UN MISSION IN CYPRUS EFFECTIVELY COMBATS TIP AND

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000516 SIPDIS FOR EUR/ SE ENETOS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPKO KCRM KWMN PREL PHUM CY SUBJECT: UN MISSION IN CYPRUS EFFECTIVELY COMBATS TIP AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION REF: A. SECSTATE 68780 ¶B. NICOSIA 00044 ¶1. (U) Per Ref A instructions, the below updates Ref B January 2008 report. ¶2. (U) Ms. Kyoko Shiotani, Chief Civil Affairs Officer for the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP),confirmed on July 3 that Ms. Maria Wilkins, UNFICYP Civil Affairs Officer, serves as UNFICYP's appointed "gender focal point," charged with educating UN civilian and military personnel about sexual harassment, exploitation and trafficking. UNFICYP enforces the SYG's "no tolerance" policy, per circular #56, with regard to local establishments that sponsor prostitution. Shiotani stated that every new employee must undergo a "rather extensive" and mandatory 1.5 hour orientation session regarding trafficking and the code of conduct (both personal and official) within the Mission. The training incorporates a simulated case study, based on a newspaper interview, of a woman trafficked at an existing nightclub. In a conversation with PolOff on July 7, Wilkins reported that she had conducted nine sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) training sessions for a total of 132 new UNFICYP staff during the period of 01 July 2007 to 30 June 2008. Wilkins credits the UNFICYP monitoring program and use of administrative sanctions to help ensure that no TIP or SEA infractions occur. ¶3. (U) It is Post's assessment that the anti-TIP and SEA training has been effective, since neither NGOs, the media, nor the police have reported incidents of TIP/ SEA misconduct by UNFICYP personnel during the reporting period. Rita Superman, Director of the Cyprus Police Anti-TIP unit, confirmed that she had not encountered any trafficking or SEA cases involving UNFICYP personnel. Elena Pissaridou, Director of Cyprus-based NGO Stigma, confirmed Superman's statement. No incidents had been reported in the media. SCHLICHER