INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Taiwan: 2007 Tip Narrative and Demarche Delivered

Published: Wed 13 Jun 2007 10:09 AM
VZCZCXRO3743
PP RUEHCN RUEHGH
DE RUEHIN #1344 1641009
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131009Z JUN 07
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5631
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6906
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8716
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 8853
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 1946
RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 0332
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 8162
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 1155
RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 5914
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS TAIPEI 001344
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN: 2007 TIP NARRATIVE AND DEMARCHE DELIVERED
REF: STATE 78365
1. The Acting Deputy Director (ADDIR) delivered the 2007 TIP
Report Taiwan narrative and demarche to Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MOFA) Deputy Director General of North American
Affairs Christine M.Y Hsueh on June 12. Hsueh was accompanied
by National Immigration Agency (NIA), Director of Immigration
Affairs Chien Hui-Juan. Per reftel instructions, ADDIR noted
that Taiwan had been removed from the Tier 2 Watch List in
light of Taiwan's clear progress over the past year in
addressing its sex and labor trafficking problem. However,
because Taiwan does not fully comply with the minimum
standards to eliminate trafficking, Taiwan will remain on
Tier 2. ADDIR urged the Taiwan authorities to improve
protections for victims of trafficking, to better protect
laborers from forced deportation by labor brokers, and to
punish labor trafficking offenses with criminal, not
administrative, penalties. ADDIR commended Taiwan's recent
success in disrupting several human trafficking rings, and
the decision to house trafficking victims in NGO shelters,
not detention facilities. ADDIR also noted the new
"anti-demand" standard imposed by the 2005 amendment to the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), and emphasized the
USG intention to continue assisting Taiwan anti-trafficking
efforts in any way possible.
2. NIA Immigration Affairs Director Chien acknowledged that
Taiwan immigration, labor, law enforcement, and justice
authorities still have much to do to meet international
anti-trafficking standards, and are working in earnest to do
so. Chien said she intends to enhance NIA's working
relationship with Taiwan NGOs, using the United States
experience as a model. Chien added that Taiwan's
anti-trafficking task force is developing a standard
procedure for the release of TIP victims into NGO care, and
is seeking to secure a permanent budget for that purpose.
She promised to provide AIT with the task force's next
progress report, which should be released in the near future.
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