Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TRIPOLI895
2008-11-17 12:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tripoli
Cable title:
LIBYA: INTERIM TIP ASSESSMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO2704 PP RUEHTRO DE RUEHTRO #0895 3221233 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 171233Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4144 INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 0809 RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 0752 RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 4666 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 1293 RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 0660
UNCLAS TRIPOLI 000895
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, NEA/RA, AND G/TIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIP KCRM KWMN PHUM PGOV SMIG LY
SUBJECT: LIBYA: INTERIM TIP ASSESSMENT
REF: STATE 109257
UNCLAS TRIPOLI 000895
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, NEA/RA, AND G/TIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIP KCRM KWMN PHUM PGOV SMIG LY
SUBJECT: LIBYA: INTERIM TIP ASSESSMENT
REF: STATE 109257
1. (U) Libya has no legal or regulatory framework to separate
victims of trafficking from the general migrant population and
undocumented presence in Libya is generally considered a crime.
In practice, however, the GOL has drawn on other elements of its
existing criminal code to prosecute traffickers known to have
withheld travel documents and pay from victims. Businesses have
also also compelled to pay for the repatriation of the
trafficked workers. Overall enforcement is hampered by the lack
of criminal statutes specifically criminalizing trafficking and
stipulating related penalties. During the year, there were
reports that the government was circulating a draft of a new
criminal code, which reportedly includes provisions specifically
related to TIP, to GOL ministry-equivalents for review; however,
no drafts have been publicly released and copies have not been
provided to diplomatic missions.
2. (U) During the year, Libya continued the practice of
supporting training and awareness-building programs for law
enforcement officials and prosecutors. Duplicating their effort
to provide in-kind support for training of law enforcement
officials, the government has offered support for follow-on
training of prosecutors and legal professionals. International
organizations report that individual officials are receptive and
eager for new information and training, but that Libya lacks an
institutional or cultural awareness of trafficking.
International organizations continue to have access to
vulnerable migrant populations -- GOL officials allow them
informal access to victims of trafficking held in detention on a
case-by-case basis -- and are able to provide some protective
services to victims of trafficking, although representatives of
those organizations note that victim identification is not
systematic. Continued training is necessary to ensure that both
effective and systematic identification procedures are developed
and that protective services can be offered. The government
does not provide psychological or legal assistance to victims of
trafficking, but does allow outside groups to provide targeted
assistance for migrants - including victims of trafficking -
held in detention. Individual Libyan officials have expressed
interest in receiving more TIP-related training. The GOL offers
in-kind contributions to such training programs, although most
observers agree that it will take some time for the benefits of
such training to generate broader institutional awareness of TIP
issues.
GODFREY
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, NEA/RA, AND G/TIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIP KCRM KWMN PHUM PGOV SMIG LY
SUBJECT: LIBYA: INTERIM TIP ASSESSMENT
REF: STATE 109257
1. (U) Libya has no legal or regulatory framework to separate
victims of trafficking from the general migrant population and
undocumented presence in Libya is generally considered a crime.
In practice, however, the GOL has drawn on other elements of its
existing criminal code to prosecute traffickers known to have
withheld travel documents and pay from victims. Businesses have
also also compelled to pay for the repatriation of the
trafficked workers. Overall enforcement is hampered by the lack
of criminal statutes specifically criminalizing trafficking and
stipulating related penalties. During the year, there were
reports that the government was circulating a draft of a new
criminal code, which reportedly includes provisions specifically
related to TIP, to GOL ministry-equivalents for review; however,
no drafts have been publicly released and copies have not been
provided to diplomatic missions.
2. (U) During the year, Libya continued the practice of
supporting training and awareness-building programs for law
enforcement officials and prosecutors. Duplicating their effort
to provide in-kind support for training of law enforcement
officials, the government has offered support for follow-on
training of prosecutors and legal professionals. International
organizations report that individual officials are receptive and
eager for new information and training, but that Libya lacks an
institutional or cultural awareness of trafficking.
International organizations continue to have access to
vulnerable migrant populations -- GOL officials allow them
informal access to victims of trafficking held in detention on a
case-by-case basis -- and are able to provide some protective
services to victims of trafficking, although representatives of
those organizations note that victim identification is not
systematic. Continued training is necessary to ensure that both
effective and systematic identification procedures are developed
and that protective services can be offered. The government
does not provide psychological or legal assistance to victims of
trafficking, but does allow outside groups to provide targeted
assistance for migrants - including victims of trafficking -
held in detention. Individual Libyan officials have expressed
interest in receiving more TIP-related training. The GOL offers
in-kind contributions to such training programs, although most
observers agree that it will take some time for the benefits of
such training to generate broader institutional awareness of TIP
issues.
GODFREY