Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NDJAMENA290
2009-07-16 15:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ndjamena
Cable title:
GOC POISED TO ACT ON GTIP RECOMMENDATIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO0082 OO RUEHBC RUEHBZ RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHKUK RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHNJ #0290/01 1971509 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 161509Z JUL 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7104 INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000290
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR AF/C, S/USSES - SE GRATION
NSC FOR GAVIN
LONDON FOR POL - LORD
PARIS FOR POL - KANEDA
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR AU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF KTIP PHUM CD
SUBJECT: GOC POISED TO ACT ON GTIP RECOMMENDATIONS
REF: NDJAMENA 258
-------
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000290
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR AF/C, S/USSES - SE GRATION
NSC FOR GAVIN
LONDON FOR POL - LORD
PARIS FOR POL - KANEDA
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR AU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF KTIP PHUM CD
SUBJECT: GOC POISED TO ACT ON GTIP RECOMMENDATIONS
REF: NDJAMENA 258
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) The GOC's inter-ministerial committee to address
the recommendations in the USG action plan on trafficking in
persons met July 14 with local human rights organizations and
UNICEF representatives. The participations agreed on a
collaborative way forward regarding investigations of abuses
and agreed that existing Penal Code Article 152 provided
authority to prosecute alleged traffickers. Discussions to
ensure UNICEF access to military camps were less successful
despite the Ministry of Defense representative's commitment
to coordinate with NGOs. The UN convention regarding
transnational crime and the associated protocol to protect
women and child passed in parliament and was ratified by
Chadian President Deby Post is encouraged by the GOC's
efforts in theshort term but believes that NGO access to
militry installaions will require pressure by the most
senior GOC officials. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) The Ministry of Human Rights, represented by
Secetary General Djimet Arabi, le a four-hour
inter-ministerial discussion July 14 with local human rights
organizations to address the recommendations in the USG
trafficking in persons action plan. Representatives of the
ministries of Labor, Social Affairs, Justice, and Defense
participated along with several human rights organizations
and UNICEF officials. The meeting was marked by frank
discussion, agreement on both sides for government - civil
society cooperation, and thoughtful suggestions to address
USG recommendations.
--------------
COORDINATION TO PURSUE PROSECUTIONS
--------------
2. (SBU) The participants agreed on a framework of
coordination for investigating allegations of trafficking and
the government officials openly received human rights groups'
accounts of alleged incidents of trafficking. Further,
government and civil society representatives agreed that
existing Penal Code Article 152 allowed for prosecution of
traffickers. The GOC, led by the Ministry of Justice,
committed to train magistrates and judicial police on
applying Article 152 in this context with plans to commence
training in the next few months.
--------------
DOUBTS ABOUT MILITARY CAMP VISITS
--------------
3. (SBU) While the Ministry of Defense official admitted
that children were employed in non-combat roles in the
Chadian National Army (ANT) and expressed his willingness to
coordinate with NGO groups, including UNICEF, regarding
military camps visits, but left the impression that he would
undertake the effort soon enough to show improvement in
Chad's TIP performance and so avoid sanctions.
--------------
RATIFICATION OF UN CONVENTIONS
--------------
4. (SBU) The National Assembly voted July 10 and July 14
to authorize Chadian President Deby to ratify both the United
Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and
the Additional Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish
Trafficking in Persons, Especially Against Women and
Children. President Deby ratified both UN documents on July
14.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
5. (SBU) The GOC's sincere efforts and the open,
collaborative spirit of the July 14 meeting were encouraging
first steps to address the issue of trafficking in Chad.
While we anticipate that the GOC will be able to demonstrate
NDJAMENA 00000290 002 OF 002
positive progress in the time frame of the action plan, we
are not convinced that all elements of the plan will be
successfully implemented. Post believes that pressure by the
most senior levels of the GOC to effect UNICEF visits to the
military camps in a timely manner is necessary and requests
that such a message be conveyed to Minister Faki in his
remaining meetings at the Department. Separately, we will
forward copies of the presidential decrees regarding the UN
convention and additional protocol when they are received.
END COMMENT.
6. (U) Minimize considered.
NIGRO
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR AF/C, S/USSES - SE GRATION
NSC FOR GAVIN
LONDON FOR POL - LORD
PARIS FOR POL - KANEDA
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR AU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF KTIP PHUM CD
SUBJECT: GOC POISED TO ACT ON GTIP RECOMMENDATIONS
REF: NDJAMENA 258
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) The GOC's inter-ministerial committee to address
the recommendations in the USG action plan on trafficking in
persons met July 14 with local human rights organizations and
UNICEF representatives. The participations agreed on a
collaborative way forward regarding investigations of abuses
and agreed that existing Penal Code Article 152 provided
authority to prosecute alleged traffickers. Discussions to
ensure UNICEF access to military camps were less successful
despite the Ministry of Defense representative's commitment
to coordinate with NGOs. The UN convention regarding
transnational crime and the associated protocol to protect
women and child passed in parliament and was ratified by
Chadian President Deby Post is encouraged by the GOC's
efforts in theshort term but believes that NGO access to
militry installaions will require pressure by the most
senior GOC officials. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) The Ministry of Human Rights, represented by
Secetary General Djimet Arabi, le a four-hour
inter-ministerial discussion July 14 with local human rights
organizations to address the recommendations in the USG
trafficking in persons action plan. Representatives of the
ministries of Labor, Social Affairs, Justice, and Defense
participated along with several human rights organizations
and UNICEF officials. The meeting was marked by frank
discussion, agreement on both sides for government - civil
society cooperation, and thoughtful suggestions to address
USG recommendations.
--------------
COORDINATION TO PURSUE PROSECUTIONS
--------------
2. (SBU) The participants agreed on a framework of
coordination for investigating allegations of trafficking and
the government officials openly received human rights groups'
accounts of alleged incidents of trafficking. Further,
government and civil society representatives agreed that
existing Penal Code Article 152 allowed for prosecution of
traffickers. The GOC, led by the Ministry of Justice,
committed to train magistrates and judicial police on
applying Article 152 in this context with plans to commence
training in the next few months.
--------------
DOUBTS ABOUT MILITARY CAMP VISITS
--------------
3. (SBU) While the Ministry of Defense official admitted
that children were employed in non-combat roles in the
Chadian National Army (ANT) and expressed his willingness to
coordinate with NGO groups, including UNICEF, regarding
military camps visits, but left the impression that he would
undertake the effort soon enough to show improvement in
Chad's TIP performance and so avoid sanctions.
--------------
RATIFICATION OF UN CONVENTIONS
--------------
4. (SBU) The National Assembly voted July 10 and July 14
to authorize Chadian President Deby to ratify both the United
Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and
the Additional Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish
Trafficking in Persons, Especially Against Women and
Children. President Deby ratified both UN documents on July
14.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
5. (SBU) The GOC's sincere efforts and the open,
collaborative spirit of the July 14 meeting were encouraging
first steps to address the issue of trafficking in Chad.
While we anticipate that the GOC will be able to demonstrate
NDJAMENA 00000290 002 OF 002
positive progress in the time frame of the action plan, we
are not convinced that all elements of the plan will be
successfully implemented. Post believes that pressure by the
most senior levels of the GOC to effect UNICEF visits to the
military camps in a timely manner is necessary and requests
that such a message be conveyed to Minister Faki in his
remaining meetings at the Department. Separately, we will
forward copies of the presidential decrees regarding the UN
convention and additional protocol when they are received.
END COMMENT.
6. (U) Minimize considered.
NIGRO