NEPAL: MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS RELEASE OF 2008 TIP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000659 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB KCRM KPAO KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG NP SUBJECT: NEPAL: MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS RELEASE OF 2008 TIP REPORT; INTERNAL TRAFFICKING A GROWING PROBLEM REF: SECSTATE 55790 Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) In meetings on June 4 with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MWCSW),Emboff delivered the full text of the Nepal chapter of the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, recognizing the new law that criminalizes all forms of trafficking and underscoring persistent problems with lack of enforcement and the growing internal trafficking trade. The release of the report and the inclusion of three Nepalese in the report's heroes section was widely covered by the media. Members of CHANGE Nepal, a small NGO, reported that several hundred new girls had been trafficked into Kathmandu since April and noted that the police were often complicit in trafficking. TIP Report Demarche -------------- ¶2. (U) In meetings on June 4 with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MWCSW),Emboff delivered talking points and the final text of Nepal's country narrative from the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. Emboff drew attention to the areas of improvement identified in the 2008 report, in particular, the passage of a comprehensive anti-trafficking law criminalizing all forms of trafficking. However, Emboff also expressed concern about the lack of effective prosecutions of trafficking crimes in Nepal to date. GON official stressed the global nature of the problem and noted that it was difficult for any one government to combat all aspects of the problem. Emboff also highlighted concern over the expanding internal trafficking trade and growing domestic sex industry. This came as a surprise to the MFA Under Secretary for UN and International Organizations, Rudra Nepal, who was apparently unaware of this growing domestic issue. MWCSW officials emphasized the GON's recent allocation of government funds, in the amount of NRs 60 million (approximately USD 896,000),to support shelters for victims of trafficking in three districts, but admitted that they needed better procedures to track trafficking arrest and prosecutions. Press Highlights TIP Report, Anti-Trafficking Heroes -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) The release of the 2008 TIP report was featured in several major Nepali dailies and in TV and radio reports. Kantipur, Nepal's largest selling vernacular daily, published the entire Nepal chapter of the TIP report in its op-ed page. (Note: Post provided the media with a Nepali translation of the full chapter. End Note) The articles recognized the work of the three Nepalis who were featured in the 2008 Heroes section of the report for their efforts to rescue over 280 children from Indian circuses. The media also highlighted the report's particular focus on forced labor, the disturbing upward trend in internal trafficking and child sex tourism, the passage of new trafficking legislation and the ongoing lack of prosecutions. Internal Trafficking On the Rise -------------- ¶4. (U) On June 5, members of Change Nepal, a Nepali NGO focusing on outreach and education for victims of trafficking, told Emboff that over 200 new girls had been trafficked into Kathmandu from other areas of the country since mid-April. These young girls, whose average age is around 12 to 14, are put to work in Kathmandu's growing "entertainment" industry; including dance bars, massage parlors and cabin restaurants. In addition, Change Nepal stated that police were often complicit, easily bribed and that when they did conduct raids, they arrested and fined the victims rather than the traffickers. Change Nepal emphasized its need for more funding to address the higher volume of domestic trafficking victims. (NOTE: The NGO conducts literacy and health awareness classes to girls working in the KATHMANDU 00000659 002 OF 002 "entertainment" industry and offers a stipend to cover the costs of public school to the students who have reached level 5 and wish to continue their education. END NOTE) Comment -------------- ¶5. (U) Nepal's recent passage of a comprehensive anti-trafficking law criminalizing all forms of trafficking is an important step in the fight to end trafficking in Nepal. However, the dramatic increase in the number of girls and women being trafficked internally and the apathy of Nepali officials towards enforcement are troubling. The Government of Nepal (GON) needs to strengthen its enforcement efforts in order for this important new law to have an impact. POWELL