VZCZCXRO3614
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #3780 2730717
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 290717Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0221
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003780 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/CM JCARTIN; G/TIP; EAP/RSP DTIKVART 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2018 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL ELAB KTIP KHUM KWMN KCRM CH
HK, MC, XC 
SUBJECT: CHINA CONSIDERS ACCESSION TO UN PALERMO PROTOCOL 
AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson 
for reasons 1.4 (B/D). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (C) China is seriously considering acceding to the UN 
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in 
Persons, Especially Women and Children, according to a 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs official.  China will hold a 
symposium October 23-24, co-hosted by the UN Inter-Agency 
Project on Human Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region 
(UNIAP), to discuss China's accession to the protocol, 
implications for China, and the impact on China's legal 
system.  Although China has made the policy decision to 
accede to the protocol, one contact said, accession is 
unlikely before spring 2009.  End Summary. 
 
Symposium on Palermo Accession 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (C) China is seriously considering accession to the UN 
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in 
Persons, Especially Women and Children (Palermo Protocol), 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Treaty and Law Division 
Deputy Director Xu Yu told PolOff September 9.  Deputy 
Director Xu said China will hold a symposium October 23-24, 
co-hosted by the UN Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking 
in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (UNIAP), to discuss China's 
accession to the protocol, implications for China, and the 
impact on China's legal system. 
 
¶3. (C) Xu noted that proposed symposium sessions include 
contributions from the Ministry of Public Security, the 
National Working Committee for Children and Women (NWCCW), 
UNIAP and the UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC).  At the 
meeting, experts will explain the provisions of the protocol 
and suggest legislative, administrative and law enforcement 
measures China will need to enact to meet its obligations 
under the protocol. 
 
¶4. (C) Additional sessions will focus on the National Plan of 
Action on Combating Trafficking in Women and Children 
2008-2012 (NPA), and there will be a panel discussion on 
potential challenges to China's accession.  Participants will 
include legal experts, law enforcement officials, authorities 
from MFA and NWCCW, as well as representatives from UN 
agencies, including International Organization for Migration 
(IOM), International Labor Organization (ILO), UN Children's 
Fund (UNICEF), World Vision and Save the Children UK.  (NOTE: 
 Contrary to past refusals, MFA has approved Post's request 
to attend this event as an observer.) 
 
No major obstacles 
------------------ 
 
¶5. (C) Although China has been considering accession to the 
Palermo Protocol for some time, experts say China is now 
actively pursuing the issue.  ILO Project to Prevent 
Trafficking in Girls and Young Women for Labour Exploitation 
within China (CP-TING) Project Director Kathleen Speake 
(protect) told PolOff September 10 that Chinese officials 
have indicated to her not only China's intention to adhere to 
several ILO conventions on forced labor, but also China's 
plans to accede to the Palermo Protocol in the near future. 
According to Speake, China is well aware that in acceding to 
the protocol, it would be required to undertake substantive 
revisions of its legal system in order to comply with 
specific provisions, including inclusion of men and boys in 
its legislation protecting trafficking victims. 
 
Not before 2009 
--------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Despite China's need for enabling legislation, Speake 
said that she did not believe there are any major legal 
obstacles to accession and that the policy decision has been 
made to accede.  Speake noted that while China has in 
principle agreed to accede and Hong Kong has given its 
consent, Macau has yet to indicate its decision.  Deputy 
Director Xu indicated that due to complex procedural issues 
and the fact that the National People's Congress (NPC) is 
ultimately responsible for approving China's accession, 
accession is unlikely before spring 2009. 
PICCUTA