CANADIAN HOTLINE SUPPORTS FIGHT AGAINST TIP

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000096 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR G/TIP, INL, WHA/CAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM KTIP KWMN KCRM SMIG CA SUBJECT: CANADIAN HOTLINE SUPPORTS FIGHT AGAINST TIP REF: 08 OTTAWA 01072 ¶1. (U) The Department of Public Safety, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP),and Canadian Crime Stoppers Association have formed a new partnership to raise awareness about human trafficking and to explain how to identify and report suspected cases. In this national campaign, the NGO Canadian Crime Stoppers Association will use a telephone tipline -- 1-800-222-TIPS (8427) -- for the public to report suspected cases of human trafficking. ¶2. (SBU) According to Superintendent Bill Ard of the RCMP's Border Integrity Program, the new partnership will allow the public to "provide critical assistance" to law enforcement agencies by facilitating anonymous reporting of suspected human trafficking. Trained personnel staff the hotline and can pass on tips to investigating officers. Callers receive a code number for use in all subsequent calls, and do not have to identify themselves. An Ottawa-based Canadian Crime Stoppers Association staff member confirmed to poloff that operators and staff have received training to detect cases of trafficking, and have already fielded calls regarding two suspected cases. A senior staffer for leading TIP activist and Member of Parliament Joy Smith (Conservative/Kildonan-St. Paul) told poloff that Smith had participated in the public launch of the partnership and was strongly supportive. In January 2008, the Canadian government had dedicated C$6 million to strengthening initiatives to combat TIP and sexual exploitation of children, a portion of which went to this partnership program (reftel). ¶3. (SBU) Comment: This partnership is an encouraging example of how the government, law enforcement agencies, and civil society can collaborate to fight TIP. It is a further step in the right direction. Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada BREESE