This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTIAGO 000304 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR PRM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREL CI GTIP OIM TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
SUBJECT: HEADS UP: IOM SEEKS TO REPROGRAM CHILE PROJECT 
FUNDS 
 
¶1. This is an action request.  See paragraph 6. 
 
¶2. Summary: The International Office of Migration (IOM) in 
Chile has asked for Post's assistance in obtaining Department 
approval to reprogram USD 160,000 in State/PRM funding from 
an existing trafficking in persons program to a new one.  GOC 
authorities have taken responsibility for funding the 
existing program.  IOM's new program would address 
trafficking in persons and commercial sexual exploitation of 
children (CSEC).  End summary. 
 
¶3. IOM Chile Country Director Gabriela Rodriguez met with 
poloff on January 26 and requested Embassy's assistance in 
securing the Department's approval to reprogram USD 160,000 
from an existing program to a new one.  According to 
Rodriguez, Chile's National Children's Service (SENAME) has 
taken over responsibility for an existing project in San 
Antonio, Chile, following a funding gap during the third and 
fourth quarters of 2005.  (See paragraph seven for project 
details.) 
 
¶4. IOM believes the Los Andes region (one of Chile's main 
entry/exit points) warrants greater attention.  In an earlier 
meeting, outgoing IOM Country Director Pedro Hernandez 
presented an IOM proposal for the Los Andes region titled 
"Assistance for an Analysis, Report, Training, and Prevention 
of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Illegal 
Migration and Trafficking of Persons in the Province of Los 
Andes." (See paragraph eight for project details; a copy of 
the IOM proposal has been faxed to Monique Ramgoolie, 
PRM/PRP.) Given the GOC's commitment to fund the San Antonio 
project and the importance of the Los Andes region, IOM 
requests the Department reprogram the FY2006 USD160,000 funds 
committed to San Antonio to support the Los Andes project. 
 
¶5. Comment: Post supports IOM's request.  The Los Andes 
project will establish a baseline of the trafficking in 
persons situation in Chile from which future TIP-related 
activities could be developed.  It also will increase the 
cadre of knowledgeable and experienced GOC officials. 
 
¶6. Action request: Post requests guidance to respond to IOM's 
request. 
 
The San Antonio Project 
----------------------- 
 
¶7. The San Antonio project was originally funded by a 
STATE/PRM grant to IOM, administered through IOM's regional 
office in Buenos Aires.  IOM's project established a 
counseling and outreach center in San Antonio, a major port 
city approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Santiago.  In 
2005, the center assisted 33 children and adolescents who had 
been victims of commercial sexual exploitation of children 
(CSEC), and another 97 who were identified through local 
networks as potentially involved or at risk of CSEC.  The 
project also trained 104 local government and NGO social 
workers in San Antonio.  Former IOM Country Director Pedro 
Hernandez told poloff in December 2005 that IOM began 
preparations to shut down the center after the project ran 
into funding troubles during the second quarter of 2005.  At 
that time, SENAME stepped in and funded the center's 
operation until further funding could be secured.  SENAME 
subsequently offered to fund the center and provide 
assistance to CSEC victims in San Antonio indefinitely.  The 
University of Chile has agreed to integrate IOM's training 
materials into its continuing education programs for 
GOC-sponsored CSEC prevention efforts. 
 
Los Andes Project 
----------------- 
 
¶8. Los Andes Province lies to the northeast of Santiago, and 
runs from the foot of the Andean range to the border with 
Argentina.  It includes the Los Libertadores border crossing 
- the major transit point for cross-border commerce 
(trucking) and one of three major land entry points for 
Chile.  Although trafficking in persons has not been reported 
in Los Andes, high risk factors exist.  Former IOM Country 
Director Hernandez said there is anecdotal evidence 
suggesting that truck drivers "contract" prostitutes to 
accompany them on trips from Brazil or Argentina to Chile. 
As a major port of entry, Los Andes is a logical area to 
detect trafficking for labor exploitation or other purposes. 
 
IOM's proposal for the Los Andes project contains the 
following elements: 
 
--Evaluate and quantify the cross-border trafficking problem 
through Los Libertadores and Los Andes; 
 
--Inform and sensitize regional authorities to the issues of 
trafficking and CSEC; 
 
--Provide educational materials to area schools and civic 
associations; and, 
 
--Provide training to regional law enforcement and border 
control officials, as well as social workers in Los Andes to 
help them identify and assist trafficking victims. 
 
Although CSEC would be a major focus of the Los Andes 
Project, IOM would integrate anti-trafficking materials to 
address broader trafficking issues and would establish a 
baseline on illegal migration and trafficking in persons. 
KELLY