FRANCE: INPUT FOR THE 2010 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 000199 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP (JENNIFER DONNELLY),G (LAURA PENA), EUR/PGI (JODY BUCKNEBERG),INL, DRL, PRM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KTIP KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB ,KMCA, FR SUBJECT: FRANCE: INPUT FOR THE 2010 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT (PART 3 OF 3) REF: STATE 2094 PARIS 00000199 001.8 OF 002 PARTNERSHIPS -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Responses are keyed to reporting questions specified in paragraph 30 of reftel. Does the government engage with other governments, civil society, and/or multilateral organizations to focus attention and devote resources to addressing human trafficking? If so, please provide details. -- A. Throughout 2009, France partnered with local governments, foreign countries, NGOs, civil society, and multilateral organizations to focus attention on addressing the problem of human trafficking. In particular, the GOF increased its bilateral cooperation with foreign governments to combat trafficking in persons during the reporting period. On November 1, 2009, the Ministry of Justice presented a bill on articles 695-2 and 695-3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, promoting the use of joint investigation teams to increase cooperation in Europe between courts as well as investigative services such as the police, gendarmes, and customs. On October 19-20, 2009, Secretary of State Jean-Marie Bockel participated at the Ministerial Conference comprised of representatives of member states of the EU, international organizations and NGOs, devoted to European action against trafficking in human beings in Brussels. He commended the Swedish Presidency of the European Union for making the fight against the human trafficking one of its top priorities. Bockel committed France to developing a special action plan for cooperation with countries of origin and transit and would be a highlight of EU joint action. Bockel said that the "main task will be to define, coordinate, and guide policy and action of ministries concerned with the prevention and fight against trafficking in persons and the protection of victims," which will be placed under the authority of the French Prime Minister. He added that "the measures taken by France are in line with a strong knowledge of this criminal phenomenon and represent a powerful vehicle for strengthening our cooperation both on a multilateral and bilateral level." What sort of international assistance does the government provide to other countries to address TIP? -- B. During the reporting period, France increased its efforts to provide international assistance to source countries to address TIP. For example, France and Romania held "talks on human trafficking and the integration of minorities" in Bucharest on February 11-12, which concluded with the announcement of three new joint initiatives: the appointment of a State Secretary for the Reintegration of the Roma community, an agreement to send a contingent of Romanian police and magistrates to France in order to help the GOF dismantle human trafficking networks, and the establishment of a cooperation policy funded by France and the EU for the reintegration of the Roma in Romania, according to the French MFA. France's State Secretary for European Affairs Pierre Lellouche and a delegation of French parliamentarians met with Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc to discuss the issue. The bilateral visit followed a July 2009 trip by Lellouche to Bucharest to set up the Franco-Romanian judicial working group to actively investigate and prosecute human trafficking between the two countries. According to the Ministry of Interior, Romania is a primary source country for persons trafficked to France for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor. CHILD SOLDIERS -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Responses are keyed to reporting questions specified in paragraph 31-33 of reftel. This section is not applicable to France, which has not been subject to allegations of unlawful child soldiering. NOMINATION OF HEROES AND BEST PRACTICES -------------- Heroes: The introductions to the past five TIP Reports have included sections honoring Anti-Trafficking "Heroes". These individuals or representatives of organizations or governments demonstrate an exceptional commitment to fighting TIP above and beyond the scope of their assigned work. The Department encourages post to nominate one or more such individuals for inclusion in a similar section of the 2010 PARIS 00000199 002.8 OF 002 Report. Please submit, under a subheading of "TIP Hero(es)," a brief description of the individual or organization's work, and note that the appropriate individual(s) has been vetted through databases available to post (e.g. CLASS and any law enforcement systems) to ensure they have no visa ineligibilities or other derogatory information. ¶9. (SBU) Post nominates Jean-Marc Souvira for his fine work and leadership as the chief of the Office for the Suppression of Trafficking in Persons (OCRTEH). With the establishment of the OCRTEH, France has a highly unique institutional structure to combat TIP and Souvira's substantial work makes him an expert on the issue both in France and throughout Europe. Jean-Marc Souvira has been vetted through consular and political databases available at post. Commendable Initiatives: For the past six years the Report has carried a section on "International Commendable Initiatives" in addressing TIP. This section highlights particular initiatives used by governments or NGOs in addressing the various challenges of TIP and serves as a useful guide to foreign governments and posts as they design anti-TIP projects and strategies. The Department encourages post to nominate local anti-TIP initiatives from their host countries for showcasing in the 2010 Report. Please submit, under a "Commendable Initiative" subheading, a brief summary of the activity or practice, along with the positive effect it has had in addressing TIP. ¶10. (SBU) Post will not be nominating local anti-TIP initiatives for showcasing in the 2010 Report. POST POINT OF CONTACT -------------- ¶11. (U) The information in this reporting cable is derived largely from post meetings with government officials, law enforcement, the judiciary, diplomatic counterparts, academics, NGOs, and members of civil society. The estimated total amount of time spent by the Political Section (with support from the DHS/ICE and DOJ offices at post) to compile this information was about 100 hours. This includes 65 hours by the TIP officer (FS-04),25 hours of research by the Political Section Locally Engaged Staff member (LES-09),and 10 by the Political Counselor (FS-01) in conducting interviews with contacts, arranging and holding meetings, as well as drafting and reviewing the reporting cable. The point of contact at Embassy Paris for TIP related issues is Anny Vu, who can be contacted via email at VuAT3@state.gov, or telephone (33)1-4312-2614 (IVG 8-498-2614),and fax (33)1-4312-2663. RIVKIN