's borders for evidence of trafficking and screens for potential trafficking victims. Periodically, the Committee reported its activities to the Cabinet. In addition, the Committee reported quarterly to Post. ¶D. Resources - both human and financial - continue to limit the government's ability to address TIP. Since June 2006, the government has provided training to police officers, immigration officials, and social workers. The Embassy provided funding for training for Human Services, police, and forensics personnel in dealing with victims of sexual assault crimes. Both the Minister and Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Human Development attended an OAS seminar to examine model legislation for trafficking. While the government has increased its efforts to raise awareness and protect victims, it has prosecuted few perpetrators. HILL