Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BISHKEK94
2008-01-29 09:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
Kyrgyzstan Hosts TIP Roundtable for CIS Countries
how-toVZCZCXRO3684 RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHPW RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHEK #0094/01 0290934 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 290934Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0591 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2406 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0826 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2812 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2196 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
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
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
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