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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 ATHENS 000570 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR EUR/SE, EUR/PGI, G/TIP, INL/HSTC, G, DRL, PRM, IWI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREL ELAB GR TIP
SUBJECT: GREECE PART 2: TIP REPORT SUBMISSION 2006 
 
REF: A. STATE 3836 
 
     ¶B. THESSALONIKI 25 
     ¶C. ATHENS 538 
     ¶D. ATHENS 512 
     ¶E. ATHENS 431 
     ¶F. ATHENS 414 
     ¶G. THESSALONIKI 14 
     ¶H. ATHENS 369 
     ¶I. ATHENS 346 
     ¶J. ATHENS 328 
     ¶K. 05 ATHENS 3157 
     ¶L. 05 ATHENS 3144 
     ¶M. 05 ATHENS 3110 
     ¶N. 05 ATHENS 2959 
     ¶O. 05 ATHENS 2927 
     ¶P. 05 THESSALONIKI 86 
     ¶Q. 05 ATHENS 2802 
     ¶R. 05 THESSALONIKI 81 
     ¶S. 05 ATHENS 2779 
     ¶T. 05 ATHENS 2742 
     ¶U. 05 ATHENS 2113 
     ¶V. 05 ATHENS 1626 
     ¶W. 05 TIRANA 968 
     ¶X. 05 ATHENS 1268 
 
¶1.  The following is Sensitive but Unclassified.  Please 
Protect Accordingly. 
 
¶2. (SBU)  Below are Embassy Athens' responses to the 2006 TIP 
report questionnaire.  Text is keyed to Ref A request for 
"Prevention" Section.  This is the second of four cables. 
 
¶3.  PREVENTION: 
--------------- 
-- A. Does the government acknowledge that trafficking is a 
problem in that country?  If no, why not? 
 
The government, including high-ranking officials, publicly 
acknowledges that trafficking is a problem in Greece. 
 
-- B. Which government agencies are involved in anti- 
trafficking efforts and which agency, if any, has the lead? 
 
There are eight national ministries with responsibility for 
anti-trafficking efforts.  Nine Secretaries General (SG) from 
those ministries comprise the Interministerial Committee on 
TIP, of which the SG of the Ministry of Justice is the 
president.  The Ministry of: 
 
--Health (MOH) has responsibility for medical care for 
victims, operation of shelters, operation of a telephone 
hotline, coordination of repatriation program with IOM, and 
coordination of emergency services. 
 
--Public Order (MPO) has responsibility for TIP police task 
forces, conducting TIP raids, arresting traffickers, 
producing police reports as the basis for prosecutions, 
screening and identifying victims, and education of police. 
 
--Justice (MOJ) has responsibility for prosecutions, 
convictions, education of prosecutors and judges, assignment 
of prosecutors to TIP cases, and amendment of the legislative 
framework.  Prosecutors have a special responsibility to 
formally grant victim status. 
 
--Foreign Affairs (MFA) coordinates the diplomatic/NGO/GoG 
working group, coordinates and negotiates bilateral and 
multilateral agreements, such as the Child Repatriation 
Agreement with Albania, and acts as a liaison between 
interested parties.  The spokesman of the Interministerial 
Committee on TIP is an MFA employee with the rank of 
ambassador.  Hellenic Aid, a part of MFA, funds NGO and IO 
programs and shelters, provides legal aid to victims through 
NGO funding, funds training of police, judges and 
prosecutors, and is cooperating with USAID to contribute to 
the Transnational Action against Child Trafficking (TACT) 
program in Albania. 
 
--Interior (MOI) (including the SG for Gender Equality) has 
responsibility for amendment of the legislative framework 
regarding migration policy which includes residence permits 
and reflection periods, granting of residence permits, 
nationwide public awareness campaign, and vocational 
training, counseling, and social support for victims. 
 
--Education and Ministry of Employment have responsibility 
for education, vocational training, and job placement of 
victims. 
 
--Finance has responsibility for authorizing funding for TIP 
efforts. 
 
-- C. Are there, or have there been, government-run anti- 
trafficking information or education campaigns?  If so, 
briefly describe the campaign(s), including their objectives 
and effectiveness.  Do these campaigns target potential 
trafficking victims and/or the demand for trafficking (e.g. 
"clients" of prostitutes or beneficiaries of forced labor)? 
 
In 2006, the Secretariat General for Gender Equality (SGGE), 
under the MOI, completed a nationwide public awareness 
campaign on TIP.  The campaign is a 40-second television spot 
and an informational leaflet with the same visual theme.  The 
message of campaign was designed to reach and impact 
"clients," victims, and citizens with a special focus on 
educating the general public about the TIP problem.  The 
Secretary General of SGGE was personally involved in creating 
 
SIPDIS 
the television spot, which has powerful music and images, 
showing the phases of a young girl's life that lead her to 
become a victim of trafficking.  After seeing and 
understanding the tragic story of the victim, the spot 
silently gives a simple message directed to all segments of 
society and the TIP problem: 
 
"THIS IS TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS. 
IT IS A CRIME. 
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REVEAL IT." 
 
The National Greek Television and Radio Council agreed to air 
the ad for two months on three popular state television 
stations starting in March 2006.  After a three-month break, 
the ad will be aired again. The SGGE is seeking additional 
airtime from privately owned stations. 
 
-- D. Does the government support other programs to prevent 
trafficking? (e.g., to promote women's participation in 
economic decision-making or efforts to keep children in 
school.)  Please explain. 
 
One significant new effort to prevent trafficking is the 
agreement between the GoG and USAID for the Greek MFA to 
support the TACT program in Albania with $600,000 over three 
years.  Hellenic Aid also supports NGOs that carry out 
prevention work in source countries. 
 
(SBU) In addition to the above programs, Hellenic Aid 
reported that in 2005 it granted funding to the following TIP 
projects to benefit victims in source countries and to 
prevent TIP and provide support to victims in Greece.  These 
programs are GoG anti-TIP initiatives and are not related to 
the "benchmarks."  (Note: Please protect.  Funding levels for 
specific NGOs and agencies are not published or publicly 
released.  End Note.) 
 
--80,000 euros to the European Public Law Center to provide 
training for law specialists in Moldova on "Enactment of TIP 
Legislation" which would provide a legal framework to protect 
TIP victims, especially women and children. 
 
--83,000 euros to the Human Rights Defense Center (KEPAD) for 
the "Joint Project of a Regional Network to Combat TIP in 
Eastern and South Eastern Europe," including the creation of 
the "Ariadne" network to coordinate cooperation between 
countries of origin, transit, and destination through 
involvement of anti-TIP NGOs from Albania, BiH, Bulgaria, 
Croatia, Macedonia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and 
Montenegro, Turkey, and Ukraine.  The first Ariadne project 
is to research the TIP legal framework, implementation of TIP 
law, dimensions of the TIP phenomenon, and efforts made by 
the state, IOs, and NGOs for assistance to victims in each 
network country.  KEPAD will public the findings in a book in 
English and the local languages. (Ref 05 Athens 1626) 
 
--9,022 euros to the Human Rights Defense Center (KEPAD) for 
a March 1-2 parallel event in New York in the framework of 
the UN Commission on the Status of Women entitled "Regional 
Cooperation for Countering Trafficking in Women and Girls" to 
promote the tripartite regional cooperation (between state, 
international and non-governmental agents) among countries of 
origin, transit and destination to prevent TIP and provide 
assistance and support to the victims. 
 
--125,000 euros to a joint project administered by the Center 
for Research and Support for Victims of Maltreatment and 
Social Exclusion (CVME or "EKYTHKA" in Greek) between CVME, 
ARSIS, and Albanian shelter KATHV entitled "Care and support 
to TIP victims from NGOs and the judicial system - 
development of relevant support systems in Albania." 
 
--50,000 euros to CVME for a project to benefit Georgia 
entitled "Development of Prevention Policies in Institutions 
(primarily orphanages) in Georgia to Prevent Children from 
Becoming TIP Victims" to train psychiatrists and social 
workers, train workers at institutions, and provide creative 
activities for children. (Ref 05 Athens 2779) 
 
--50,000 euros to the Center for Research and Action on Peace 
(KEDE) for a project to benefit Armenia entitled "Empowering 
Socially Excluded Women in Armenia" to establish, equip, and 
operate a vocational training center for 18-45 year old women 
victims of TIP, immigrants, refugees and women who have 
served time in jail. 
 
--95,000 euros to Doctors of the World (MdM), Greece for a 
prevention project entitled "Medical Care for Street Children 
of Moldova" to benefit street children and children in the 
"Regina Pacis" institution. 
 
--75,000 euros to Klimaka for a project to benefit Greece and 
the Ukraine entitled "Prevention of TIP and support to 
victims in Greece and the Ukraine."  The project supports 
"empowerment" activities for victims, a shelter in Athens, a 
public awareness campaign in Greece (a TV spot and leaflets), 
and a prevention program in the Ukraine. 
 
--40,000 euros to the European Network of Women (ENOW) for a 
program entitled "SOS hotline for Victims of Modern Forms of 
Slavery/TIP from Origin Countries of the Ukraine, Moldova, 
Albania, Bulgaria, and African countries."  The funding 
extends ENOW's multi-lingual hotline operation to a 24-hour 
basis and provides training to hotline personnel.  ENOW also 
has victim-directed multi-lingual public awareness television 
spot and leaflets. 
 
--81,000 euros to the Greek Council for Refugees for the 
project "Legal Assistance to TIP Victim Asylum Seekers" for 
research on the general situation of TIP victims and a 
project of legal support to TIP victims. 
 
--36,000 euros to the Mediterranean Women's Studies Center 
(KEGME) for the continuation of the project "HESTIA: 
Trafficking of Women and Girls for Sexual Exploitation in 
Albania" which conducts seminars and training for police 
personnel in Albania. 
 
--130,000 euros to The Association for the Social Support of 
Youth (ARSIS) for the prevention, identification and 
protection project "Action for the Protection of Albanian 
Children in Danger" to be carried out in Albania and Greece. 
 
--78,810 euros to ACT UP-Greece for training in Greece of 
four medical students from source countries that are 
recipient countries of developmental aid on TB, STDs, and 
HIV/AIDS. 
 
--60,000 euros to ACT UP-Greece for information to and 
registration of STD carriers in the target groups of TIP 
victims, refugees, prostitutes, and drug users. 
 
--97,000 euros to the Greek Chapter of the International 
Police Association (IPA) for Seminars in 10 Greek cities on 
"Immigrants, Rights, the Legal Framework, Trafficking, and 
Child Prostitution" for Greek police.  IPA estimates the 
seminars reached at least 1,300 officers, with presentations 
by 9 different NGOs, IOM, prosecutors, police, lawyers, and 
university professors.  Delegations from Albania, Bulgaria, 
Cyprus, Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro, Romania and the 
Ukraine were invited to attend the training seminar in 
Thessaloniki. 
 
--150,000 euros to the International Organization for 
Migration (IOM) for two programs: "Combating Trafficking in 
Human Beings - Voluntarily Repatriation" to repatriate 
victims and provide for their social integration in countries 
of origin, an information campaign to sensitize the public 
through leaflets distributed throughout Greece, and awareness 
raising through seminars.  Target groups for repatriations 
are victims of sexual and other forms of exploitation of any 
gender and age.  The second program is "A Study of Street 
Working" in the regions of Attica, Peleponnese and Makedonia 
(Northern Greece). 
 
--100,000 euros to the Secretary General For Gender Equality 
to support activities in Serbia-Montenegro and BiH for a 
project entitled "Support to Neighboring Countries to Fight 
Trafficking of Women" to provide medical, social, and 
psychosocial support to victims and to conduct an awareness 
raising campaign with IOM. 
 
--Undisclosed funding approved for the European Center for 
Public Law (ECPL), IOM, and Stability Pact for the three-year 
project "Hera" for regional scholars and legal experts to 
study and propose reform to TIP laws in Serbia-Montenegro, 
Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, BiH, Croatia, Moldova, Belarus, 
and the Ukraine under the direction of the ECPL. 
 
As with all Hellenic Aid projects on any issue, a percentage 
of the funding is provided up front, and the remainder of the 
funding is granted upon the receipt of acceptable interim and 
final project assessments.  (Embassy is aware and has 
reported that certain NGOs have complained of significant 
delays in transferring this funding to NGOs - see Ref 05 
Thess 81.) 
 
-- F. What is the relationship between government officials, 
NGOs, other relevant organizations and other elements of 
civil society on the trafficking issue? 
 
Government and NGO cooperation took a step forward in 2005 
with the completion of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) 
between the Interministerial Council, 12 NGOs and IOM.  This 
agreement, negotiated over three meetings with the 
Secretaries General and NGOs, formalized cooperation between 
 
SIPDIS 
the GoG and those NGOs and allows organizations like the 
Greek police to more easily and directly work with NGOs.  One 
particularly vocal NGO, Greek Helsinki Monitor, was not 
invited to negotiate or sign the MOC.  One NGO that does 
street work, ACT UP, decided not to sign the MOC because it 
does not cover provisions for NGOs that do street work.  One 
NGO called the MOC a document "for the U.S. embassy, not the 
Greek reality."  The 12 signatory NGOs reported that while 
the document was "not perfect," they signed it because they 
wanted to facilitate movement on TIP issues with various 
ministries, and were eager to improve cooperation and 
coordination with the GoG.  Since the signing of the 
document, the "Working Group" has been established which 
provides NGOs, including some who did not sign, direct access 
to working level contacts at the MOJ, MPO, MOI, MFA and MOH. 
 
The former Minister of Health (there was a cabinet change on 
February 14, 2006 and he was replaced) and Secretary General 
of MOH stated publicly in April 2005 that certain NGOs 
"blackmail" the GoG for additional funding by inflating 
numbers of potential TIP victims in the country. 
 
-- G. Does it monitor immigration and emigration patterns for 
evidence of trafficking?  Do law enforcement agencies screen 
for potential trafficking victims along borders? 
 
Law enforcement authorities, including border patrol officers 
and airport authorities, screen arrivals for possible TIP 
victims and travelers with fraudulent documents as part of 
its Schengen responsibilities.  Airport and immigration law 
enforcement specialists are included in TIP training programs 
and are members of the diplomatic-NGO-governmental 
authorities "Working Group."  Greece has acceptable border 
controls in general, though thousands of illegal immigrants 
cross or are smuggled into the country every year. 
 
There have been isolated cases of police identifying and 
referring TIP cases from airports and police stations, but 
there is no systematic monitoring of immigration and 
emigration patterns for evidence of trafficking.  Many 
victims of sex trafficking come with legal tourist or 
temporary visas, implying that increased efforts for victim 
screening are needed at Greek consulates.  Nationals of some 
countries, such as Bulgaria and Romania, do not need visas to 
enter Greece, which likely contributes to larger numbers of 
victims from those countries. 
 
-- H. Is there a mechanism for coordination and communication 
between various agencies, internal, international, and 
multilateral on trafficking- related matters, such as a 
multi-agency working group or a task force?  Does the 
government have a trafficking in persons working group or 
single point of contact?  Does the government have a public 
corruption task force? 
 
There is an Interministerial Committee at the Secretary 
General level that meets regularly and shares TIP 
information, progress, programs, and trends among ministries, 
headed by the MOJ.  The MFA and MPO take the lead on 
coordinating with multilateral bodies, such as OSCE, on TIP. 
However TIP specialists visiting Greece in 2005-2006 from 
international organizations (OSCE, ILO, IOM, UN), met with a 
range of officials from many involved ministries.  A TIP 
"Working Group" was established by the MFA and IOM in 
November 2005 between origin, transit, and destination 
country diplomats, NGOs, and working level government 
authorities (Ref 05 Athens 3157).  In its most recent meeting 
on February 21, there were over 55 representatives present 
for the productive two-hour discussion.  The Ministry of 
Public Order has an anticorruption unit in its Bureau of 
Internal Affairs, which has investigated a limited number of 
TIP-related cases. 
 
-- J. Does the government have a national plan of action to 
address trafficking in persons?  If so, which agencies were 
involved in developing it?  Were NGOs consulted in the 
process?  What steps has the government taken to disseminate 
the action plan? 
 
The GoG has a National Action Plan (NAP) to address TIP, 
entitled "Integrated Program: Actions for the Suppression of 
Trafficking in Human Beings."  The NAP covers 
inter-ministerial activities and specific activities of eight 
ministries, and NGOs were consulted in its development.  The 
MOJ Secretary General and the Interministerial Council 
presented the NAP at a press conference in 2004.  The 
government has taken steps to disseminate the NAP via its 
public release and press conference, at international 
conferences and meetings, as well as by delivering it to 
international organizations such as the IOM, SECI, OSCE, and 
EU and their representatives.  In 2005 the GoG produced an 
update on its progress on the NAP. 
 
Greece 2006 TIP Report Submission Continued Septel. 
Ries