MALAYSIA: TIP PROPOSALS FOR FY2008 ESF AND INCLE

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000146 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, G/TIP FOR KATHLEEN BRESNAHAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL SMIG ASEC ELAB KCRM MY SUBJECT: MALAYSIA: TIP PROPOSALS FOR FY2008 ESF AND INCLE FUNDS REF: A. 07 STATE 161287 - G/TIP SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS ¶B. EMAIL - GALLEGO TO GTIP OF 11 FEB 08 ¶C. EMAIL - GALLEGO TO GTIP OF 19 FEB 08 ¶1. Post submits for funding consideration the following two proposals from The Asia Foundation and the International Organization for Migration. Post fully recommends both proposals and lists them by priority. Both proposals focus on effective implementation of Malaysia's new comprehensive anti-trafficking law. We submitted these proposals to G/TIP and EAP/RSP via email on February 11 and 19. ¶2. The Asia Foundation (TAF): Post recommends the TAF proposal as a first priority. TAF's three-year project, with a budget of $445,506, will enhance Malaysian government (GOM) efforts to implement and enforce the 2007 Anti-trafficking in Persons Act by providing exposure to best practices and international standards, and supporting Malaysian NGOs. While the new law is comprehensive, it is only now entering the initial enforcement phase. The goal of the project is to strengthen prosecution of traffickers in Malaysia. The project has three objectives: 1) enhance the capacity of prosecutors and judges to effectively prosecute traffickers; 2) improve community coordination in Sabah and Sarawak to better protect victims and prosecute traffickers; and 3) improve victim care in shelters and increase legal testimony from victims. TAF will draw on its network of contacts in Malaysia and extensive regional experience and expertise in anti-trafficking to implement the proposed project. Measurable results will include: increased number of prosecutions of traffickers; shelters meet international standards and victims receive better protection; increased number of victims willing to testify against their traffickers; and increased and better coordinated community-based interventions in Sabah and Sarawak to protect victims and prosecute traffickers. TAF will work closely with the Asia Regional Trafficking in Persons project, an ASEAN regional project funded by the Australian government, and local NGOs, including the Malaysian Human Rights Commission and Tenaganita, to implement the proposed project. TAF's proposal meets our goal of encouraging government action and enhancing government capacity to combat trafficking in persons effectively. ¶3. (U) International Organization for Migration (IOM): As a second priority, we recommend IOM's submission. The 12-month project, with a budget of $186,040, will provide base-line training on combating TIP utilizing the wide range of training and resource materials IOM consolidated in its long experience implementing counter-trafficking programs. The proposal includes drawing from international best practices and lessons learned from other governments' experiences combating trafficking in persons. IOM will engage with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Immigration, and Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development as its main counterparts to advance an interdepartmental training platform to strengthen operational coordination and victim support measures as part of implementing the GOM's comprehensive anti-TIP law. IOM's project objectives are: 1) to develop and deliver a comprehensive counter-trafficking training module for senior government officials at the decision-making level; 2) to deliver c omprehensive counter-trafficking training to at least 250 operational and frontline law enforcement and government social service providers; and 3) to facilitate the establishment of working groups to draft operational coordination/referral guidelines for the handling of victims of trafficking cases. This proposal is aligned with our efforts to build capacity within law enforcement and expand GOM's interagency efforts to implement its anti-TIP law. KEITH