VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPG #1229/01 3191538
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151538Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9819

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001229 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/PGI, G-ACBLANK AND G/TIP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM KWMN PGOV PREL EZ
SUBJECT: TIP: INTERIM ASSESSMENT, CZECH REPUBLIC 
 
REF: SECSTATE 146300 
 
¶1. (U) The Czech Republic continues to make significant 
progress in identifying Trafficking in Persons as a law 
enforcement and judicial priority, and continues to provide 
necessary resources, funding, and training to increase 
detection and overall awareness among labor inspectors, 
police, prosecutors, and judges; and improve the lives of 
victims.  Per reftel, the government's efforts are noted 
below: 
 
a) In the first nine months of 2007, Czech police have 
investigated 18 cases under the state,s Trafficking in 
Persons statute.  In the first half of the year, there were 
also 15 prosecutions of traffickers.  Out of these there were 
four convictions: three traffickers were sentenced to jail, 
and one received a suspended sentence.  While information on 
length of sentences was not yet available from the MOI, these 
numbers show a positive trend in sentencing violators to jail 
over previous years.  Additionally, reflecting the need to 
adopt a comprehensive approach to combating trafficking, the 
Czech Republic used other criminal statutes to charge 
violators.  Accordingly, in the first nine months of the year 
police investigated 46 cases of pimping.  There were also 47 
prosecutions under the pimping statutes. At the time MOI 
provided post with data, there were no statistics on the 
number of convictions or length of sentences under the 
pimping statutes for the year. 
 
(NOTE: The numbers of investigations listed above are not 
directly related to the number of prosecutions, which may 
reflect investigations begun in previous years.  END NOTE) 
 
b) Anti-trafficking courses are now a regular part of the 
introductory training curriculum at the police academy, which 
every incoming officer must take.  Trafficking is also part 
of mandatory continuing education requirements that all 
police officers must take to keep their certifications. 
Additionally, police academies offer more targeted training 
in anti-trafficking measures for members of the police who 
specialize in this area. Training sessions are led by experts 
inside and outside the police academies. 
 
Trafficking in persons has also become a part of the official 
curriculum at the judicial academy for judges in training. 
Started two years ago as a U.S. Embassy initiative, the TIP 
courses for prosecutors and judges are now offered twice a 
year. Anti-trafficking courses are also taught to judges and 
prosecutors as part of foreign language training, which 
assures exposure to a broader segment of the judicial body. 
 
c) In 2007 the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs finished 
translation of the International Labor Organization's guide 
on "Trafficking in Persons for Purposes of Forced Labor - How 
to Monitor Recruitment of Migrant Workers," which is now 
regularly distributed at conferences and seminars on Labor 
Trafficking, and is given to the police, labor inspectors, 
and to labor and tax offices.  Recently, the Ministry 
completed a seminar in conjunction with authorities from 
Italy to learn about the labor patterns and working 
conditions of illegal migrant workers in Italy, which serves 
as a case-study for other EU countries. 
 
The government has increased funding for social workers who 
help victims of trafficking.  Sources of funding include the 
EU European Social Fund and the Czech national budget. The 
MOI also established a "Center for Migration" which provides 
analysis of illegal employment and also prepares 
anti-trafficking literature in a number of foreign languages. 
 
e) The MOI stated that there have been no allegations of 
border guards facilitating entry into the country of illegal 
workers, and no information has come to their attention that 
would support this request. Separately, border procedures 
have undergone extensive reform in line with measures 
required for the Czech Republic's entry into the Schengen 
zone, which will occur on December 21, 2007. 
 
f) In a major development, the MOI has increased the 
reflection period for victims, i.e., the time trafficking 
victims have to decide whether to cooperate with authorities 
and receive full protection and assistance under the Program 
of Assistance and Protection of TIP Victims. Previously, the 
government had provided trafficking victims with a 30-day 
reflection period. A victim's testimony at trial against 
traffickers formerly was a condition to receive program 
benefits. The new system has two key changes. First, victims 
now have a 60-day reflection period to make such  decisions. 
Secondly, the government has relaxed standards for victim 
cooperation: The new language seems to permit victim 
cooperation that falls somewhat short of actually testifying 
at trial without jeopardizing their access to the program's 
protections and benefits. 
 
For the first 10 months of the year, 14 victims were included 
in the program, which is the same number as compared to the 
whole of last year. 
 
Victims who prefer not to become involved in investigations 
are still adequately provided for, receiving medical and 
psychological services, and are given a paid ticket home by 
IOM.  Once they arrive in their country of origin, they are 
met by a social worker who accompanies them back to their 
families. 
 
The government has also increased its support for NGOs that 
provide care for trafficking victims. 
Graber