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