VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBU #0352/01 0781920
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181920Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0537
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000352
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
G/TIP FOR FORSTRUM AND FLECK
G/IWI FOR RECHKEMMER
WHA/PPC FOR MILLER
WHA/BSC FOR DRUCKER, FRIEDMAN, MOSS, AND SHOWELL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB KCRM KWMN PHUM PREL SNAR SMIG KJUS ASEC AR
SUBJECT: EMBASSY BUENOS AIRES SUPPORTS U.S. NGO PROPOSALS FOR G/TIP
FOR INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS
REF: BUENOS AIRES 344
1. (SBU) Summary and Background: Post is pleased to recommend three
proposals for G/TIP's "International Collaborative Partnerships to
Combat Trafficking" from U.S. NGOs interested in working with local
partners to fight trafficking in persons in Argentina.
Embassy-Buenos Aires's top priorities in strengthening Argentina's
anti-trafficking efforts include 1) improving victim assistance, 2)
conducting public awareness campaigns targeted to people most likely
to come into contact with TIP victims, and 3) strengthening
coordination among anti-TIP NGOs. The proposals that we recommend
for G/TIP consideration would address this need.
2. (SBU) The Department's 2007 TIP report lists Argentina on its
Tier-2 Watch List. In addition, the report identifies the need to
provide greater assistance to trafficking victims. The GOA, in
conjunction with the IOM, has worked to raise public awareness of
human trafficking through a variety of multi-media campaigns.
Through the GOA's Office of Victims Assistance (OFAVI) and
provincial victim assistance offices, the GOA continues to provide
legal assistance to trafficking victims who choose to testify
against their captors, as well as refer them to existing health and
social assistance programs. Nevertheless, government resources for
comprehensive victim assistance remain limited.
3. (SBU) G/TIP funding would help to strengthen the Argentine
government and local NGOs' capacity to deliver comprehensive victim
assistance, enabling victims' successful reinsertion in society and
the economy. Argentina's NGO sector is stocked with very capable
and dedicated professionals who have demonstrated a capacity to make
a big impact with relatively little funding. G/TIP funding of a
U.S.-Argentine NGO partnership would help expose the Argentine NGO
community to U.S. best practices in combating human trafficking. It
would also boost and lend credibility to post's TIP advocacy
efforts. End summary and background.
4. (SBU) Post received copies of three proposals submitted to G/TIP
by U.S. NGOs interested in working with Argentine partners to combat
human trafficking in Argentina. Each NGO informed us that it
submitted its proposal separately via www.grants.gov, per the
website's instructions. Details and post's evaluation of each
proposal can be found in paras 5-7.
-------------------
Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking Proposal
-------------------
5. (SBU) Project Description: The Florida Coalition Against Human
Trafficking is requesting $200,000 for a 2-year project to develop
an NGO network that would work together to:
1) provide a cohesive continuum of care for human trafficking
victims including safe housing, food, and medical attention, as well
as victim advocacy, financial literacy, and job preparation;
2) furnish human trafficking training for professionals,
3) conduct a public awareness campaign, and
4) coordinate NGO lobbying efforts to secure passage of
comprehensive human trafficking laws.
In addition, it will develop and implement a plan to secure the
network's sustainability. We recommend this proposal for the
following reasons:
-- The project identifies clear, tangible, and measurable output
indicators in terms of people trained and victims reached.
-- The project addresses the lack of adequate restorative care
facilities for victims by working with NGOs to establish a victim
assistance center and provide training to the center's staff.
-- FCHAT has already signed MOUs to work with a number of
Argentina's leading anti-TIP NGOs.
------------------------
The Renewal Forum, Carta Politica, and Maria de los Angeles
Foundation Proposal
------------------------
6. (SBU) Project Description: The Renewal Forum will provide
technical assistance to the Carta Politica and the Maria de los
Angeles Foundations by introducing them to best practices fromQhe
most effective international models of anti-trafficking and victim
assistance programming. The one-year project costs $198,560 and
will:
1) conduct an inventory of civil society (non-governmental)
institutions which have the capacity to contribute to the national
response to trafficking;
2) conduct an inventory of service provision capacity and facilities
for victims of human trafficking and highlight gaps in what is
needed to restore victims to self-sufficiency;
3) support the establishment of appropriate restorative care
facilities to aid victims in rebuilding their lives, by providing
existing organizations access to the technical expertise necessary
to treat trafficking victims appropriately; and
4) develop a public awareness campaign against trafficking, building
on previous public awareness efforts and communicating practical
steps to assist victims. The campaign will have the added effect of
strengthening civil society's efforts to pass and enforce
anti-trafficking laws, and improve restorative services for victims.
We recommend this proposal for the following reasons:
-- The project addresses the lack of adequate restorative care
facilities for victims.
-- Public awareness strategy is well-targeted and will build on
previous public awareness campaigns.
-- Local partners are well-known and respected NGOs. The Maria de
los Angeles Foundation was founded by the Department's 2007
International Woman of Courage award winner Susana Trimarco. Carta
Politica is a well-regarded public policy think tank.
-------------------------
Casa De La Familia and S.T.R.I.K.E. Force Training Proposal
-------------------------
7. (SBU) Project Description: Casa de la Familia and S.T.R.I.K.E.
Force Training are requesting $199,450 for a one-year project that
aims to increase trafficking prosecutions and strengthen the
protection of victims who are assisting in prosecution of
traffickers. The project would:
1) work to draft and pass model anti-TIP legislation;
2) establish a human trafficking task force comprised of legal
professionals who have successfully prosecuted TIP cases and service
providers who have directly served victims;
3) survey federal judicial officials and victim service providers to
identify gaps that are needed to successfully protect victims and
prosecute traffickers;
4) develop a training curriculum to train law enforcement officials,
judges and attorneys.
We recommend this proposal for the following reasons:
-- The project addresses the lack of protection for TIP victims.
-- The project provides specialized training in investigating and
prosecuting TIP crimes.
AYNE