VZCZCXRO4852
PP RUEHBI
DE RUEHLM #0266/01 0431326
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121326Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5412
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000266 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT PASS TO USAID 
DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM, IWI, SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM ELAB ASEC PREF KCRM KWMN SMIG KFRD CE
SUBJECT: ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  On February 7 the Ambassador hosted a 
round-table discussion on trafficking in persons with 12 NGO 
representatives and three government officials working in related 
fields.  Although there was no single working definition of 
"trafficking" or common assessment of the scope of the problem, all 
interlocutors agreed on the need for better coordination among 
various actors, as well as for a national database on trafficking 
crimes.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) The Ambassador hosted a trafficking in persons roundtable 
organized by USAID for representatives of 12 NGOs and three 
government offices on February 3. The participating organizations 
were: The Center for Policy Alternatives; International Labor 
Organization (ILO); American Center for International Labor 
Solidarity (ACILS); PEACE Organization; Migrant Services Commission; 
Child Vision; Child in Need Development Association (CINDA); Dimuthu 
Child & Youth Association (DCYA); Eradicating Sexual Child Abuse, 
Prostitution and Exploitation (ESCAPE); Janasetha Sahana Foundation 
(JSF); Lawyers for Human Rights and Development (LHRD); 
International organization for Migration (IOM); Police Bureau for 
Protection for Women and Children; Department of Probation and 
Childcare; and the Department of the Attorney General. 
 
¶3. (U) The round-table participants did not have a universally 
agreed-upon definition of trafficking, and none had an accurate 
overview of the scope of the problem in Sri Lanka.  Discussants 
acknowledged that some internal trafficking occurs, including but 
not limited to serving the purposes of labor or sexual exploitation. 
 In addition, the participants spoke about the importance of safe 
migration, in particular for the 800,000 migrant workers who leave 
Sri Lanka annually to seek employment overseas, primarily in the 
Middle East.  It is estimated that of the total number going abroad 
to work, some percentage included under-aged child workers sent to 
the Middle East, and including those cases, a total of 30-40,000 
employees experience "bad outcomes" annually. Considering those 
factors, all the round-table attendees agreed on the need to work to 
improve definitions, data collection and tracking systems for 
migrants. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The need for a better coordinated and more strategic 
approach to anti-trafficking training programs, especially for 
policy, was a common theme.  The ACILS representative said that in 
April 2006, Sri Lanka's penal code changed to cover trafficking in 
persons specifically as a crime.  Although ACILS and other 
organizations have sponsored training sessions for police regarding 
the new law, there have been no prosecutions to date, and most 
police still lackadequate knowledge about laws governing trafficking 
crimes. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The lack of coordination between the various groups 
involved in anti-trafficking programs was a common theme.  ACILS 
interlocutors and a senior program coordinator from the 
International Organization for Migration (IOM) said they sought to 
institute a monthly "Beat the Traffic" breakfast for practitioners 
to coordinate training and other efforts.  Many attendees supported 
the measure because, they said, such coordination is currently 
lacking.  The Deputy Solicitor General said it would be most useful 
if the group met outside of the government purview and prepared an 
outcome document to share with the president.  He said it should 
include specific steps the government could take to better combat 
trafficking in persons. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Several interlocutors offered areas in which the government 
could provide assistance.  The International Labor Organization's 
national program manager urged that the National Child Protection 
Agency (NCPA) recommence its cyber-watch program, and several other 
speakers noted the need for special child protection measures.  The 
IOM representative said the lack of shelters and rehabilitation 
 
COLOMBO 00000266  002 OF 002 
 
 
facilities for victims was another difficult challenge to overcome. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The executive director of the Center for Policy 
Alternatives said there was a strong need for a nationalized 
database of trafficking crimes, with NGOs allowed limited access to 
the information.  The IOM officer said her organization is working 
with the Department of Immigration and Emigration and the Bureau of 
Foreign Employment to create a computerized system to monitor people 
leaving and re-entering Sri Lanka.  She added that with additional 
funding and assistance, IOM could expand the database to track 
trafficking-related crimes under the new 2006 law that specifies 
penalties for trafficking. 
 
¶8. (SBU) COMMENT: Initially, we had envisioned government 
facilitation of a series of meetings on trafficking in persons, 
similar to the successful NGO forum that meets monthly.  However, 
several of our interlocutors felt that an independent forum arranged 
by and for the NGO community would better serve the needs of the 
group.  We will continue to engage with the NGO actors to urge 
follow-up on the proposal.  If the group produces an outcome 
document, the Ambassador will share it with appropriate government 
officials.  Mission will also develop a proposal to help the 
government of Sri Lanka establish a nation-wide database of 
trafficking crimes for consideration by INL and G/TIP. 
 
Blake