TIP Action Plan Demarche Delivered

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001013 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KTIP PHUM PREL KWMN CG SUBJECT: TIP Action Plan Demarche Delivered REF: SECSTATE 104673 ¶1. (SBU) DCM and PolOff delivered reftel talking points on October 30 to Upio Kakura Wapol, Minister of Human Rights (MHR) and Sulubika Asha, lawyer and assistant in the MHR. PolCouns delivered reftel talking points on October 16 to Xavier Mirindi, Secretary General in the Ministry of Interior, and PolCouns and PolOff delivered the points October 23 to Monique Yande, Chief of Staff for the Minister of Gender Affairs, and October 30 to Ambassador Kalenga Ka Ngoy, Legal and Political Counselor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. ¶2. (SBU) Overall, response from most parties was positive. Kalenga and Yande expressed appreciation for the concern and assistance of the USG in recognizing this serious issue. Yande proposed the development of a national strategy to combat the problem of trafficking. The process would be modeled on the one used for the national strategy on SGBV already in place. Kalenga suggested an inter-ministerial working group to engage all sectors. He added that it was essential to partner with the Minister of Media on a public relations sensitization campaign. ¶3. (SBU) Kakura agreed that a national law defining TIP is needed. He wants to develop a strategy for implementing the action plan recommendations. He recognized that USG contributions have now left "the ball in our court." It was recommended for Poloff and Asha to work together on developing the working group agenda. ¶4. (SBU) Mirindi was somewhat defensive, saying that the DRC lacked the means to fight TIP effectively and "not everyone could operate at the same rhythm as the U.S." PolCouns pushed back, noting that even the DRC could make a greater effort in a number of anti-TIP areas. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: We were encouraged by the GDRC's apparent willingness to work on concrete actions, such as setting up an inter-ministerial working group and stepping up engagement with the international community. However, ultimately, the GDRC's success in fighting TIP will be demonstrated through actions, not ideas. End comment. Garvelink