Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NICOSIA911
2008-11-18 14:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:  

CYPRUS TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT RESPONSE

Tags:  KTIP KCRM KWMN PHUM PGOV PREL SMIG CY 
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VZCZCXRO4758
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHNC #0911/01 3231417
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181417Z NOV 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9334
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1261
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NICOSIA 000911 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, EUR/PGI, EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIP KCRM KWMN PHUM PGOV PREL SMIG CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT RESPONSE

REF: SECSTATE 109254

NICOSIA 00000911 001.4 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NICOSIA 000911

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, EUR/PGI, EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIP KCRM KWMN PHUM PGOV PREL SMIG CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT RESPONSE

REF: SECSTATE 109254

NICOSIA 00000911 001.4 OF 002



1. (U) Embassy responses to the TIP interim assessment for
Special Watch List countries are keyed Reftel order.


2. (SBU) Law enforcement efforts to combat trafficking:
During the interim period covered by this report (April 1 -
November 15),the Republic of Cyprus opened 24 cases for
investigation under the comprehensive 2007 anti-TIP law, an
increase from 20 cases opened in the same date range in 2007.
Of the 24, 14 are pending trial, two resulted in acquittals,
seven are still under police investigation, and one was
dismissed pursuant to a decision by the Attorney General. On
April 1, 27 TIP cases were already pending before the court.
One of these 27 resulted in a conviction during the rating
period and a two-year prison sentence, eight resulted in
acquittals, two were dismissed, and prosecution in one case
was suspended pursuant to a decision by the Attorney General.
Fifteen of the 27 are still pending trial and four are under
police investigation.


3. (U) Abolition of "artiste" work permits: The Council of
Ministers on October 29 took a decision to abolish, as of
November 1, the use of the "artiste category" work permit for
women from non-EU countries working in the cabaret industry.
According to this decision, these individuals wishing to work
as "artistes" in Cyprus will need to apply for work permits
as creative artists (writers, composers, etc.) or performing
artists (dancers, singers, actors, etc.) and provide evidence
of their qualifications, experience and international renown.
The procedures to follow and terms of employment will be the
same as those in effect for all other alien workers.
However, this new policy has not been implemented yet, as the
competent ministries are still drafting accompanying
regulations. The government aims for full implementation by
the end of November. The October 29 decision also tasked the
Ministry of Labor with preparing new employment contracts for
this work category reflecting the changes adopted, as well as
fast-tracking legislation to regulate the operation of

private employment agencies and introduce stricter criteria
for issuing licenses to employment agents. Meanwhile, the
number of "artiste category" work permits has declined
significantly. According to the Ministry of Interior, 1384
work permits were issued from April 1 to November 11, as
compared to 2279 that were issued in the March 1-November
2007 period.


4. (SBU) Public awareness: The government allocated over
43,000 euros to NGOs for TIP-related projects during the
rating period, an increase from 25,000 euros allocated during
the same date range last year; from this total, 17,000 euros
went to the NGO STIGMA-run shelter for TIP victims and 7150
euros to the Mediterranean Institute for Gender Studies
(MIGS) to organize two TIP-related conferences.
Additionally, the government directed 50,000 euros to the
Ministry of Interior for the second phase of the demand
reduction campaign that had begun in March 2007. Phase II is
expected to commence in December or January 2009, and will
include placement of anti-TIP billboards, posters, TV spots
and brochures. On September 18, the RoC co-organized with
the OSCE and the United Nations a high-profile, well-received
conference on TIP and organized crime. During the period,
government officials and police officers gave interviews on
TIP to local and foreign media and participated as speakers
in all the TIP-related conferences organized locally. In
praising the new Ministers of Justice and Interior (they came
into office as a result of the spring 2008 elections),NGO
contacts report their unprecedented political will to combat
TIP and cooperate with/empower the NGO community.


5. (SBU) Standardized procedures for referral and protection
of victims: The 2007 anti-TIP law defines the procedures for
identification and referral of victims of trafficking, and
describes in detail the rights and protections that should be
afforded to them by the state. Any government officer should
(and any NGO may also) refer potential victims to the
Department of Social Welfare Services, which will then invite
the police anti-TIP unit to conduct the identification
process. Once victims are identified, they are referred to
the government-run or STIGMA-run shelters. Victims who do
not wish to stay at a shelter are entitled to a rent subsidy
and public assistance to cover basic needs, as well as
assistance in finding employment. All victims are entitled
to free medical care, legal assistance and psychological
support. They may stay at the government shelter up to four
weeks, but this period may be extended if it is deemed in the
victim's best interest. NGO sources report, however, that
delivery of these services is inconsistent. They claim that
subsidies are often delayed, only partially paid or not paid

NICOSIA 00000911 002 OF 002


at all, and that some of the government shelter personnel
lack adequate training to effectively assist victims. In the
rating period, the government offered protection to 48
victims, and 27 of them stayed at the government shelter.


6. (SBU). Increasing resources to Police anti-TIP unit: The
Chief of Police in April appointed 20 officers to partner
with the police anti-TIP unit. These officers are not
exclusively dedicated to TIP and are replaced often, however,
which does not always allow them to gain sufficient
experience in TIP-related police work. On November 17, the
anti-TIP unit added another permanent staff member, bringing
the total to four. The police identified 35 TIP victims
during the rating period, compared to 15 in the same period
last year. The police conducted 70 raids and 21 undercover
operations, and carried out checks on cabarets employing
artistes at least once per week.
Urbancic