TIP: CHAD'S POSITIVE EFFORTS ON IMPLEMENTING USG

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000348 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR AF/C, S/USSES 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: TIP: CHAD'S POSITIVE EFFORTS ON IMPLEMENTING USG ACTION PLAN REF: A. NDJAMENA 342 ¶B. NDJAMENA 290 ¶C. NDJAMENA 224 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Secretary General of the Ministry of Human Rights reported August 17 on the GOC's progress against the USG's TIP action plan for Chad. The SG highlighted the inter-ministerial team that visited southern towns to investigate suspected cases of child herders, providing recommendations to the Human Rights ministry. He also emphasized a GOC-drafted plan to educate parents on the dangers of selling their children that was awaiting final Prime Minister approval and funding. A separate conversation with the Director of the Office of Children in the Ministry of Social Affairs confirmed that a government team, with international partners, had visited a military camp in July and removed some of the child soldiers found there. The 60 days of effort have kicked off momentum within the government and should be factored into USG decision-making. Post is determined to continue the close work with the GOC for further positive results. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Djime Arabi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Human Rights, reviewed August 17 for poloff the efforts that the GOC had made against the USG Action Plan concerning trafficking in persons issues in Chad. These efforts add to the GOC's recent actions, including as the ratification of UN conventions (Ref B) and the release to UNICEF of child soldiers returned from rebel groups (Ref C) -------------- INVESTIGATIONS AND FINDINGS ON CHILD LABOR -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Arabi said that an inter-ministerial team had visited southwestern border towns, Pala and Lere, to investigate allegations of child herders and kidnapping cases. He added that mission team had provided its findings and recommendations to the ministry. Arabi did not have the details of the report but promised to provide a copy to the Embassy. When asked if the same team would undertake the additional missions, Arabi said it was difficult to guess the decisions other ministries would take, noting that coordination issues continued to plague the Human Rights ministry's efforts. According to Arabi, the ministry also developed an awareness-raising project, aimed at educating parents against selling their children into cowherding apprenticeships. Arabi added that the project was on the Prime Minister's desk, awaiting final approval and funding. ¶4. (SBU) Arabi also outlined the action by Chadian President Deby and Prime Minister Youssouf Saleh Abbas. He said that Deby had held a meeting of staffers and line ministries to address the issue of child protection and had order the government agencies to increase its efforts. The Prime Minister had also convoked government officials, according to Arabi, ordering the Ministers of Social Affairs, Justice, Human Rights, Defense, and Foreign Affairs to establish an inter-ministerial committee to address trafficking issues. -------------- CHILD SOLDIERS IN THE CHADIAN MILITARY -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Arabi told poloff that the Ministry of Social Affairs, accompanied by UNICEF, has visited two or three military camps to inspect for child soldiers. (NOTE: This seemed contrary to REF A reported information from UNICEF. END NOTE.) Ngaradoumadji Nukingar, the Deputy Director of Office of Children in the Ministry of Social Affairs, provided separately more accurate information, stating that there was one inter-ministerial mission -- ministries of Social Affairs, Defense, and Foreign Affairs -- July 22-25 to the military camp in Moussoro, which included UNICEF and CARE International officials for part of the time. Nukingar said that of 88 presumed minors, the team identified only 51 NDJAMENA 00000348 002 OF 002 under-aged soldiers and succeeded in removing to UNICEF's care 16 of the 51 children. The remainder refused to leave, stating that they were waiting for a check from the government. Nukingar stated that a return mission the following week found only 6 of the remaining 35 children, as the rest had "disappeared" after the 800 USD (400,000 CFA) payment from the GOC. ¶6. (SBU) Arabi said he believed that the ministries of Social Affairs and Defense would be keeping files on rehabilitated child soldiers and other child victims of trafficking. Poloff has yet to receive confirmation of such record-keeping from Social Affairs or Defense. -------------- RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The SG noted that funding and resources continued to plague any inter-ministerial effort on TIP issues. He stated that the GOC had to rent vehicles for its mission to the South. Arabi also revealed that the ministry wanted to visit the Koro Toro military camp in northern Chad but needed the PM's office to provide helicopter transport for the trip. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (SBU) There is clearly positive intent, including at the highest levels, on the part of the GOC to seriously address trafficking issues in Chad. It is, however, a government that struggles to provide even basic services to its citizens, a problem that is reflected in the GOC's efforts on TIP. Inter-ministerial coordination is not the government's normal way of doing business, so its willingness to undertake two inter-ministerial efforts is remarkable and should be factored into USG thinking on this. Post is determined to continue this momentum with the GOC but our resources make that difficult to do; one political/economic officer does not afford us the ability to properly focus on this issue and to make the significant outreach to diverse interlocutors that is required. END COMMENT. ¶9. (U) Minimize considered. NIGRO