NICARAGUA: OPDAT WORKSHOP GIVES ANTI-TIP COALITION

UNCLAS MANAGUA 000707 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN RGREENE AND NNYMAN, WHA/PPC SMILLER DEPT FOR G/TIP MFORSTROM, BFLECK JUSTICE FOR OPDAT ROBERT LIPMAN BOGOTA FOR RLA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM SOCI KWMN SMIG NU SUBJECT: NICARAGUA: OPDAT WORKSHOP GIVES ANTI-TIP COALITION A NEEDED JUMP-START SUMMARY - - - - - ¶1. (SBU) Embassy Managua held the first in a series of several anti-trafficking in persons (TIP) workshops led by the U.S Department of Justice's Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (DOJ/OPDAT),May 6-8. More than 40 participants representing the Nicaraguan National Police (NNP),Office of the National Prosecutor, government institutions, think tanks, and civil society attended the three-day workshop in what amounted to a reactivation of the Nicaraguan inter-agency National Coalition against Anti-Trafficking in Persons (NCATIP), dormant for nearly a year. Under the direction of the OPDAT team, the invited group collaborated to develop the first draft of a manual for best practices to combat human trafficking incorporating prevention, protection, and prosecution of the crime. The session helped to clarify confusion over current legislation on trafficking, slavery, children's rights, forced child labor, and sex crimes. It also demonstrated the urgency of ensuring that the new Penal Code, which has stricter penalties for trafficking crimes, be brought fully into force. The participants also agreed to hold interim meetings until we host the next DOJ/OPDAT session, and were enthusiastic about the prospect of continuing this joint effort. END SUMMARY SLOW START, BUT MOVING IN RIGHT DIRECTION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (SBU) The aim of the Post's first OPDAT anti-trafficking training exercise, held May 6-8, was to facilitate networking between law enforcement, prosecutors, government of Nicaragua (GON) ministries, civil society, and other stake-holders; and to develop a best practices manual to address the problem of human trafficking in Nicaragua. A DOJ/OPDAT team, under the direction of the RLA from Embassy Bogota, designed and led the workshop. Participants represented many of the organizations and government institutions that constitute the National Coalition against Trafficking in Persons (NCATIP). The team encouraged the various stakeholders to move beyond the usual complaints about the lack of resources, the main excuse to explain why the TIP problem does not receive greater attention in Nicaragua. It was evident throughout the course of the program that most members of the Coalition operate in a vacuum and rarely come together to discuss plans or strategy. Despite initial resistance at the opening of the training, by the time the workshop was over, there was a greater willingness among the participants to think "outside the box" and collaborate on workable solutions. The workshop also fostered cooperation, coordination, and information-sharing. A FULL HOUSE, STRONG ATTENDANCE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (SBU) The attendance exceeded our expectations, especially given the national transportation strike that was well underway at the time we opened the program. We purposely invited key members of National Coalition against Trafficking in Persons who have been, or should be, most active on the trafficking issue. Before holding the workshop, we had learned from several civil society contacts that the GON had not taken an active role in using the Coalition to engage civil society and had not convened a meeting since August 2007. We brough