Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANSALVADOR501
2009-06-04 14:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy San Salvador
Cable title:
LITTLE GOES ASSISTANCE FOR ADULT TRAFFICKING
how-toVZCZCXYZ0018 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHSN #0501 1551433 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 041433Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1172 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 000501
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2019
TAGS: KTIP PGOV PHUM ES
SUBJECT: LITTLE GOES ASSISTANCE FOR ADULT TRAFFICKING
VICTIMS
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 000501
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2019
TAGS: KTIP PGOV PHUM ES
SUBJECT: LITTLE GOES ASSISTANCE FOR ADULT TRAFFICKING
VICTIMS
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: LabOff visited a temporary shelter for child
victims of trafficking on May 12. While at the shelter,
children receive educational instruction, psychological
services, and some vocational training. However, it is
unclear what happens to adult trafficking victims. There is
no shelter for adult victims, and an official at Salvadoran
Institute for the Development of Women (ISDEMU) indicates
that they cannot (or will not) accept trafficking victims
into other adult shelters. We will address this issue at the
earlies opportunity with the new Funes administration. En
Summary.
-------------- --------------
CHILDREN RECEIVE SHELTER AND PSYCOLOGICAL SERVICES
-------------- --------------
2. (SBU) On May 12, LabOffvisited the GOES temporary shelter
for child vicims of trafficking. Located in a residential
neghborhood in San Salvador, the shelter is run by th
Salvadoran Institute for Children and Adolescents (ISNA),
staffed 24 hours a day, and is provided police protection.
ISNA provides an on-staff psychologist, a part-time teacher,
and some vocational training to victims. For Salvadoran
victims, ISNA also evaluates homes before children are
released to their families and will follow-up on children
after their release when possible.
3. (SBU) As of May 12, the shelter housed 10 children,
ranging from an infant to a 16 year old. The infant was the
daughter of one of the teenage trafficking victims housed at
the shelter. Shelter officials told us that victims usually
were from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. While
shelter occupancy usually averages about 14-15 children, it
has a maximum capacity of 18 children.
4. (SBU) In addition to the shelter dedicated to trafficking
victims, ISNA also runs 11 other homes for abused and
neglected children, which currently house over 1000 children.
One of those shelters is limited to special-needs children.
The other shelters are divided by age and gender.
--------------
ADULT TRAFFICKING VICTIMS: NO PLACE TO GO
--------------
5. (C) Dr. Ricardo Martinez of the Salvadoran Institute for
the Development of Women (ISDEMU) told LabOff that, while
ISDEMU provides shelter for adult female victims of domestic
violence and sexual assault, there is not a shelter
specifically dedicated to trafficking victims. He said that
ISDEMU offers assistance to police and border officials and
participates in the National Action Plan Against Trafficking
in Persons, but could not provide examples of this
assistance. He mentioned that there was an initiative to
establish a shelter for trafficking victims through Huellas,
a Salvadoran non-governmental organization. According to the
MFA and ISNA, the arrangement with Huellas was terminated in
late 2007.
6. (C) Martinez recounted a story of a female adult
trafficking victim that was admitted to an ISDEMU shelter in
2006. He said that the woman "did not want to be helped" and
alleged that she had attempted to establish a commercial sex
ring within the shelter. He said that at that time ISDEMU
realized they were not equipped to deal with trafficking
victims. He confided to LabOff that ISDEMU had asked the
National Civilian Police (PNC) to not send them any
additional trafficking victims.
7. (SBU) According to the MFA, there were four cases
involving adult trafficking victims in 2008. It is unclear
what became of these victims after they were rescued.
8. (C) Comment: The GOES under the Saca administration has
made progress in its treatment of child trafficking victims.
However, it is clear that the Saca administration had no plan
for dealing with adult victims. Aside from neglecting to
offer vital victim services, it is unclear how the new
administration intends to prosecute these cases when the
victims are left to fend for themselves. We will raise this
issue with First Lady Vanda Pignato at the earliest
opportunity. She is the Secretary for Social Inclusion in
the new administration, with responsibility for family
welfare, ISNA, and related issues. End Comment.
BLAU
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2019
TAGS: KTIP PGOV PHUM ES
SUBJECT: LITTLE GOES ASSISTANCE FOR ADULT TRAFFICKING
VICTIMS
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: LabOff visited a temporary shelter for child
victims of trafficking on May 12. While at the shelter,
children receive educational instruction, psychological
services, and some vocational training. However, it is
unclear what happens to adult trafficking victims. There is
no shelter for adult victims, and an official at Salvadoran
Institute for the Development of Women (ISDEMU) indicates
that they cannot (or will not) accept trafficking victims
into other adult shelters. We will address this issue at the
earlies opportunity with the new Funes administration. En
Summary.
-------------- --------------
CHILDREN RECEIVE SHELTER AND PSYCOLOGICAL SERVICES
-------------- --------------
2. (SBU) On May 12, LabOffvisited the GOES temporary shelter
for child vicims of trafficking. Located in a residential
neghborhood in San Salvador, the shelter is run by th
Salvadoran Institute for Children and Adolescents (ISNA),
staffed 24 hours a day, and is provided police protection.
ISNA provides an on-staff psychologist, a part-time teacher,
and some vocational training to victims. For Salvadoran
victims, ISNA also evaluates homes before children are
released to their families and will follow-up on children
after their release when possible.
3. (SBU) As of May 12, the shelter housed 10 children,
ranging from an infant to a 16 year old. The infant was the
daughter of one of the teenage trafficking victims housed at
the shelter. Shelter officials told us that victims usually
were from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. While
shelter occupancy usually averages about 14-15 children, it
has a maximum capacity of 18 children.
4. (SBU) In addition to the shelter dedicated to trafficking
victims, ISNA also runs 11 other homes for abused and
neglected children, which currently house over 1000 children.
One of those shelters is limited to special-needs children.
The other shelters are divided by age and gender.
--------------
ADULT TRAFFICKING VICTIMS: NO PLACE TO GO
--------------
5. (C) Dr. Ricardo Martinez of the Salvadoran Institute for
the Development of Women (ISDEMU) told LabOff that, while
ISDEMU provides shelter for adult female victims of domestic
violence and sexual assault, there is not a shelter
specifically dedicated to trafficking victims. He said that
ISDEMU offers assistance to police and border officials and
participates in the National Action Plan Against Trafficking
in Persons, but could not provide examples of this
assistance. He mentioned that there was an initiative to
establish a shelter for trafficking victims through Huellas,
a Salvadoran non-governmental organization. According to the
MFA and ISNA, the arrangement with Huellas was terminated in
late 2007.
6. (C) Martinez recounted a story of a female adult
trafficking victim that was admitted to an ISDEMU shelter in
2006. He said that the woman "did not want to be helped" and
alleged that she had attempted to establish a commercial sex
ring within the shelter. He said that at that time ISDEMU
realized they were not equipped to deal with trafficking
victims. He confided to LabOff that ISDEMU had asked the
National Civilian Police (PNC) to not send them any
additional trafficking victims.
7. (SBU) According to the MFA, there were four cases
involving adult trafficking victims in 2008. It is unclear
what became of these victims after they were rescued.
8. (C) Comment: The GOES under the Saca administration has
made progress in its treatment of child trafficking victims.
However, it is clear that the Saca administration had no plan
for dealing with adult victims. Aside from neglecting to
offer vital victim services, it is unclear how the new
administration intends to prosecute these cases when the
victims are left to fend for themselves. We will raise this
issue with First Lady Vanda Pignato at the earliest
opportunity. She is the Secretary for Social Inclusion in
the new administration, with responsibility for family
welfare, ISNA, and related issues. End Comment.
BLAU