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.

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Project 1: International Labour Organization
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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.

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Project 2: The Asia Foundation
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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.

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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.

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Project 4: Share A Child Movement
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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.

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Project 5: St. Maria Goretti
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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




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