Kyrgyzstan Hosts TIP Roundtable for CIS Countries

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000094 SIPDIS SENSTIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR G/TIP: MHALL DEPT FOR SCA/CEN: DGEHRENBECK DEPT FOR DRL/NESCA: RWALDSTEIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM SMIG KWMN PGOV PREL PHUM KG XH ZK ZJ SUBJECT: Kyrgyzstan Hosts TIP Roundtable for CIS Countries Ref: Bishkek 36 BISHKEK 00000094 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Summary: On December 13-14, 2007, the Kyrgyz State Committee on Migration and Employment with the OSCE hosted a regional round table entitled "Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in Central Asia: State Policies, Dynamics and Ways Forward." Participants included representatives from both NGOs and government officials from the majority of Commonwealth of Independent (CIS) member nations. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),OSCE and other international organizations were also present and were featured speakers. Each delegation spoke on topics ranging from their own country's experiences with TIP to what successful anti-TIP measures they had implemented. NGOs specifically focused on the importance of civil society in combating trafficking in persons (TIP) and how government efforts can complement those of NGOs in the three P's of TIP: Prevention, Prosecution and Protection. End Summary. ¶2. (U) On December 13-14, 2007, Kyrgyzstan hosted a regional roundtable on Combating Trafficking in Persons. Organized by the OSCE, the Kyrgyz State Committee of Migration and Employment (SCME), the UNODC, and the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN GIFT),the roundtable featured delegations from Belarus, the European Commission, the International Labor Organization (ILO),Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UNICEF, and Uzbekistan. Delegations included government officials from ministries that encounter TIP, such as the Ministries of Interior, Migration or Prosecutor's Offices, and representatives from various NGOs. ¶3. (U) All parties present expressed agreement on the importance of combating TIP and ensuring that victims have adequate protection and assistance. Speakers from the OSCE emphasized that TIP is not just a human rights issue but also a national security threat due to its ties to organized crime and illegal migration. While each participating country had specific problems with TIP, certain tools, such as hotlines, information centers for intending migrants, shelters for victims, and effective legislation for prosecuting traffickers, appear to be universally used by either governments or NGOs in preventing TIP and assisting victims. Recommendations were made to the delegations concerning establishment of temporary resident status for victims, appropriate training for law enforcement officials to ensure that victims are not further criminalized in the process of combating TIP. While it may be expedient to quickly facilitate repatriation of a TIP victim to their country of origin, it was stated that successful prosecution depends on accurate gathering of evidence which victims are unlikely to provide if they perceive themselves vulnerable to reprisals from traffickers or further prosecution for their illegal status. ¶4. (U) UNGIFT is sponsoring a follow-up forum in February 2008 in Vienna to address the root causes of trafficking, the social and economic impacts, and the actions necessary to eradicate it. The organizers are specifically inviting destination countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, to participate and learn from TIP origin countries such as those in Central Asia and the CIS. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: Following a series of anti-TIP programs in Kyrgyzstan in late 2007 (Reftel),the December anti-TIP conference brought together a number of regional experts to share experiences and discuss how effectively to combat the problem and assist victims. Informally, many of the participants stated that this event was a good introductory platform from which to proceed with regional cooperation. One of the liveliest portions of the conference was a heated debate concerning the role of NGOs and civil society in combating TIP. A Belorussian delegate accused NGOs of "trying to control" their governments and stated that working with NGOs was ineffective and time wasting. The OSCE rep then pointed out that 40% of TIP victims are discovered through NGOs, and the Ukrainian NGO La Strada's representative calmly replied that NGOs have a right as BISHKEK 00000094 002.2 OF 002 stakeholders in the country to ensure the government is acting in the interests of its people. Yovanovitch