VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNY #0448/01 0961415
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061415Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3764
INFO RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 2051
RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PRIORITY 7782
RUEHRK/AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK PRIORITY 0674
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 2815

UNCLAS OSLO 000448 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
COPENHAGEN FOR LEGATT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM SMIG ASEC PREF ELAB NO KCRM KWMN KFRD
SUBJECT: SUPPORTING NORWAY'S ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORTS 
 
SUMMARY 
---------- 
 
¶1. Norway continues to expand its anti-trafficking efforts, 
which include government funding of NGO-run programs, media 
campaigns and intensive law enforcement training.  Despite 
such preventative measures, trafficking does exist, as 
indicated by a recently publicized trafficking case in the 
city of Trondheim (located in central Norway). Recognizing 
the importance of supporting Norway's anti-trafficking 
measures, Post recently completed several outreach events, 
including Ambassadorial visits to NGOs assisting trafficking 
victims. In addition, the Ambassador and Mrs. Whitney 
attended the FBI-sponsored, two-day conference, "Sexual 
Exploitation: Victims and Perpetrators" held at the offices 
of Kripos (the Norwegian law enforcement division handling 
such cases). The Ambassador also hosted a reception 
acknowledging the conference, drawing together national law 
enforcement officials and members of prominent NGOs. 
 
GOVERNMENT AND NGO ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORTS 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. Norway is a Tier 1 country in the annual Trafficking in 
Persons Report. Norwegian officials estimate there are about 
100 trafficked victims per year. The recent Trondheim 
anti-trafficking case demonstrates some links between female 
prostitution and trafficking. Actual numbers of trafficking 
victims who are forced into prostitution are unknown. 
Prostitution is generally legal in Norway (although pimping 
and operating a brothel are illegal). An estimated 2,500 to 
3,000 prostitutes are in Norway (65% of which are 
foreigners). According to NGO sources, the number of 
foreign-born prostitutes increased dramatically over the last 
five years. Recognizing the need to combat trafficking, the 
Norwegian government adopted Action Plans to Combat 
Trafficking in 2003 and 2005. The Plans coordinate the 
efforts and resources of various governmental ministries. 
Under the Plans, trafficking victims are offered a 45 day 
"reflection period," during which they may reevaluate their 
situation and consider cooperating with the police to 
prosecute the trafficking organizers. During this period, 
foreign victims cannot be deported. Victims may also be 
granted relief from deportation by applying for asylum. In 
2005, the government prosecuted 8 trafficking cases. 
Traffickers may receive a maximum sentence of 5 years in 
prison, which may be increased to 10 years depending on 
aggravating circumstances. Traffickers convicted of slavery 
may receive a prison term of up to 21 years. 
 
¶3. The Norwegian government recently announced increased 
media efforts and training, with a goal of alerting society 
to the dangers of trafficking. The government, in accordance 
with the Action Plans, will launch an anti-trafficking media 
campaign in April. Arranged by Norway's Ministry for Children 
and Equality, the campaign targets young male students and 
military recruits. Minister Krait Bekkemelem noted in a 
recent newspaper interview that the campaign's goals include 
providing "good and objective information" about the health 
risks involved and the plight of women engaged in 
trafficking. The campaign seeks to reverse a perceived trend 
of increased prostitution. The Ministry of Defense is also 
implementing special anti-trafficking measures, including 
providing information materials to schools, while also giving 
Norwegian soldiers participating in international operations 
(who may be exposed to trafficking issues) anti-trafficking 
information. 
 
¶4. The Norwegian government is considering amendments to the 
2005 Action Plan. These amendments would extend the 45 day 
reflection period to 90 days for those trafficking victims 
who testify against the trafficking organizers. The 
government may also allow these victims the option of 
permanent residency in Norway. Critics are concerned that 
women will feign trafficking abuse in order to gain permanent 
residency. Post will continue to report on related 
developments. 
 
¶5. Government funding supports NGOs such as the Rosa Project 
and ProSenter. Rosa, established in 2005, provides 
information and assistance to trafficking victims (most 
notably counseling and shelter opportunities) throughout 
Norway. In its first year, the Project directly assisted 20 
victims, while handling approximately 645 telephone 
inquiries. Rosa placed 18 women in government-funded 
long-term shelters. A major fundraising effort to support 
Rosa involves a nail polish campaign, where famous female 
Norwegian celebrities model the polishes. Proceeds are 
directed to a special fund used for social efforts to support 
trafficked women. Another notable NGO is ProSenter, which is 
organized to assist men and women engaged in prostitution. 
The center provides counseling, support and therapy, while 
emphasizing health education. With the use of cultural 
mediators, ProSenter conducts an extensive outreach program, 
often focusing on migrant women. These mediators are 
particularly useful, able to connect to victims by 
understanding the prostitute's culture and language. 
ProSenter presently employs Russian, Albanian, Dominican, 
Thai and Nigerian cultural mediators. 
 
TRAFFICKING HITS TRONDHEIM 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6. On March 29, two males (one Norwegian, the other Eastern 
European) were detained in Trondheim and charged with 
trafficking. A third Eastern European was charged but not 
detained. In 2005, Trondheim was shaken by a case in which 
two men were convicted for trafficking Estonian women. 
Trondheim Police Chief Ove Sem publicly disclosed that "this 
is a classical trafficking case with several victims." In 
addition to apprehending the alleged traffickers, female 
prostitutes were driven by authorities to a secret location 
for protection. Post will continue to report on this 
situation as it develops. 
 
POST'S ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORTS 
------------------------------- 
 
¶7. Post continues its intensive anti-trafficking efforts, 
with Ambassadorial visits to NGOs and public support of joint 
U.S. and Norwegian law enforcement cooperation. The 
Ambassador and Mrs. Whitney have toured the Rosa and 
ProSenter facilities. The Ambassador provided interviews to 
local newspapers, which produced positive media coverage. The 
newspaper Dagbladet quoted the Ambassador as saying that 
trafficking is "Modern slavery, which is against my view of 
right and wrong...it is a tragedy and the trafficking victims 
have to be supported as best we can by society."  TV2 
Nettavisen published a story noting the Ambassador's tour, 
and quoted him as saying "Trafficking is the slavery of our 
time and ought to be handled the same way as slavery based 
upon race." In his press remarks, the Ambassador emphasized 
various U.S.-Norwegian cooperative efforts in the fight 
against trafficking, including NATO's "zero tolerance" 
trafficking policy. In addition, he referenced Post's 
continuing outreach efforts, including supporting Voluntary 
Visitors to the U.S. and hosting digital video conferences. 
These efforts contribute to information exchanges between 
leading Norwegian and U.S. law enforcement officials, and 
members of prominent Norwegian NGOs. Post also assisted the 
FBI-sponsored sexual exploitation conference at Kripos on 
March 30 and March 31. The Ambassador, accompanied by Mrs. 
Whitney, opened the conference, and sponsored a well-attended 
reception. 
Visit Oslo's Classified website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/oslo/index.cf m 
 
WHITNEY