VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLM #0153/01 0421012
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111012Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7682
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1838

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000153 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, SCA/RA AND G/TIP (FARAJ) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC ELAB PHUM PREL SMIG KCRM CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS PROPOSALS FOR 
G/TIP-MANAGED FY 2008 ESF AND INCLE FUNDS 
 
REF: 07 STATE 161503 
 
¶1. Post, following G/TIP instructions in reftel, solicited 
anti-trafficking project proposals from local and regional 
organizations and received three proposals. The International 
Organization for Migration (IOM) proposal includes improving 
the GSL's capacity to prosecute trafficking crimes and to 
identify and protect victims.  The International Labor 
Organization (ILO) proposal focuses on improving recruitment 
practices and building GSL capacity to protect labor rights. 
 The Lawyers for Human Rights and Development (LHRD) proposal 
involves law enforcement training and legal support to 
victims.   Summary information for the proposals follows 
below.  Full proposals will be forwarded by email to the 
G/TIP Programs Section point of contact for NEA and SCA. 
 
¶2.  Post thinks Proposal 1 would best address Sri Lanka's TIP 
needs.  It tracks closely with G/TIP's Action Plan for Sri 
Lanka and would complement the work IOM is currently doing on 
TIP with USAID and Department funds.  The proposal focuses on 
building the capacity of law enforcement and service 
providers to help identify victims and link them with 
appropriate services.  It also would assist legislative 
authorities in amending national trafficking legislation to 
more effectively prosecute traffickers.  Proposal 2's 
suggestions for combating unethical recruitment are also 
worthwhile.  However, the proposed work on regulations and 
human rights for migrant laborers does not directly address 
trafficking in persons.  The training component of Proposal 3 
overlaps significantly with the training component of a 
USAID-funded project that is currently underway.  Moreover, 
Proposal 3 is nearly identical to LHRD's proposal from last 
year, which is currently being considered for funding. 
 
¶3.  PROPOSAL 1: 
 
a. Applicant: International Organization for Migration 
b. Funding Amount: $199,996 
c. Title: Counter-Trafficking in Persons in Sri Lanka: 
Strengthening Prosecution and Victim Protection, Phase II 
d. Duration: 1.5 years 
e. Abstract: This 18-month project aims to enhance the 
effectiveness of anti-trafficking activities to raise Sri 
Lanka above its Tier 2 Watch List position. While the 
Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) has increased anti-TiP efforts, 
further action is needed, in particular to address 
involuntary servitude and revictimization of victims of 
trafficking (VoTs), particularly those detained for 
prostitution or related charges. The return to war following 
the collapse of the CeaseFire Agreement increases the 
likelihood of Sri Lankans attempting to leave the country 
irregularly. 
 
While counting on the GSL to lead a multi-agency approach, 
IOM will provide technical assistance to prevent labor 
recruiters from enticing workers into involuntary servitude, 
to make use of improved data sources, and to develop national 
strategy based on policy being developed. 
 
The project will improve the capacity of law enforcement to 
prosecute trafficking crimes and to identify VoT's and link 
them to appropriate services; as well as to assist 
legislative authorities to amend legislation to more 
effectively prosecute traffickers and protect victims. IOM 
will also provide hands-on technical support to the GoSL 
anti-trafficking focal point to build capacity on the job and 
to ensure appropriate case follow-up. 
 
To enhance victim protection, the project will establish a 
formal GoSL-led procedure to systematically identify VoTs 
among vulnerable groups, including foreigners detained for 
visa overstays and women arrested for prostitution and 
related charges, and to ensure that they are not punished but 
are referred to appropriate authorities and services for 
necessary assistance. 
 
 
¶4.  PROPOSAL 2: 
 
a. Applicant: International Labour Organization 
b. Funding Amount: $499,338 
c. Title: Prevention of Trafficking In Persons Through 
Improvement Management of Labour Migration 
d. Duration: 3-4 years 
e. Abstract: Despite the Government of Sri Lanka's efforts to 
protect their migrant workers, there is a need to reinforce 
these protection measures as large numbers of migrant workers 
still experience violations of their labour rights in the 
form of psychological and physical harassment, isolation, 
non-payment of agreed wages, debt bondage to placement 
 
agencies and involuntary servitude. Irregular, undocumented 
migration for domestic work is another key area of concern to 
the GSL as this renders these workers vulnerable to being 
trafficked into exploitative labour including commercial sex. 
This proposal stems from consultations, held with the 
Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion, Ministry of Labour 
Relations and Manpower (MOLRM), the Association of employment 
agencies and other concerned organizations in Sri Lanka such 
as the 10M and the ILO, and has been consolidated as support 
to a national response to the 2007 TIP report. A 
comprehensive response spanning a 4 year period with a budget 
of US$ 1.93 was developed and this proposal addresses 
components within the programme which ILO is in a strong 
position to support. Thus, this proposal spans a three-year 
period cost at US$ 500,000 to achieve the following priority 
objectives: 
  - to advocate for regulation of migrant domestic work 
through ethical recruitment processes and impose sanctions 
against trafficking and forced labour. 
  - to build the capacity of governments, law enforcement 
officials, the judiciary and civil society organizations to 
enforce human and labour rights of migrant workers particular 
in domestic work. 
 
The expected outcomes of the project are: 
  - a reduction in irregular recruitment practices and 
undocumented migration for domestic work & an increase in the 
number of prosecutions against traffickers and deceitful 
labour recruiters. 
  - agreements with key receiving countries on enforceable 
employment contracts for migrant domestic workers. 
  - increased organization and bargaining power of overseas 
migrant workers. 
 
¶5.  PROPOSAL 3: 
 
a. Applicant: Lawyers for Human Rights and Development 
b. Funding Amount: $122,205 
c. Title: Combating Trafficking in Persons by Strengthening 
Law Enforcement, Monitoring Prosecutions, Improving Data 
Collection and Legal Support to Victims 
d. Duration: 2 years 
e. Abstract:  Though Sri Lanka is both a source and 
destination for trafficking in persons (TIP) for sexual 
exploitation and domestic labor, with internal and external 
trafficking in men, women and children, the law enforcement 
authorities do not consider it as a serious problem. 
Trafficking legislation is rather new and complicated. Most 
police officers have no clear idea as to trafficking in 
persons and no clear understanding of the law and procedure 
relating to it. TIP is a problem affecting the entire 
country. Officers in all police stations require training in 
TIP. They all can be reached only through a centralized 
training of trainers program conducted district-wide. 
Immigration, Labor and FEB officers also need this training. 
It should be a comprehensive and action-oriented training, 
strengthened with a comprehensive training manual enabling 
trainers to identify and distinguish trafficking from other 
related offences. Effectiveness of training can be measured 
by monitoring investigations and prosecutions conducted by 
trainees. Legal support service to victims of trafficking, 
enabling them to prosecute their cases to the conclusion, is 
an urgent need. 
BLAKE