WUNRN
http://www.wunrn.com
 
Ambassador John R. Miller
Director, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
U.S. Department of State
 
Trafficking in Persons Report Website: http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2005/
 
CALL FOR NGO INPUT ON 2006 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT
 
The 2006 TIP reporting cycle has begun, and we rely on information received from NGOs to provide a source different than the data supplied by foreign governments. In years past, the information obtained from NGOs has significantly contributed to the tier placements of several countries.
 
Full Questionnaire is attached.
 
SEND TRAFFICKING QUESTIONNAIRES - By March 1, 2006
 
E-Mail:  TIPReport@state.gov
 
FAX: 202-312-9637
 
<<TIP Report questionnaire 012606.rtf>> Human Trafficking Questionnaire

Information provided by: (please provide organization name)
concerning human trafficking from March 1, 2005 to March 1, 2006

Note: This questionnaire is long and comprehensive, so please only respond to questions you feel you can answer from professional experience. Moreover, please indicate if you prefer to be treated as a confidential source.  We appreciate your help!

PLEASE NOTE THE COUNTRY(IES)

General/Law Enforcement
  1. Have trafficking routes or methods changed in the past 12 months? For example: Do victims come from new countries and is internal trafficking an increasing problem?
  2. Has trafficking changed from brothels to private apartments and escort services? Is labor trafficking on the rise? Has labor trafficking moved to supply additional types of industries or agricultural operations?  Is the country increasing as a source, transit or destination country compared to last year, etc.?
  3. Has the government organization for combating trafficking in persons changed in the past year? We are interested in substantive criminal laws and procedures, mechanisms for civil remedies, witness protection in court proceedings and witness security outside
  4. of courts. If yes, please give the text of the law in your answer or provide an appropriate Internet address.
  5. What is your observation regarding the implementation of existing laws and procedures? Please provide specific examples if relevant.
  6. If a country has adopted a law that punishes trafficking in persons, what levels
  7. of punishment did it concretely institute since March 2005 against human traffickers?
  8. If committed in respect to minors or in the sexual exploitation of children, did courts apply more severe punishment? Please answer with specific cases if possible.
  9. What punishment was applied for rape cases since March 2005? Were civil remedies available?  (The TVPA requires us to report whether or not sex trafficking sentences are commensurate with sentences for rape). 
  10. Can you say that the anti-trafficking laws in the country concerned are strict enough to reflect the nature of the crime?   
  11. Did the police pursue human trafficking cases with respect to organized crime in the past 12 months? Does pursuing a case as organized crime give law enforcement special powers of investigation or witness protection?
  12. Do police actively profile traffickers? Please explain how you know this information.
  13. Is government as vigorus in pursuing those who are involved in forced labor trafficking as sex traffickers?
  14. Does the government investigate cases of trafficking in humans committed by government officials? If yes, have any government officials been subject to an investigation or criminal proceeding concerning trafficking in human beings? Have those officials been subject to criminal or professional sanctions? Please explain your source of information about this (personal contacts, media, assistance to victims in the case, etc.)

Victim Assistance and Protection
11.     Do you have a role in assisting victims or providing services? If so, do you actively share information with police and prosecutors regarding traffickers, victims and routes? Do police and prosecutors seek out and/or use your information? What is the level of cooperation, communication and trust between your organization and law enforcement?

12.     Does government have methods to protect victims of trafficking? Are those methods regularly used? How?
13.     Does government actively assist victims to return home? Does it assist victims in third countries to resettle there? Please explain through specific examples or cases.

14.     How could methods of victim protection and implementation be improved?
15.     Does the government support victims of trafficking? For example, do they provide referrals to NGOs, have victim advocates, and offer legal, medical or financial assistance?

16.     Does the government provide housing to rescued victims of trafficking whose security is at risk?
17.     Does the government detain victims of trafficking or keep them in prison?
18.     Do you know of cases where the government punished victims for forgery of documents, illegal crossing of borders or illegal work?

19.     Is the governmental attitude and treatment toward victims of trafficking equal for all victims regardless of circumstance, i.e. forced prostitution or labor?

20.     Does the government make efforts to screen illegal foreign workers, before deporting them, to determine whether they are trafficking victims?

21.     Are shelter programs equipped to provide services to victims of both labor and sex trafficking?

Prevention of Trafficking
22.     Does the government address the prevention of human trafficking? Does it provide financial support to NGOs working to promote public awareness or does the government implement such campaigns itself?

23.     Are public awareness campaigns directed at potential victims?  Are they directed at reducing demand by changing attitudes of society?  If so, how?

24.       Do government officials with whom your organization interacts understand the nature of trafficking?  If not, can you provide examples of misconceptions or misunderstanding related to trafficking in persons, particularly those that might affect the government’s effectiveness at detecting and combating human trafficking?

25.     Does prevention include protection against criminal acts and prevention against vulnerabilities that create victims (poverty, domestic violence, unemployment, poor schooling, discrimination against women, children or minorities, etc.)?

26.     Does government interact with other governments to facilitate criminal proceedings
of trafficking cases and punish traffickers and their accomplices?
27.     Does government monitor cases of immigration and emigration to identify trafficking
in persons? If yes, please explain through specific instances.
28.     Has the government made efforts to train health care professionals, labor and immigration inspectors, and other law enforcement officers to identify potential trafficking victims?

29.     Please provide comment on any experiences with trafficking not already addressed. We also encourage you to share some specific victim stories, as long as names and identities are protected.

Health-related Issues
30.     Is the government providing any medical assistance to victims of trafficking? If so, at what stage in the victim’s experience? For example, after a brothel raid, when a victim is repatriated, when a victim is in a shelter or detention awaiting repatriation, or in a victim shelter after repatriation?

31.     What type of care is provided? (Please explain whether the government or an NGO provides services.) For example, emergency medical for acute illnesses or complaints; psychological evaluation and assistance; long-term care; etc.

32.     Are victims screened for HIV/AIDS status? Are they provided some kind of informed consent or counselling? What is the government doing with HIV&#43 victims? Is care provided? Are they immediately repatriated or not allowed to re-enter the country
of origin?
33.     Is the government supporting health awareness and prevention programs related to the demand side of trafficking? For example: awareness campaigns against commercial sex tourism, the demand for trafficking, and the health risks associated with commercial sex, and for condom use, safe sex, and abstinence.

34.     Are there campaigns against myths related to HIV transmission such as “sex with a virgin will cure AIDS” or other related activities that fuel the trade in sexual exploitation of children? Describe any activities that the government is supporting whether directly or through NGOs that address the spread of HIV/AIDS as it relates to trafficking in persons.

35.     Is there stigmatization against victims of sexual exploitation by the health professionals
in the community?
36.     In light of current activity, what could the government do to support the mental and medical health of victims of trafficking?

37.     What are the limitations or constraints as to why such activities are not being accomplished?










================================================================
To leave the list, send your request by email to: wunrn_listserve-request@lists.wunrn.com. Thank you.