ALGERIA: 2009 TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT

UNCLAS ALGIERS 001065

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/RA, G/TIP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM KTIP KWMN PGOV PHUM SMIG AG
SUBJECT: ALGERIA: 2009 TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT

REF: STATE 112489


1. Per reftel, we provide the following summary of Algeria's
progress in addressing interim assessment requirements in
accordance with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, as
amended.


2. The Algerian parliament enacted new comprehensive
anti-TIP legislation in January 2009, criminalizing
trafficking for the purposes of labor and sexual
exploitation. The new law stipulates prison terms of 3 to 20
years. As of the end of the reporting period for the 2009
TIP Report, the law had yet to enter into force. The
government published the new trafficking law in the Official
Journal on March 8, 2009. The law is now in force and the
full text is accessible online in French and Arabic.


3. Government officials say they are in the process of
enacting regulations to incorporate the new law into the
criminal code. In June and August, Ministry of Justice
officials requested technical assistance to help with the
implementation of the anti-TIP law. Embassy is finalizing an
assistance agreement through the Department of Justice Office
of Overseas Prosecutorial, Development, Assistance and
Training program (OPDAT),for which we have allocated USD
136,000 of G/TIP funds (INCLE) for anti-trafficking
assistance. Embassy is not aware of Government efforts to
identify victims of trafficking among illegal immigrants.


4. Algeria has no specialized government-provided or funded
services dedicated to trafficking victims, although the
government has stated that trafficking victims have access to
care facilities for socially vulnerable people. Some local
NGOs offer assistance to illegal migrants. We are unaware of
any government-sponsored public awareness campaigns on
trafficking.
JORDAN