PHILIPPINES: FY 2008 ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS PROPOSALS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MANILA 000403 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR G/TIP, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, INL/AAE, DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC ELAB KCRM PHUM PREL SMIG RP SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES: FY 2008 ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS PROPOSALS REF: 07 STATE 161287 (FY 2008 G/TIP Grant Solicitation) ¶1. In response to the solicitation for anti-trafficking in persons project proposals from the Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP) (reftel),Embassy Manila received 18 proposals from both government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for consideration for funding in FY 2008. Our Mission's Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Working Group carefully reviewed all 18 proposals and recommends the following five projects to G/TIP, in priority order. ¶2. Per reftel guidance, Embassy will e-mail the complete proposals for the five projects to G/TIP. Political Officer Barry Fullerton is the Embassy point-of-contact for TIP issues. He can be reached at 63-2-301-2000, extension 2350, or via e-mail at FullertonTB@state.gov. -------------- Project 1: International Labour Organization -------------- ¶A. NAME OF ORGANIZATION: International Labour Organization (ILO) ¶B. REQUESTED FUNDING: $412,759 ¶C. PROJECT TITLE: Improving National Responses against Trafficking in Persons for Forced Labour and Labour Exploitation ¶D. DURATION: 24 months ¶E. PROJECT ABSTRACT: The ILO's global report of 2007 concludes that the increasing trend of trafficking in persons for forced labor stands out as the most urgent problem of the 21st Century in relation to ILO Convention No. 29. While the Philippines has a comprehensive anti-trafficking law, reports indicate little information and few formal complaints of trafficking for forced labor. The proposed project will contribute to the effective implementation of the Philippine anti-trafficking law through research and operational activities that tackle forced labor, and how its forms are linked to broader patterns of trafficking. The project will organize a series of roundtable discussions and dialogues to develop policy guidelines and administrative regulations strengthening responses against trafficking for forced labor. In addition, ILO will develop evidence-based strategies and training modules to improve investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases, and the capacity of key agencies enhanced to respond to trafficking for forced labor. The project will raise public awareness on trafficking for forced labor through print and broadcast information materials. -------------- Project 2: The Asia Foundation -------------- ¶A. NAME OF ORGANIZATION: The Asia Foundation ¶B. REQUESTED FUNDING: $275,026 ¶C. PROJECT TITLE: Increasing Prosecution of Trafficking in Persons-Related Corruption in the Philippines ¶D. DURATION: 24 months ¶E. PROJECT ABSTRACT: The proposed project aims to increase prosecution of TIP-related corruption in the Philippines by strengthening the capacity of the lead agency in the fight against graft and corruption, and by encouraging local communities to take action against TIP-related corruption through a community-based reporting mechanism. The Asia Foundation will provide technical assistance to the Office of the Ombudsman to develop a comprehensive manual in investigating and prosecuting TIP-related corruption cases, and training Ombudsman investigators, prosecutors, law enforcers, and other stakeholders. At the same time, the Foundation will work with civil society groups and the Office of the Ombudsman to develop a community-based feedback mechanism for reporting TIP-related corruption, and conduct a mass media campaign to advocate for the use of this mechanism at the local level. The civil society engagement in combating human trafficking and corruption, together with greater capacity on the part of the Office of the Ombudsman to bring corrupt officials involved in human trafficking to justice will lead to increased TIP-related corruption cases prosecuted in the Sandiganbayan (anti-corruption court) and other criminal courts. -------------- Project 3: U.S. Department of Justice -------------- ¶A. NAME OF ORGANIZATION: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (DOJ/OPDAT) MANILA 00000403 002 OF 003 ¶B. REQUESTED FUNDING: $500,000 ¶C. PROJECT TITLE: Strengthening the Philippines' Capacity to Prosecute and Adjudicate Trafficking in Persons Crimes ¶D. DURATION: 3 years ¶E. PROJECT ABSTRACT: Despite having strong Anti-TIP legislation and a commitment by the Philippines Department of Justice (PDOJ) to prosecute TIP cases, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines' (GRP) track record of successful prosecutions remains weak. The GRP efforts to prosecute TIP cases are hampered by slowness of the courts, resource constraints within law enforcement agencies, and corruption. The proposed project aims to expand and strengthen the capacity of the GRP to prosecute and convict persons engaged in human trafficking by improving the capacity of prosecutors to effectively develop, handle, and justly resolve such cases. OPDAT proposes using an Intermittent Legal Advisor (ILA) to initiate program implementation, and a team of DOJ prosecutors with trafficking expertise that would provide follow-on training and mentoring. The project will design specific activities to train prosecutors and judges, and to strengthen the effectiveness of the existing PDOJ anti-trafficking task force, through case mentoring and training. -------------- Project 4: Share A Child Movement -------------- ¶A. NAME OF ORGANIZATION: Share A Child Movement ¶B. REQUESTED FUNDING: Federal share, $108,723; Non-federal share, $35,100 ¶C. PROJECT TITLE: Project CASTE: Community Action to Stop Trafficking in Persons through Education ¶D. DURATION: 3 years ¶E. PROJECT ABSTRACT: The proposed project will focus on empowering communities, where traffickers recruit girls and women, to be able to combat trafficking in these areas. Share a Child Movement intends to work with community watch groups in six villages in Cebu City, in the Visayas, a major source, destination and transit point of trafficked women and children. The proposed activities include: (a) training advocates in the community and in schools within the community to conduct intensive information campaigns with families and with young people; (b) formulating community plan of action on anti-trafficking and advocating for the passage of local ordinance that would address trafficking; (c) working with the village officials and residents to provide direct services for victims and people at risk for trafficking in terms of education, livelihood and employment. -------------- Project 5: St. Maria Goretti -------------- ¶A. NAME OF ORGANIZATION: St. Maria Goretti Development Education Foundation, Inc. ¶B. REQUESTED FUNDING: Federal share, $137,037; Non-federal share $22,965 ¶C. PROJECT TITLE: Inter-Provincial Local Government and Multi-Sectoral Partnership Against Trafficking in Persons (Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Zamboanga del Norte) ¶D. DURATION: 24 months ¶E. PROJECT ABSTRACT: The province of Negros Oriental in the Visayas was considered one of the top four origins of child labor. Many children from this area become victims of trafficking, sent to work in exploitative conditions in urban cities. Studies showed that the lack of knowledge of families and communities on the plight of the trafficked children, the lack of cooperation among local government, civil society and communities to address the problem, and the poor law enforcement contribute to the increasing problem of trafficking. This project addresses the problem of trafficking, especially of children and women, in Negros Oriental and those coming from the neighboring provinces of Negros Occidental and Zamboanga del Norte. The project proposes to conduct the following activities: (a) an inter-local government/non-government organization/church and community cooperation consultation workshops and meetings; (b) capacity building for prosecutors and other stakeholders; (c) enhancing values on social responsibility; and (d) establishment of a halfway house for rescued victims. It is expected that a partnership cooperation addressing the problem of trafficking shall be established in the three provinces through a Memorandum of Agreement. MANILA 00000403 003 OF 003 Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/ KENNEY