Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LAPAZ799
2009-06-02 18:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:  

BOLIVIA: USG-BACKED CONFERENCE SPURS TIP

Tags:  KTIP PGOV PHUM PREL SNAR KDEM ASEC KJUS BL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0009
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLP #0799/01 1531812
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021812Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0900
INFO RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS LA PAZ 000799 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIP PGOV PHUM PREL SNAR KDEM ASEC KJUS BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: USG-BACKED CONFERENCE SPURS TIP
SOLUTIONS/COOPERATION

REF: A. LA PAZ 729

UNCLAS LA PAZ 000799

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIP PGOV PHUM PREL SNAR KDEM ASEC KJUS BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: USG-BACKED CONFERENCE SPURS TIP
SOLUTIONS/COOPERATION

REF: A. LA PAZ 729


1. Summary: On April 21 and 22 the Embassy's Narcotics Affairs
Section (NAS),in a joint initiative with the United Nations, Office
of International Migration (OIM) and the Attorney General's Office,
organized Bolivia's first International Conference on Trafficking in
Persons in the city of Cochabamba. Organized around a "triple
theme" of prevention, protection, and prosecution, the conference's
established a coordinated strategy to combat trafficking in persons,
especially of women and children, by bringing together a diverse
group of actors, including representatives from the Bolivian
government, law enforcement, international organizations, and
non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The conference also helped
support the important role of the Prosecutor's office in criminal
investigations of trafficking cases. This report supplements reftel
cable. End Summary.

TIP Background in Bolivia
- - - - - - - - - - - - -


2. Bolivia is a source country for men, women, and children
trafficked for the purposes of sexual and labor exploitation.
Bolivians are trafficked mainly to Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Chile,
and Spain for forced labor in sweatshops, factories, and
agriculture. Young Bolivian women and girls are trafficked within
the country from rural to urban areas for commercial sexual
exploitation. Members of indigenous communities are at risk for
domestic labor exploitation, particularly on sugar cane and Brazil
nut plantations. Bolivian children are trafficked internally for
forced labor in mining, agriculture, and as domestic servants. Some
reports indicate that parents have sold or rented their children
into farm labor exploitation near border areas with Peru.
Undocumented migrants from Asia reportedly transit Bolivia; some may
be trafficking victims. The Government of Bolivia is making an
effort to fight trafficking in persons (TIP) despite limited
resources. The government demonstrated significant anti-trafficking
progress by increasing law enforcement actions against trafficking
offenders and by expanding victim services and prevention efforts.


Attendees
- - - - -


3. One of the underlying goals of the conference was to bring
together state and non-state actors to increase knowledge on human
trafficking, increase awareness, and build capacity for cooperation
and increased prosecution of TIP-related crimes. This aspect of the
conference was a success, with 214 participants from throughout
Bolivia, including significant government representation,
Congressional deputies, Cochabamba police chiefs, Ombudsman office
representatives, Catholic Church representatives, members of the
diplomatic corps in Bolivia, the District Attorney, members of the
Organization of American States (OAS),and speakers from Peru and
Mexico.


Day One: Analysis and Proposals
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


4. While in many areas the GOB and USG have a tense bilateral
relationship, the fight against trafficking in persons helped create
common ground. Congressional Human Rights Commission President and
member of the ruling Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party Elizabeth
Salgueiro gave a presentation on draft legislation designed to
prosecute those who commit TIP-related crimes. Under this
legislation, the prosecutor's office would be able to seize assets
from TIP-related criminal organizations, use undercover agents to
investigate, and jail clients for up to ten years for trafficking
minors. The draft legislation included provisions for the
protection and assistance of TIP victims. Salgueiro expressed
concern about the rise in the number of TIP cases and congratulated
the Embassy for sponsoring the conference.


5. The District Attorney, representing the Attorney General's
office, offered full cooperation from his office to prosecute
TIP-related crimes. In a separate presentation, the Ombudsman's
representative provided an overview of TIP crimes in Bolivia and
highlighted specific areas needing improvement, such as victims'
shelters, better border control, and the need for a higher
conviction rate of traffickers.


6. The United Nations sent two experts from Peru and Mexico. Both
addressed trafficking in persons from an international perspective
and discussed how organizations must work together to combat this
problem. They cited corruption and poverty as leading factors in
typical trafficking cases. "We need to make this a long-term,
sustainable program capable of supporting not only public
prosecution and police services in the fight against trafficking,
but also other justice operators, such as the judiciary and border
control authorities," said Felipe De La Torre, a crime prevention
expert with the UN's Mexico City Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Victims in Bolivia
- - - - - - - - - -


7. The NAS created and presented a video to show the tragic
testimony of several Bolivian victims forced into prostitution.
Conference attendees learned about NAS initiatives to support
victims and fight trafficking in persons. Under a new program, NAS
will provide care to victims after they are rescued by the police.
Victims will be taken to shelters and receive psychological and
health treatment, vital steps toward their ultimate reintegration
into society. In some cases, the program will provide funds to
transfer victims safely back to their cities of origin.

Day Two: Work groups
- - - - - - - - - - -


8. During the conference's second day, attendees broke up into five
work groups on the following topics: 1) Prevention, 2) Protection
3) Domestic criminal persecution, 4) International Criminal
Persecution, and 5) Strategy. The fourth and fifth groups agreed
that trafficking-related crimes require a comprehensive
international approach in the countries of origin, transit, and
destination. Such an approach also would include measures to
prevent trafficking, punish traffickers, and protect victims, with
an emphasis on protecting their internationally recognized human
rights. Each group presented ideas and activities that would help
achieve the conference's "triple theme" of prevention, protection,
and prosecution.

Comment: One Step Forward
- - - - - - - - - - - - -


9. Many challenges remain. As one specific example, the GOB's
proposed legislation, while forward-leaning, may suffer from a lack
of funding. It is also likely that many programs, including those
related to victims assistance, may be undermined by a lack of
coordination between the central government and municipalities,
particularly when different political parties are in control. As a
result, domestic NGOs and international organizations could have an
increasingly important role to play. As an example, the
International Organization for Migration will be in a good position
to assist with its "know how" on transporting rescued victims to
their cities of origin.


10. Nevertheless, the conference was an excellent first step toward
raising consciousness about and coordinating the fight against
TIP-related crimes. The number and range of domestic and
international agencies represented, both within and outside of
Bolivia, helped start conversations that can lead to improved
inter-institutional cooperation.