GERMAN STATE MAINTAINS COMMITMENT TO COMBAT FORCED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSSELDORF 000010

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR G/TIP, EUR/PGI, EUR/AGS, INL/HSTC, DRL/IL, AND PRM
SATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM ELAB KFRD KWMN PHUM PREF SMIG GM
SUBJECT: GERMAN STATE MAINTAINS COMMITMENT TO COMBAT FORCED
PROSTITUTION IN AFTERMATH OF 2006 WORLD CUP


Sensitive but Unclassified -- Not for Internet Distribution


1. (SBU) Summary: North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW),Germany's most
populous state, appears to be successfully combating trafficking
in persons for the purposes of sexual exploitation. Using both
traditional and innovative methods, NRW experienced a decrease
in the number of trafficking in persons cases in 2006. The
State Office of Criminal Investigation (LKA),the Ministry of
Integration and Women's Affairs (MGFFI) and local NGOs attribute
this decrease to their multi-organizational approach in
executing what they describe as a comprehensive strategy to
reduce trafficking in persons and told us that they have been
approached not only by other German states, but also neighboring
countries to share their best practices. End Summary.

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The Numbers Speak for Themselves: NRW TIP Victims Down in 2006
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2. (U) According to the LKA's annual report on trafficking in
persons for the purposes of sexual exploitation, the number of
such cases in NRW decreased by 11 percent from 78 in 2005 to 69
in 2006, the most recent year for which data are available.
These figures also show that in 2006 the actual number of forced
prostitution victims statewide was at its lowest level in almost
10 years (99 victims). The majority of the victims (78 percent)
were from Eastern Europe, with the largest percentages from
Romania (21.1 percent) and Poland (14.4 percent).

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Traditional Strategies Beefed Up
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3. (SBU) A senior official at the Ministry of Integration and
Women's Affairs told Pol/Econ officer recently that press
speculation over increased demand for prostitute services, which
could have increased the number of trafficked forced
prostitution victims during the 2006 World Cup, "sent the
ministry into overdrive." A senior LKA official told us the
long-standing interagency working group that addresses this
issue beefed up its traditional three-pronged approach
(heightened awareness, additional border checks, and increased
police presence). Senior MGFFI officials said these strategies
were particularly effective as they were a result of a
long-standing working relationship among various stakeholders,
including the LKA, MGFFI, relevant NGOs, and local police
throughout the state. Together, they increased their outreach
efforts through awareness campaigns which included pamphlets,
flyers, and additional training for police officers. They also
leveraged their resources and used additional border checks
originally designated to check for soccer hooligans to also
check for possible TIP victims. Lastly, the group worked with
local police to increase the latter's presence in red light
districts and in other areas where tourists were expected to
congregate.

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State put their Money where their Mouth is
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4. (SBU) Senior officials at the MGFFI told us they believe NRW
has played a "leading and pioneering role" in Germany in
supporting TIP victims, an assessment shared by the Federal
Family Ministry, which has the lead within the German federal
government on fighting TIP. MGFFI funds various NGOs that work
in this area and noted that there was a mass outcry across party
lines from state parliamentarians when the administration did
not request funding for TIP victim services programs in 2007 due
to an anticipated budget crunch. Parliamentary members added a
line item to the budget and overwhelmingly voted to continue
funding these programs, which receive 1 million euros annually.
In NRW, eight NGOs are specifically engaged in helping TIP
victims who have been forced to work in prostitution.

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From Traditional to Innovative: Taking Effective Programs One
Step Further
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5. (SBU) Ministry officials highlighted one work transition
program, jointly funded by NRW and the European Union's Social
Fund with 1.1 million euros, calling the administering NGO
("Madonna") one of the most "successful and respected" in the
field. They highlighted that from mid-2006 until mid-2007, 40
(of 70) prostitutes were successfully trained to become nurses
in homes for senior citizens. MGFFI supports Madonna's work
with 245,000 euros annually.

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6. (SBU) The head of Madonna told us that in 2006, in response
to press speculation about an increase in forced prostitution
during the World Cup, the organization teamed up with another
NGO, Kober, to extend their counseling services to women who
wanted to get out of the prostitution industry. While Madonna
and Kober have traditionally offered intensive counseling
in-person and via telephone, the launching of the new
cooperation agreement allows them to pool their resources to
increase effectiveness, to offer their services in an on-line
format in seven different languages, and to branch out across
the state.

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Comment
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7. (SBU) Our conversations with key stakeholders across NRW
indicate that the media hype surrounding the anticipated
increase in forced prostitution during the 2006 World Cup --
although it turned out to be unfounded -- served as a major
motivational tool for those in the state who fight this crime on
a daily basis. In addition to expanding the scope of existing
methods, these groups also designed new and innovative
strategies for combating forced prostitution. We share the
confidence of NRW stakeholders that they are on the right track.
The state's commitment to funding anti-TIP initiatives is
another indication that there is strong political will to fight
human trafficking.


8. (U) This message was coordinated with Embassy Berlin.
BOYSE