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