VZCZCXRO8462
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0174 0811908
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221908Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8181
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 0996
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1536
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 1415
RUEAWJB/DOJ WASHDC

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000174 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR LLUFTIG, INL/LP GMALLORY, INL/HSTC, G/TIP 
LBROWN, WHA/PPC MPUCCETTI 
DEPT OF JUSTICE FOR OPDAT (ROBERT LIPMAN) 
CARACAS FOR LEGATT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM KCRM KWMN SMIG NS
SUBJECT: TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS PROGRAM FOR SURINAMESE 
JUDGES A SUCCESS 
 
REF:PARAMARIBO 84 
 
¶1.  The March 13-15 visit of two U.S. judges to Suriname 
was very well received by their Surinamese counterparts, 
with whom they held intensive discussions about effective 
approaches to the handling of cases involving trafficking 
in persons (TIP).  The judges also met with academics, 
members of government, and legal practitioners, continuing 
what has already been a very successful process over the 
last two years of heightening attention and response to TIP 
in Suriname. 
 
¶2.  The primary purpose of the judges' visit was to 
moderate a program for Surinamese judges on TIP.  In a 
significant demonstration of concern for tackling TIP cases 
effectively, nine of Suriname's ten judges participated in 
evening programs after their full court days.  (The tenth 
judge was abroad).  U.S. District Judge for the District of 
Connecticut Janet B. Arterton and U.S. Magistrate Judge to 
the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida 
in Tampa Elizabeth A. Jenkins successfully built on 
relationships forged with two Surinamese judges, whom they 
hosted in 2003-04 during two separate judiciary exchange 
programs.  These relationships were clearly also catalysts 
for the Surinamese judges' enthusiastic participation, and 
they emphatically requested a continuation of U.S.- 
Surinamese judicial exchanges. 
 
¶3.  The program featured a reciprocal exchange of 
experiences and insights, and served to sharpen the 
Surinamese judges' focus on various aspects of human 
trafficking cases in the context of the Surinamese legal 
system.  Covered topics included the crimes that can be 
potentially charged in TIP cases under the current Penal 
Code (which does not explicitly address trafficking), 
handling cases at the pre-trial, discovery, trial, and 
sentencing stages, ensuring protection of victims and 
witnesses, and issues of evidence, victims' rights, asset 
forfeiture, ethics, and security.  The judges created a 
comprehensive set of discussion notes on handling TIP cases 
in court, which will serve as a useful reference tool to 
the Surinamese judges as they encounter new TIP cases.  The 
Surinamese judges consistently gave extremely positive 
feedback about the program.  (Note:  TIP-specific 
legislation has been submitted to the National Assembly, 
where it currently sits with the judicial affairs 
committee.) 
 
¶4.  During their fruitful visit, the U.S. judges also had 
an opportunity to discuss TIP in meetings with a wide 
variety of stakeholders, including government and NGO 
officials, academics, and leading members of the legal 
community.  These exchanges focused on various aspects of 
the situation in Suriname relating to TIP, such as the 
pending Penal Code amendment which will specifically 
address human trafficking, the government policy of 
tolerance towards prostitution, visa issuance policies 
facilitating entry of TIP victims into Suriname, and the 
current lack of a victim assistance network.  These 
discussions served to increase the participants' awareness, 
and will enhance the Government of Suriname (GOS)'s 
response to the problem of human trafficking. 
 
¶5.  COMMENT:  The participation of the Surinamese judges in 
the program in spite of their heavy workload sends a 
positive signal.  Increasingly proactive GOS efforts to 
arrest and prosecute traffickers will result in an 
increased number of TIP cases, which this program has given 
the judges better tools to effectively adjudicate.  Perhaps 
even more importantly, the strengthened collegial 
cooperation between the American and Surinamese judges will 
offer future opportunities for rewarding peer-to-peer 
dialogue, both informally and through future judicial 
exchanges.  (Note:  Reftel requested INCLE/ESF funding for 
a two-year judicial exchange program on TIP.  End Note). 
END COMMENT. 
 
BARNES