Uruguay TIP Training: Standing Room Only

UNCLAS MONTEVIDEO 000660 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KTIP UY SUBJECT: Uruguay TIP Training: Standing Room Only ¶1. Summary: Post cohosted a two-day training on trafficking in persons on November 9- 10 with Partners for the Americas. The event was standing room only, and received excellent feedback from participants and positive press coverage. Due to interest and space limitations, post will plan to offer a second training session in 2010. Embassy wishes to thank Washington agencies and ILEA for their excellent support for TIP training. End summary. A Successful Event -------------- ¶2. Over the past two years, post has sent 15 local law enforcement officials to trafficking in persons (TIP) trainings at the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Lima. Students consistently return impressed with the breadth and depth of the information provided, and motivated to share the information locally. An ILEA returnee in conjunction with the Partners for the Americas Committee for At Risk Populations approached post with the Montevideo TIP training concept, "Detection, Investigation and Prosecution of Trafficking in Persons." Emboffs embraced the idea and offered full embassy support. ¶3. The event was held at the IBIS hotel, which offered free use of its largest conference room. Poloff served as MC and A/DCM offered opening words to an oversubscribed audience (108 participants in a room designed for 100),and press coverage was ample. The inaugural table was made up of high Uruguayan officials including: the Undersecretary of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Relations' Director of Consular Affairs, the Director of the International Organization for Migration, representatives from the Ministry of Education and Culture and the National Public Attorneys, the President of Partners of the Americas Uruguay chapter, and President of the Partners of the Americas Committee for At Risk Populations. ¶4. The presenters, nearly all ILEA returnees and including a high-level judge, presented on: International Rights and National Anti-Trafficking Laws, Definitions of all forms of TIP, Victim Identification, Risk Assessment, Victim Witnesses, Interviewing Victims, Interviewing the Accused, Proactive TIP Investigations, and International Cooperation. Participants were fully engaged for the duration of the training and important dialogue surfaced. Due to excessive interest, post plans to support another training session in 2010. The workshop will plan to reach additional audiences, as well as expand on the information provided. The success of the first event will provide momentum for future events. Comment -------------- ¶5. Although TIP is becoming more widely recognized, Uruguay's primary challenge in combating TIP remains that of spreading awareness. The impressive interest and turn-out for the training class is a clear demonstration that Uruguay's law enforcement community is becoming more conscious of the threat of TIP to its citizens, and the training reached over 100 individuals with important knowledge and best practices for working with TIP cases. Embassy participation in the training has raised the profile of the USG as a valued member of the anti-TIP community. Post will continue to engage law enforcement and victim protection groups, and requests Department support to do so through continued ILEA courses, including train-the-trainer courses. End Comment. MATTHEWMAN