2008 BULGARIA NOMINATIONS FOR ANTI-TRAFFICKING HEROES

UNCLAS SOFIA 000174 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP (Hall),G, INL, DRL, IWI, PRM, EUR/PGI, EUR/NCE (TURNER) DEPARTMENT PASS TO USAID DOJ FOR OPDAT, ICITAP, CEOS, AND CRD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM KCRM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB BU SUBJECT: 2008 BULGARIA NOMINATIONS FOR ANTI-TRAFFICKING HEROES REF: STATE 2731 SOFIA 00124 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. Post submits two recommendations for anti-trafficking heroes: Nedyalka Georgieva Popova, an accomplished prosecutor in trafficking cases; and Svetoslav Tanev, Section Chief for the Border Police, a pioneer in increasing cooperation between the police and NGOs. Both have significantly advanced Bulgaria's fight against human trafficking. -------------- NEDYELKA POPOVA -------------- ¶2. (U) Post nominates Nedyalka Georgieva Popova, a prosecutor from Pazardjik, as a hero because of her record as one of Bulgaria's most accomplished prosecutors in human trafficking cases. Popova has handled numerous cases involving both human trafficking and enticement into prostitution, with many convictions to her credit. She has also worked on cases involving molestation, rape and pedophilia. Between November 2003 and March 2007, she was responsible for bringing 27 indictments against 60 individuals in human trafficking cases in Pazardjik. ¶3. (U) Popova has been in the forefront in the development of new methods of evidence collection in human trafficking cases. Specifically, she pioneered new practice in her region in working with trafficking victims, involving explanation of their rights; psychological assistance; and psychiatric expertise, which could be used later by the victim in a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator for psychological sufferings. She also established a new practice of buttressing cases with indirect evidence. In addition to using victim testimony (most cases rely almost exclusively on victim testimony),she included the use of money transfers, SMS and e-mails to victims, and travel logs from Border Police database. By using indirect evidence, Popova was far better able to protect the identity of witnesses, as is permitted under Bulgarian law but difficult to accomplish in practice. ¶4. (U) Popova participated in a Single Country Visitors' Program, a type of IVLP trip, to Washington and New York in 2005, to exchange views and best practices with American anti-trafficking experts. Popova also served as a trainer in numerous workshops, trainings and seminars organized by the Department of Justice, Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training, (DoJ/OPDAT),and the NGO, Nadja Center. ¶5. (U) Popova was born on November 7, 1956. She worked first as an economist and accountant, and then studied law at Sofia University Law Faculty. -------------- SVETOSLAV TANEV, BORDER POLICE -------------- ¶6. (U) Svetoslav Tanev, Section Chief for the Border Police, created the anti-trafficking section of the Border Police, even before Bulgaria had anti-trafficking legislation. As a member of the working group for Bulgaria's anti-trafficking legislation, he helped develop the amendments to Section 159a of the Criminal Code explicitly criminalizing human trafficking; and the National Anti-Trafficking Act, which created the National Commission and set forth a structure for state-delivered anti-trafficking assistance. Tanev was also a member of the working group, which developed subsequent amendments to the Criminal Code criminalizing the trafficking of unborn babies and pregnant women. ¶7. (U) Post credits Tanev with opening the doors of the conservative Ministry of Interior to cooperation and mutual trust with NGOs. Tanev motivated his law enforcement colleagues to adopt a victim-centered approach in their work; and served as trainer in numerous law enforcement training exercises in Bulgaria and in the region, including DoJ/OPDAT's bi- and multi-lateral Border Police workshops on identification of and assistance to victims of human trafficking. BEYRLE