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Viewing cable 08BOGOTA940, COLOMBIA'S EIGHT ANNUAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08BOGOTA940 2008-03-10 22:12 2011-08-26 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Bogota
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #0940/01 0702212
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 102212Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1848
UNCLAS BOGOTA 000940 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM, WHA/PPC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA'S EIGHT ANNUAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN 
PERSONS (TIP) REPORT 
 
REF: SECSTATE 2731 
 
This report is sensitive but unclassified. Please handle 
accordingly. 
 
1. (U) Embassy point of contact on trafficking in persons is 
human rights officer Scott Fagan, phone number (57-1) 
383-2122, fax number (57-1) 315-2163.  Officer spent 48 hours 
preparing the report. 
 
2. (U) Responses below are to questions in paragraphs 27-30 
of reftel. 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
3. (SBU)  During the reporting period, Colombia's Prosecutor 
General opened 182 new investigations of trafficking in 
persons, up sharply from 49 last year, but prosecutions fell 
from 63 to 44.  Six cases resulted in convictions.  The 
Government of Colombia continued work on the Anti-Trafficking 
Operations Center (COAT) in 2007 to serve victims, and 
expects to open the center in spring 2008.  The GOC sponsored 
public campaigns on trafficking prevention and began 
implementing the National Integral Strategy for the Fight 
Against Trafficking in Persons.  End Summary. 
 
-------- 
Overview 
-------- 
 
27.A. (SBU) Colombia is a significant source of trafficking 
victims, primarily women and children destined for sexual 
exploitation, according to both Government of Colombia (GOC) 
and non-governmental organization (NGO) reports.  Some 
Colombian men are trafficked for forced labor. Post has 
received some unconfirmed reports that human traffickers use 
Colombia as a transit country for victims from Ecuador, 
possibly other Andean countries, and in some instances China. 
Specific cases dealing with victims in transit from China are 
also reported. Most trafficking cases never see prosecution 
or investigation due to victims failing to report the crime 
once they have escaped. Traffickers recruit their Colombian 
victims primarily by offers of employment, study, or 
marriage, through personal contact and press advertisements. 
Post has received reports that criminals in debt to their 
organizations will occasionally offer to introduce 
traffickers to family members to facilitate recruitment. 
Colombian victims are trafficked to Japan, Spain, Ecuador, 
Panama, Hong Kong, Germany, Argentina, Italy, Portugal, the 
Netherlands, Venezuela, the United States, China, the 
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Peru, 
Mexico, Iran, Jordan and Aruba, principally for the purposes 
of sexual exploitation, forced labor, and forced servitude 
(land or debt peonage, servile marriage).  Trafficking also 
occurs within Colombia's borders with some human rights 
groups reporting that it is worse in areas where terrorist 
and criminal groups are active. 
 
The Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia), the Department of 
Administrative Security (DAS), the Ministry of Interior and 
Justice (MININT), or the Supreme Council of the Judiciary 
(Consejo Superior de la Judicatura, or CSJ) provide 
information about trafficking in persons.  The GOC 
Inter-institutional Committee for the Fight against 
Trafficking in Persons (ICFTP), established informally in 
2003 and formally in 2005, has designed a database to track 
and monitor statistics on trafficking cases.  The database 
was stalled in early 2007 due to hardware and software 
problems, but the ICFTP worked with the International Office 
on Migration (IOM) to launch the Inter-Institutional Database 
Against Trafficking (RITRA).  The database, administered by 
the Fiscalia, allows the Colombian National Police (CNP), the 
Fiscalia, DAS, and the Inspector General's office 
(Procuraduria) to share information about traffickers and 
victims.  IOM and the ICFTP trained officials on the use of 
the database in regions identified as vulnerable to 
trafficking.  In the past, DAS, which has responsibilities 
similar to the FBI, had estimated between 45,000-50,000 
Colombian women worked as prostitutes overseas, some victims 
of trafficking, with an average of 2-10 victims departing the 
country per day.  Still, the DAS and human rights groups 
agree these numbers are impossible to verify.  Based on data 
collected, children and women tend to be most vulnerable, 
especially children between 12-17 years old and women 18-30 
years old.  Despite advances in information sharing due to 
RITRA, data remains incomplete for two reasons.  First, gaps 
remain in coordination on the tracking of cases. For example, 
an arrest made by the DAS for the crime of trafficking may be 
 
later prosecuted by the Fiscalia as organized crime because 
trafficking cannot be proven in a court. Secpnd, the GOC 
relies heavily on international organizations and NGOs to 
initiate contact with victims, who may never report their 
case of trafficking as a crime or feel comfortable passing 
all their information to the groups involved.  Groups most at 
risk of being trafficked were displaced people, women in 
rural areas, and people whose relatives were members of 
criminal organizations. 
 
27.B. (SBU) Colombia remains committed to fighting 
trafficking in persons, and has established a comprehensive 
inter-agency program to coordinate this fight with 
international and human rights groups.  In 2005, Colombia 
passed Law 985, which criminalized the act of transporting a 
person with the goal of exploitation, regardless of whether 
the victim had initially given consent to travel.  The law 
also adopted measures for prevention, protection and 
assistance to victims or potential victims; formally 
established the ICFTP; increased sentences for those 
convicted to between 13 and 23 years in prison and fines 
between 800 to 1,500 times the minimum salary; proposed a 
national strategy against trafficking in persons; 
strengthened units involved in investigating and prosecuting 
trafficking crimes; set up a national system of information 
on trafficking; and appropriated funds to combat trafficking. 
The internal armed conflict in Colombia has impacted 
trafficking because it creates displacement, making displaced 
persons more vulnerable.  Also, internal armed actors and 
criminal gangs are responsible for trafficking in arms, 
drugs, and people.  These actors use both physical and 
psychological threats to recruit trafficking victims.  While 
exact numbers are unknown, it is suspected that internally 
displaced people are the most likely victims of trafficking. 
According to UNHCHR, 74 percent of the displaced are women 
and children, who represent the majority of trafficking 
victims in Colombia. The government continued to develop an 
action plan for the protection of victims during the course 
of the year. The IOM and Colombian NGOs estimate that 
international organized crime networks are responsible for 
the bulk of transnational trafficking.  Other cases, such as 
for servile marriage, have been traced to internet dating 
services and family exploitation.  Internally, organized 
crime networks -- some related to foreign terrorist 
organizations (FTOs) -- traffic people for sexual 
exploitation or organized begging.  Human Rights NGOs 
estimate children have been forcibly recruited into terrorist 
or illegal groups, while the GOC estimates approximately 
25,000 are working as sex workers, some of whom are victims 
of trafficking.  Local criminal gangs traffic many displaced 
people for labor exploitation when they arrive at their new 
destinations.  The Hope Foundation estimates agencies for 
employment, travel, and tourism are often either knowingly or 
innocently facilitate the trafficking.  Some corrupt 
government officials are suspected to be involved in 
trafficking, especially in providing fraudulent travel 
documents. Still, no cases were brought to officials' 
attention in 2007.  It is suspected that the profits from 
trafficking either go to private individuals or to criminal 
networks. 
 
27.C. (SBU) The Government has six entities that work to 
combat trafficking and monitor prosecution, prevention and 
victim protection: the MININT which presides over the ICFTP; 
DAS, which houses the offices that monitor migration and 
coordinate with INTERPOL; the Unit to Combat Trafficking in 
Persons, Sexual Violence and Child Victims in the Fiscalia; 
the Grupo Humanitas inside the Judicial Police section of the 
CNP; the Family Welfare Institute (ICBF); and the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs (MFA).  Fourteen agencies are members of the 
ICFTP: MININT, MFA, Ministry of Social Protection (MSP), 
Ministry of Education, DAS, the CNP, the Fiscalia, the 
Procuraduria, the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman 
(Defensoria), Interpol, ICBF, the Presidential Advisor for 
Equality of Women, The Ministry of Defense organization 
FONDELIBERTAD, and the Special Administrative Unit for 
Information and Financial Analysis. 
 
27.D. (SBU) The GOC has increased its funding, but it remains 
hampered in its fight against trafficking by limited 
resources.  As a result, it relies heavily on NGOs and 
international organizations in the fight against trafficking. 
 Some NGOs have reported in the past that corruption of 
government officials was a problem -- for example, in some 
places it is not difficult to fraudulently obtain authentic 
documents to conceal a victim's identity for purpose of 
travel -- but none considered government corruption to be 
endemic. There were no specific corruption cases raised 
during the reporting period.  NGOs and international 
organizations have also worked to establish best practices 
 
within the ICFTP.  The GOC gives limited assistance to 
victims through shelters, the MININT, the ICBF and the MSP, 
but it does not have the funds to provide security to all 
victims through the Fiscalia's protection program. Hence, the 
Fiscalia often relies on NGOs to serve as the primary conduit 
for assistance.  The establishment of the COAT expects to 
increase the number of victims who wish to press charges by 
providing access to justice at the same location as victims 
assistance support. 
 
27.E. (SBU) Each GOC entity maintains its own statistics. 
Some offices (DAS, MININT and Humanitas) have produced 
reports in the past on their work to combat trafficking.  The 
ICFTP continues to work to implement the GOC policy to combat 
trafficking and make its findings on trends in trafficking 
known to the public as soon as results of data collected have 
been studied. The ICFTP and IOM expect the new RITRA system 
to help in identifying trends. The ICFTP, by law, must 
prepare reports for Congress. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
28.A. (SBU) Law 985, passed on August 26, 2005, is entitled 
"For which measures are adopted against trafficking in 
persons and norms for the attention and protections of 
victims of the same," and prohibits trafficking for any 
economic or other benefit, such as sexual exploitation, 
prostitution, work or other forced services, slavery or 
practices analogous to slavery, forced servitude, 
exploitation through mendicancy, servile marriage, the 
extraction of organs, sexual tourism, or any other form of 
exploitation.  The law prohibits internal and transnational 
trafficking.  The law covers the full scope of trafficking 
crimes and is being implemented.  Other laws still in effect 
that punish trafficking in persons include: 
 
-- Law 599 of 2000, which creates penalties for trafficking 
for purposes of prostitution equivalent to those for rape and 
sexual assault, carrying penalties of 6 to 8 years in prison 
and fines of up to 100 times the monthly minimum wage. 
 
--  Law 747 of July 2002, which broadens the definition of 
trafficking in persons and provides for prison sentences 
between 10 and 15 years and fines up to 1,000 times the 
monthly minimum wage.  According to this law, forcing someone 
into prostitution is punishable by 5 to 9 years in prison and 
a fine of up to 500 times the monthly minimum wage.  These 
penalties can be increased by up to one-half if the victim is 
under 14 years of age, if the criminal planned to take the 
victim out of the country, or if the criminal is a family 
member.  Penalties are also increased by one-third if the 
victim is under 18 years of age.  Child pornography in any 
form is also criminalized with punishments of up to 10 years 
in prison and a fine of up to 1,000 times the monthly minimum 
salary. These penalties increase by half if the minor is 12 
years or younger. 
 
-- Law 890 of 2004, which entered into force on January 1, 
2005, further increases the penalties from both Law 599 and 
Law 747 to 13 to 23 years in prison and fines of up to 1,500 
times the monthly minimum wage.  These penalties can increase 
by up to one-third if aggravated circumstances exist, such as 
if the victim is a minor (less than 18 years of age), the 
victim is mentally challenged, or if the trafficker is a 
family member or public servant.  If the victim is under 12 
years of age, the penalty increases by half.  Additional 
charges of illegal detention, violation of the right to work 
in dignified conditions, and violation of personal freedom 
can be charged. 
 
-- The Colombian Penal Code of 2000, article 219, which 
prohibits organizing or facilitating sexual tourism and 
provides penalties of three to eight years' imprisonment. 
 
Colombia has also ratified the following international 
instruments: 
 
-- The ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor, 
on January 15, 2005; 
 
-- ILO Convention Number 29, in 1969; 
 
-- ILO Convention 105, in 1963; 
 
-- The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of 
the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and 
Child Pornography, in November 2003; and 
 
-- The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking 
in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the 
UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, in 
August 2004. 
 
-- The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination 
of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, in 2006. 
 
28.B. (SBU) Penalties against traffickers are described in 
paragraph 29.A. 
 
28.C. (SBU) The Ministry of Social Protection works with 
UNICEF and the International Labor Organization to prevent 
child labor in the country.  The ICBF estimates that of the 
2.5 million children under 18 are working in Colombia, only 
20 percent of them work legally. Penalties against 
traffickers of labor exploitation are included in penalties 
in paragraph 29.A 
 
28.D. (SBU) In 2000, Law 599 (see para. 29.A) made the 
punishments for trafficking for purposes of prostitution 
equivalent to those for rape and sexual assault. 
 
28.E. (SBU) Prostitution by adults is not considered a crime 
in Colombia, but the activities of pimps and other enforcers 
are criminalized.  The legal minimum age for prostitution is 
18 years.  Prostitution is permitted in 
so-called "tolerance zones" in various cities.  In these 
areas, the Institute of Urban Development monitors 
establishments of prostitution.  The operation of 
prostitution establishments is monitored and operating 
without a license is severely punished. 
 
28.F. (SBU) During the reporting period, the ICFTP and the 
Fiscalia reported 182 new investigations (83 under the old 
legal system, and 99 under the new oral accusatory system). 
There were 44 arrests and preventive detentions of 
individuals under prosecution awaiting trial.  The Fiscalia 
reported 6 convictions during the reporting period for 
trafficking in persons crimes. Sentences in 3 of the cases 
ranged from 4 years to 12 years, and 3 individuals were 
awaiting sentencing at year's end. Forced labor and other 
forms of exploitation were prosecuted under the laws 
described in 29.A.  The government actively investigates 
trafficking cases.  When information is passed regarding a 
possible case of trafficking in persons, it is analyzed 
according to protocols of investigation under the direction 
and coordination of the Fiscalia.  The CNP, DAS, and 
INTERPOL, which have units dedicated to investigating 
trafficking in persons crimes, take the lead in such 
investigations. 
 
28.G. (SBU) The MFA and ICBF provide specialized training to 
MFA officials working overseas to help them recognize 
potential victims of trafficking and prepare a criminal 
report for authorities in Colombia.  The training does not 
include special sensitivity for child victims.  IOM trained 
285 officials on specific trafficking issues and provided 
awareness-raising training to 30 NGO groups. 
 
28.H. (SBU) The GOC cooperates with other governments in the 
investigation and prosecution of trafficking in persons.  The 
GOC cooperates with host country governments where it has 
embassies and when victims of trafficking are identified and 
request repatriation.  Fiscalia and DAS/INTERPOL offices work 
with their counterparts in other countries to conduct 
investigations.  The Fiscalia and DAS worked with Peru, Costa 
Rica, Panama, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, the 
Philippines, China, and Vietnam on the investigation of 
trafficking during the reporting period. 
 
28.I. (SBU) The GOC can extradite persons charged with 
trafficking in other countries.  The GOC can extradite its 
own nationals.  However, there were no extraditions for 
persons charged with trafficking in the period March 
2006-February 2007, and no requests for such extraditions, 
according to the MFA. 
 
28.J. (SBU) Government officials neither facilitate nor 
condone trafficking in any official capacity. 
 
28.K. (SBU) The GOC investigates all cases of corruption 
brought to its attention.  Neither the DAS nor the Fiscalia 
has received any information about the involvement, or 
possible involvement, of government officials in trafficking 
in persons. No government officials have been prosecuted for 
involvement in trafficking or trafficking-related corruption. 
IOM was also not aware of any involvement during the 
reporting period. 
 
28.L. (SBU) There were no reports of trafficking by any 
Colombian forces deployed abroad. 
 
28.M. (SBU) The Colombian Penal Code of 2000 prohibits 
organizing or facilitating sexual tourism and provides 
penalties of three to eight years' imprisonment.  The Penal 
Code does not have extraterritorial coverage.  The Penal Code 
does not differentiate between sexual tourism for the purpose 
of relations with children or adults.  During the reporting 
period, the Government did not investigate, prosecute, or 
deport/extradite any foreign pedophiles. 
 
------------------------------------ 
PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS 
------------------------------------ 
 
29.A. (SBU) Since Colombia is primarily a source and transit 
country, there is no demand for provision of temporary or 
permanent residency status or relief from deportation. 
 
29.B. (SBU) Colombia is not a destination country.  Colombia 
does not have specially-designated victim care or victim 
health care facilities.  Foreign victims have the same access 
to care as domestic victims.  In both domestic and 
international cases, MININT is responsible for providing safe 
passage for victims to return to their homes, lodging if 
needed, medical and psychological attention, access to 
financial and employment assistance, and information and 
legal support for the entire judicial process.  The ICBF 
provides legal, medical, and psychological services for child 
victims in Colombia, the majority of whom are trafficked 
internally.  MININT maintains a close relationship with The 
Hope Foundation and The Rebirth Foundation because victims 
often prefer to approach a private organization rather than a 
government office.  ICFTP is finalizing plans for the COAT, 
scheduled to open in Spring 2008, that will serve as a 
central repository of assistance information, 
anti-trafficking programming, and a call-center for 
trafficking assistance and prevention. 
 
29.C. (SBU)  The GOC has increased its funding to NGOs in 
excess of USD 50,000 to provide food, shelter, and clothing 
for victims under 18.  The GOC also maintains a close 
relationship with the IOM and NGOs like The Hope Foundation 
and provides them information on cases related to victims or 
potential victims of trafficking in persons domestically and 
abroad. 
 
29.D. (SBU) The national call center, established by IOM, and 
handed over to the GOC in 2007, received 11,306 calls during 
the reporting period.  According to both the GOC and IOM, 
many of the victims, though referred to the appropriate 
authority for their case, did not formally report their cases 
to the GOC, making assessing numbers of victims difficult. 
The Defensoria worked to develop an early warning alert 
system similar to those for displacement to focus on 
vulnerable areas for trafficking. The Fiscalia also formed a 
program entitled "Futuro Colombia" to work to identify and 
prevent future trafficking victims. 
 
29.E. (SBU) The Government did not have a mechanism in place 
to screen for trafficking victims amongst legalized 
prostitution establishments. 
 
29.F. (SBU) Victims rights are respected and victims are not 
detained or jailed.  Victims are not prosecuted or fined for 
violations of other laws, such as prostitution. 
 
29.G. (SBU) The GOC encourages victims to assist in the 
investigation and prosecution of trafficking.  The right of 
victims to seek civil action against their traffickers is not 
impeded.  The COAT, which will open in spring 2008, will 
serve as a centralized access point to justice for victims. 
However, many victims, fearing for their own safety or that 
of their families, are often reluctant to come forward. 
Colombia does not have a victim restitution program, but NGOs 
have programs to help victims reintegrate into society. 
 
29.H. (SBU) The government provides protection to victims and 
witnesses through the Fiscalia.  The program is activated 
when (a) a victim or witness files charges (i.e., they submit 
a complaint to a competent legal authority) against an 
alleged trafficker, and (b) after an investigation, the 
complaint is found to have enough merit to warrant the 
Fiscalia bringing criminal charges against the alleged 
trafficker.  The program includes provision of secure housing 
and an economic stipend for the victim or witness.  As 
agreement for participation in the program, the victim or 
witness must agree not to leave the housing where they have 
been placed.  The GOC does not provide shelter directly to 
 
trafficking victims, but it does help victims find housing. 
The GOC relies on NGOs, such as IOM and the Hope Foundation, 
for most victims services. 
 
29.I. (SBU)  Overseas, Colombian consulates are supposed to 
provide legal and social assistance to Colombian citizens in 
need, including victims of trafficking.  The GOC has 
contracted legal advisors and social workers to help support 
Colombians abroad.  However, this type of assistance can only 
be provided in consular districts with at least 10,000 
resident Colombians.  The assistance of the MFA and/or the 
Embassy begins the moment information is provided by a family 
member or friend in Colombia or the victim gets in touch with 
the Embassy.  The Embassy then coordinates with host 
government authorities to provide immediate protection. 
Please see paragraph 30.D. for NGO specialized training of 
GOC officials. 
 
29.J. (SBU) Please see paragraphs 28.G., 29.I. and 30.D. 
 
29.K. (SBU) The principal organizations that work with 
victims of trafficking are the IOM, The Hope Foundation, and 
The Rebirth Foundation.  The level of cooperation received by 
the organizations from the GOC is good in most respects, with 
occasional operational difficulties on joint projects noted 
by some NGOs.  The IOM and The Hope Foundation have provided 
short-term assistance to trafficking victims, including 
educational information, social support, and counseling.  The 
IOM also provided victims with job training and employment 
opportunities through various programs, and helped victims 
obtain medical and psychological care.  The Rebirth 
Foundation continues its work to contribute to the 
eradication of the sexual exploitation of children and 
adolescents.  Its current activities include outreach work, 
education, health care and activity-based workshops in a 
variety of areas, and long-term shelters which help to adapt 
children to the routines of living in a house with others and 
encourages social integration and friendship.  Vocational 
skills, educational training, and therapy are also provided. 
 
---------- 
PREVENTION 
---------- 
 
30.A. (SBU) The GOC acknowledges that trafficking is a 
problem in Colombia. 
 
30.B. (SBU) In 2007, the Government supported IOM public 
campaigns on trafficking prevention. The campaign advertised 
a national hot line to prevent trafficking and report 
violators, supported by IOM but turned over officially to the 
GOC during the year.  The MININT also launched a public 
information campaign entitled "The Fight Against Trafficking 
in Persons, the next victim could be you."  The GOC, IOM, as 
well as other NGOs and civil society organizations hosted 
anti-trafficking websites with public information on what 
services were available to victims of trafficking (including 
the sites www.tratadepersonas.gov.co).  The IOM, the UN 
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and several NGOs conducted 
informational campaigns to target potential victims and raise 
awareness.  For example, the IOM continued to place large 
posters in airports, bus stations, foreign consulates, and 
travel agencies as well as professionally producing public 
service announcements on radio and television. 
 
30.C. (SBU) The GOC maintains an open dialogue with NGOs, 
relevant organizations and 
elements of civil society on trafficking. Some NGOs and civil 
society organizations have requested more formal 
participation in the process, but the IOM and UNODC actively 
participate in policy dialogue. 
 
30.D. (SBU) The IOM continued to train Colombian passport 
officials and immigration officials from Colombia and foreign 
embassies to detect patterns of trafficking, with special 
emphasis on border areas in Ecuador and Panama.  Since 
Colombia is primarily a source or transit country, officials 
are more sensitized in detecting potential victims who are 
departing rather than arriving, though an increase in 
Ecuadorian laborers has been noted over the year.  The Hope 
Foundation in particular has continued to aggressively target 
airport officials and related travel companies to raise 
sensitivity about trafficking victims. 
 
30.E. (SBU) The mechanism for GOC coordination is the ICFTP. 
The MININT presides over the ICFTP.  The GOC does not have a 
public corruption task force, but there are internal affairs 
offices within the Fiscalia and the CNP. The Defensoria has 
the authority to conduct disciplinary investigations in every 
government entity. 
 
 
30.F. (SBU) Law 985 establishes the responsibility of the 
ICFTP to create a national action plan to address trafficking 
in persons.  The fourteen member agencies of the ICFTP (see 
para. 27.C) developed the plan with participation of civil 
society and NGOs.   The ICFTP worked to integrate 
anti-trafficking issues into the National Plan of Development 
(2007-2010) and included anti-trafficking language in the 
National Strategy Against the Prevention and Eradication of 
the Worst Forms of Child Labor.  Implementation of the 
National Integral Strategy for the Fight against Trafficking 
in Persons plan began in 2007. 
 
30.G. (SBU) There are no major campaigns underway against 
commercial sex acts.  The Colombian Congress is debating a 
law to further criminalize sexual exploitation of children 
with a focus on demand. 
 
30.H. (SBU) Not applicable to Colombia. 
 
30.I. (SBU) Not applicable to Colombia. 
Brownfield