EMBASSY DELIVERS TIP REPORT TO KEY MOROCCANS

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000544 SIPDIS STATE FOR G/TIP, DRL/NESCA, NEA/RA AND NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2019 TAGS: PHUM EAID KCRM KTIP MO SUBJECT: EMBASSY DELIVERS TIP REPORT TO KEY MOROCCANS REF: A. RABAT 0543 ¶B. STATE 061339 (NOTAL) Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On June 15, PolOffs delivered the 2009 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report to Ambassador Nasser Bourita, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Chief of Staff and Director General for Multilateral Relations and Global Cooperation. On June 17, Charge delivered it to Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity Nouzha Skalli, and on June 24, Charge delivered it to Consultative Council on Human Rights (CCDG) Chairman Ahmed Herzenni. Local media provided factual coverage, and Parliament asked Minister Skalli about the report and the government,s efforts to address trafficking. She and Herzenni said the Government and CCDH, respectively, have made human trafficking a top priority and are working on legislation to protect trafficking victims. They would welcome anti-trafficking assistance. ¶2. (C) Herzenni, in particular, welcomed the Charge's support for Morocco's attempts to strengthen legislation that distinguishes between trafficking victims and illegal economic migrants. Herzenni emphasized that with the Instance d'Equite et Reconciliation,s (IER or Equity and Reconciliation Commission,s) legacy finishing, trafficking issues would become the priority for the CCDH, especially with many Moroccan victims of trafficking in the Gulf states. "I can promise you that trafficking will now be the major issue of the Commission," he said, vowing to help victims by closing the gaps in legislation, which date back to the time of the French protectorate. He predicted that by the end of the year the new legislation would meet international standards on trafficking issues. This activity has not been obvious, he noted, but emphasized that it has been moving forward and will soon become more prominent. ¶3. (C) Herzenni told Charge that the CCDH also plans to sensitize people to trafficking issues, learning accepted practices from other countries around the world, and developing a program that Moroccan authorities can implement. He noted that the CCDH has also been collecting information on Moroccan trafficking victims in the Gulf States in order to improve their situation. The CCDH would welcome training or partnerships that can help with these goals, he emphasized. ¶4. (C) Comment: The Mission believes that key Moroccan actors are sensitive to the Tier 2 rating and are making a sincere effort to address some of the shortcomings identified in the 2009 TIP Report. End Comment. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco ***************************************** Jackson