DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION FOR

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 000212 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA, WHA/CAR, G/TIP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC ELAB SMIG PHUM KCRM DR SUBJECT: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION FOR G/TIP MANAGED FY 2008 FUNDS REF: A. 2007 STATE 161287 ¶B. SANTO DOMINGO 208 ¶1. The Dominican government has requested that it be allowed to submit a proposal for G/TIP managed FY-2008 ESF and INCLE funds beyond the February 12 deadline established in REF A. Three other timely submissions from various NGOs were made in REF B. ¶2. Embassy forwards information regarding the government's proposal for consideration and will submit the full proposal via e-mail. Name: Secretary of State for Foreign Relations Requested funding: 246,000 USD Project title: Assisted Voluntary Return and Integration of Irregular Migrants of the Dominican Republic Being Victims of the Slave Trade Project duration: 1 year Proposal abstract: The main function of the consular networks, integrated by our diplomatic and consular officials abroad, is to make possible the assistance and protection of our citizens who are victims of human trafficking. The heads of our missions do not possess sufficient economic resources to satisfy applications for assistance by these victims. These applications are for the full range of services, including legal, health, psychological, accommodations, and ticket purchasing. Although Dominican representatives do their best to rase the necessary resources to fulfill these requests, including asking economic assistance from third-parties, available funds are rarely enough to satisfy the victim-applicant's needs. Therefore, an assistance fund is necessary, to be managed by an authorized department of the State Secretariat of External Relations, in order to facilitate the consular protection concerning the return of the Dominicans being victims of the slave trade, who find themselves abandoned abroad because of a lack of economic resources to return to our country. FANNIN