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UNCLAS BOGOTA 000570 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR G/TIP, G-ACBLANK, WHA/PPC, INL, DRL, PRM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KTIP ELAB KCRM KFRD PGOV PHUM PREF SMIG KWMN
ASEC, CO 
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA'S NINTH ANNUAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN 
PERSONS (TIP) REPORT 
 
REF: SECSTATE 132759 
 
 
This report is sensitive but unclassified. Please handle 
accordingly. 
 
¶1. (SBU) Embassy point of contact on trafficking in persons 
is human rights officer Carolyn Cooley, phone number (57-1) 
315-2129, fax number (57-1) 315-2163.  Officer spent 50 hours 
preparing the report. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Responses below are to questions in paragraphs 23-27 
of reftel. 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
¶3. (SBU) During the reporting period, the Prosecutor 
General's office (Fiscalia) opened 159 new trafficking in 
persons investigations.  Fifteen cases resulted in 
convictions.  The GOC launched the Anti-Trafficking 
Operations Center (COAT) in June 2008 to track cases, 
coordinate investigations, and facilitate victims services. 
As a recognized international leader in anti-trafficking, the 
GOC hosted visiting international delegations that studied 
the COAT's best practices.  The GOC also participated in 
several international and bilateral conferences on 
anti-trafficking.  The GOC sponsored a successful public 
awareness campaign on trafficking prevention that increased 
utilization of the national anti-trafficking call center. 
The GOC's interagency Committee for the Fight against 
Trafficking in Persons initiated a program to engage local 
governments at the municipal and departmental levels in the 
fight against human trafficking. Ten departments issued 
anti-trafficking decrees.  End Summary. 
------------------------ 
COLOMBIA'S TIP SITUATION 
------------------------ 
23.A. (SBU) The following GOC ministries and institutions 
provide information on trafficking in persons:  the Ministry 
of Interior and Justice (MININT), the Prosecutor General's 
Office (Fiscalia), the Department of Administrative Security 
(DAS), the interagency Committee for the Fight against 
Trafficking in Persons (ICFTP), the Operational 
Anti-Trafficking Center (COAT), and the National 
Anti-Trafficking Call Center.  The International Organization 
for Migration (IOM) also maintains trafficking in persons 
data. 
(SBU) Despite advances in information sharing due to the 
inter-agency ICFTP, data remains incomplete for two reasons. 
First, gaps remain in coordinating 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.  Second, victims may never report their case of 
trafficking as a crime or feel comfortable passing their 
personal information to the GOC offices involved. 
(SBU) To further improve documentation of human trafficking, 
IOM and the Fiscalia are developing a database, the 
interagency Database Against Trafficking (RITRA), to track 
and monitor inter-agency statistics on traffickers and 
victims.  The RITRA will be administered by the Fiscalia and 
will contain data from the Fiscalia, DAS, Interpol, and the 
Colombian National Police (CNP).  Still, in 2008 there were 
problems with the migration of inter-agency data, which has 
slowed the launch of the database. 
 
23.B. (SBU)  Colombia is a significant source of trafficking 
victims -- primarily women, but also some children -- 
destined for sexual exploitation, according to both GOC and 
human rights organization reports.  COAT's figures indicate 
99 percent of all trafficking cases are women, with 82 
percent of all cases linked to sexual exploitation.  Some 
Colombian men are also trafficked for forced labor.  In the 
past, DAS, which has responsibilities similar to the FBI, 
estimated that between 45,000-50,000 Colombian women worked 
as prostitutes overseas, with 2-10 victims departing the 
country per day.  DAS and human rights groups consider these 
numbers impossible to verify. 
(SBU) IOM reported no cases of internal trafficking in 2008, 
whereas in the same time period the COAT investigated 19 
possible cases of internal trafficking.  The cases were 
predominately for sexual exploitation (63 percent), 
predominately women (63 percent), and predominately adults 
(68 percent).  Two cases involved members of indigenous 
groups.  Some human rights groups reported that internal 
trafficking is worse in areas where terrorist and criminal 
groups are active. 
(SBU) Post has received some unconfirmed reports that human 
traffickers use Colombia as a transit country for victims 
from Ecuador, as well as other Andean countries.  The COAT 
investigated four specific cases dealing with victims in 
transit from China. 
(SBU) In 2008, the COAT and the national anti-trafficking 
call center addressed cases of trafficking destined for (or 
returning from) Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Singapore, Trinidad 
and Tobago, Argentina, Guatemala, Germany, Hong Kong, Costa 
Rica, El Salvador, Philippines, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Japan, 
the United States, and Bolivia.  IOM assisted 27 individuals 
in 2008, 26 of whom were women.  IOM recorded the following 
countries of destination:  Ecuador, Hong Kong, Argentina, 
Trinidad and Tobago, Philippines, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, 
Curacao, and Dominican Republic.  In 2008, no cases were 
reported for the following countries, which have been noted 
as destination countries in the past:  Spain, Italy, 
Portugal, the Netherlands, Thailand, Vietnam, Peru, Iran, 
Jordan and Aruba. 
(SBU) The internal armed conflict in Colombia has impacted 
trafficking because it produces internally displaced persons, 
who are more vulnerable to exploitation.  Human rights groups 
also report that children have been forcibly recruited into 
terrorist or illegal groups. 
23.C. (SBU) The majority of Colombia's victims are trafficked 
into sexual exploitation, but the COAT also reported 
individual cases of exploitation for begging, servile 
marriage, child pornography, and servitude in 2008. 
23.D. (SBU)  Based on data collected, women tend to be most 
vulnerable, especially women 18-30 years old.  Groups most at 
risk of being trafficked were displaced people, women in 
rural areas, and people whose relatives were members of 
criminal organizations.  Post has received reports that 
criminals in debt to their organizations will offer to 
introduce traffickers to family members to facilitate 
recruitment.  Children are also vulnerable; 15 percent of the 
cases investigated by the COAT in 2008 were for minors, 
mostly girls. 
23.E. (SBU) According to the IOM, recruiters are often 
friends or even family members of the victims.  IOM reports 
Colombia has had one family-based crime group, which operated 
between Colombia and Asia, but the majority of trafficking 
organizations are large, organized crime syndicates. 
Recruiters typically offer job opportunities abroad where the 
victim is assured large income in a short time.  The internet 
 
is also being used to recruit victims.  IOM has information 
that travel agencies, both legal and illegal operations, 
sometimes serve as a front for trafficking recruiters; 
however, in general, recruitment takes place via a personal 
connection or the internet. 
(SBU) Typically victims use legal documents to travel. 
Still, in some specific cases reported to the national 
anti-trafficking call center, it appears some victims use 
false personal documents. 
-------------------- 
GOC ANTI-TIP EFFORTS 
-------------------- 
 
24.A. (SBU)  The GOC acknowledges that human trafficking is a 
problem in Colombia and continues to develop laws and 
strategies to confront the issue.  As part of its efforts, 
Colombia set up the ICFTP, a comprehensive inter-agency 
program to coordinate the fight with international 
organizations and human rights groups. 
 
(SBU) The ICFTP opened the Operational Anti-Trafficking 
Center (COAT) on June 27, 2008.  The COAT's primary goals are 
to reduce the number of persons trafficked, to improve 
protection of victims' rights, and to dismantle criminal 
trafficking networks.  During the reporting period the COAT 
coordinated 58 cases -- ensuring criminal investigation into 
the cases as well as the provision of victims' services.  The 
COAT is regarded as a model program for the region.  During 
the rating period, commissions from Chile, Mexico, and Sweden 
visited the center to review how other regional 
anti-trafficking efforts might adopt best practices from the 
project. 
 
(SBU) As a recognized international leader in 
anti-trafficking efforts, the GOC was asked to participate in 
a Global Forum on Anti-Trafficking efforts in Vienna. 
Interior Vice Minister Maria Isabel Neito Jaramillo spoke on 
"Transnational Human Trafficking in Colombia and the Fight 
against Criminal Networks."  Her talk focused on Colombia's 
political will to combat trafficking, the lessons learned in 
targeting criminal networks, and the importance of 
interagency cooperation.  During the rating period, Colombia 
also participated in other anti-trafficking conferences, 
including bilateral conferences with Brazil, Spain, and 
Mexico, and an international seminar on cyber-crimes against 
minors held in Mexico. 
 
(SBU) To enhance prevention efforts, the ICFTP worked to 
encourage more active anti-trafficking efforts at the 
departmental or municipal levels.  Ten departments have 
implemented anti-trafficking work plans by decree; seven 
within the reporting period.  The departments will work with 
the local representatives of ICFTP member ministries to 
ensure effective prevention, investigation, and to make sure 
victims' services are available at the local level. 
 
24.B. (SBU) The Government has six entities that work to 
combat trafficking and to 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, which was established informally in 2003 and formally 
 
launched in 2005:  MININT, MFA, Ministry of Social Protection 
(MSP), Ministry of Education, DAS, the CNP, the Fiscalia, the 
Inspector General's Office (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 
(UIAF). 
 
24.C. (SBU) In 2008, the GOC spent approximately $150,000 to 
launch the COAT.  Despite progress, the GOC's efforts 
continue to be hampered by limited resources, inadequate 
victims' awareness, and lack of clarity among ministries as 
to their role in the GOC's anti-trafficking efforts.  The 
COAT hosts inter-agency meetings at least monthly to clarify 
different ministries' roles.  It is also drafting a decree 
that will codify each ministry's anti-trafficking and 
victims' services responsibilities.  Both IOM and the ICFTP 
reported that the coordination of victims' assistance 
improved after the COAT was launched in June 2008.  For 
example, on December 18 the GOC received notice from Ecuador 
that it would be repatriating eight trafficking victims in a 
few hours.  The COAT coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs, the Department of Narino, and IOM to provide 
immediate, appropriate assistance to the victims. 
 
(SBU) The GOC gives limited assistance to victims through 
shelters, the MININT, the ICBF and the MSP.  It also relies 
heavily on human rights and international organizations to 
help victims.  Still, IOM and the ICFTP report that most 
victims only want assistance in returning to their homes. 
Only 12 of the 57 victims the COAT worked with in 2008 
utilized the free victims services offered through a GOC-Hope 
Foundation agreement. 
 
(SBU) Some human rights organizations have reported in the 
past that corruption of government officials is 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.  IOM reported rumors 
during the reporting period of one government official who 
was fired for allegedly being part of a trafficking network. 
 
 
24.D. (SBU) The ICFTP, by law, must prepare reports to 
Congress.  It produces an annual report which evaluates the 
activities of each member ministry's anti-trafficking efforts 
and outlines current trafficking trends.  In 2008, it 
released a separate report on its work at the departmental 
level.  The national anti-trafficking call center releases a 
quarterly statistical report.  Other ministries (DAS, MININT 
and Humanitas) have produced reports in the past on their 
work to combat trafficking.  The ICFTP and IOM expect the new 
RITRA system to help in identifying trafficking trends. 
Other ministries and agencies who do not produce public 
reports, like the Fiscalia and DAS, regularly share their 
data with international organizations and Post. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
25.A (SBU) No new laws were enacted during the reporting 
period.  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 (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 ten 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 punishment of up to ten 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. 
 
-- Article 219 of the Colombian Criminal Code of 2000 
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. 
 
25.B. (SBU) Punishment of sex trafficking offenses is covered 
in 
paragraph 25.A. 
 
25.C. (SBU) Punishment of labor trafficking offenses is 
covered in 
paragraph 25.A. 
 
25.D. (SBU) In 2000, Law 599 (see paragraph. 25.A) made the 
punishments for trafficking for purposes of prostitution 
equivalent to those for rape and sexual assault. 
 
25.E. (SBU) The government actively investigates trafficking 
cases.  When information is passed regarding a possible case 
of trafficking in persons, it is analyzed according to 
investigation protocols 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.  Still, victims 
are frequently unwilling to bring their case to the justice 
system either out of fear or for lack of awareness that they 
suffered a crime.  Most trafficking cases never see 
prosecution or investigation due to victims failing to report 
the crime once they have escaped.  Of the 10,115 calls 
received by the national anti-trafficking call center, 6.7 
percent were directly related to trafficking.  Of these, 38 
were passed to the CNP to initiate investigations.  During 
the reporting period, the Fiscalia reported 159 new 
investigations (29 under the old legal system, and 130 under 
the new oral accusatory system).  There were 25 arrests and 
preventive detentions of individuals awaiting trial.  The 
Fiscalia reported 16 convictions during the reporting period 
for trafficking in persons crimes; sentences ranged from 4.5 
to 14 years with the average sentence being 7 years 10 
months.  Prosecutions were conducted under the laws described 
in 25.A. 
 
25.F. (SBU) The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), through 
an agreement with the MININT, provided training to public 
prosecutors on trafficking issues. 
 
25.G. (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 MFA, Fiscalia, and DAS worked with 
Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, United States, 
Philippines, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Singapore, 
Japan, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela on the 
investigation of trafficking or the return of a trafficked 
individual during the reporting period. 
 
25.H. (SBU) The GOC can extradite persons -- Colombian or 
foreign -- charged with trafficking in other countries. 
However, there were no extraditions for persons charged with 
trafficking in the reporting period, and nor were any 
extradition requests received. 
 
 
25.I.  (SBU)  Government officials neither facilitate nor 
condone trafficking in any official capacity. 
 
25.J. (SBU) The GOC investigates 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.  IOM reported rumors that a government official was 
suspected of working with a human trafficking ring and was 
fired during the reporting period.  No government officials 
have been prosecuted for involvement in trafficking or 
trafficking-related corruption. 
 
25.K. (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. 
 
25.L. (SBU) Colombian troops serve in the Multinational Force 
and Observers in the Sinai peninsula.  There were no reports 
of trafficking by any Colombian forces deployed abroad. 
 
25.M.  (SBU)  A new law that would provide for life 
imprisonment for convicted pedophiles is before Congress. 
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. 
 
------------------------------------ 
PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS 
------------------------------------ 
 
26.A. (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 international and local human rights 
organizations, such as IOM and the Hope Foundation, for most 
victims services. 
 
26.B. (SBU) The COAT opened in June 2008 and serves as a 
central repository of assistance information, 
anti-trafficking programming, and a call-center for 
trafficking assistance and prevention.  Through agreements 
with human rights organizations, the COAT will direct victims 
to appropriate victims' service centers.  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.  MININT maintains a 
close relationship with the Hope and Rebirth Foundations, 
because victims often prefer to approach a private 
organization rather than a government office.  Still, the GOC 
and IOM report that most victims only request assistance in 
returning to their homes; only 12 victims utilized the Hope 
Foundation's victims' services, which are offered to all 
victims identified by the GOC. 
 
26.C. (SBU) 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 GOC also signed an 
agreement to provide 40,000 USD from the national budget to 
provide emergency assistance to victims through partner human 
rights organizations. 
 
26.D. (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. 
 
26.E. (SBU) The Fiscalia provides protection and housing to 
witnesses (see paragraph 26.A). 
 
26.F. (SBU) The GOC does not detain or arrest victims. 
Identified victims are referred to the COAT to receive 
appropriate assistance from the member ministries and 
offices. 
 
26.G. (SBU) According to both the GOC and IOM, many victims, 
though referred to the appropriate authority for their case, 
did not formally report their cases to the GOC.  This made it 
difficult to assess the numbers of victims. 
 
(SBU) The national anti-trafficking call center, established 
by IOM, and handed over to the GOC in 2007, received 10,115 
calls during the reporting period, of which 675 (6.7 percent) 
were directly related to trafficking.  Many of those were 
calls requesting input on foreign job offers and were 
primarily preventive in nature.  Thirty-eight cases were 
referred to the CNP to initiate investigations. 
 
(SBU) The Defensoria developed an early warning alert system 
similar to those for displacement to focus on vulnerable 
areas for trafficking -- this project referred two cases to 
the COAT. 
 
(SBU) The COAT coordinated investigation and victims services 
for 58 cases of internal and external trafficking from its 
opening in June 2008 to December 2008.  Only 12 of the 58 
victims took advantage of the Hope Foundation's victims' 
services program.  IOM reports that victims frequently only 
request assistance returning home and do not wish to access 
additional victims' services. 
 
(SBU) IOM reported 27 victims in 2008. 
 
26.H. (SBU) The Government did not have a mechanism in place 
to screen for trafficking victims amongst legalized 
prostitution establishments. 
 
26.I. (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. 
 
26.J. (SBU) The GOC encourages victims to assist in the 
investigation and prosecution of trafficking.  According to 
the Fiscalia, no victims participated in investigations and 
prosecutions during the reporting period.  The right of 
victims to seek civil action against their traffickers is not 
impeded.  The COAT serves as a centralized access point to 
justice for victims.  Still, 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 human rights organizations have programs to help 
victims reintegrate into society. 
 
26.K. (SBU) UNODC, through an agreement with the Ministry of 
Interior and Justice, provided training to public prosecutors 
on trafficking issues.  In 2008, the MFA, UNODC, and IOM 
developed trafficking informational materials that outlined 
GOC responsibilities for Colombian embassies and consulates 
abroad.  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 an 
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.  The 
MFA assisted 22 trafficking victims abroad in 2008. 
 
26.L. (SBU) Please see paragraph 26.B. 
 
26.M. (SBU) The principal organizations that work with 
victims of trafficking are IOM, the Hope Foundation, and the 
Rebirth Foundation.  The level of cooperation received by the 
organizations from the GOC is excellent, with only minor 
operational difficulties on joint projects noted by some 
human rights organizations.  IOM and Hope Foundation have 
provided short-term assistance to trafficking victims, 
including repatriation assistance, educational information, 
social support, and counseling.  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 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, as well as long-term 
shelters which help to adapt children to the routines of 
living in a house with others.  Vocational skills, 
educational training, and therapy are also provided. 
 
---------- 
PREVENTION 
---------- 
 
27.A. (SBU) In mid 2008, the GOC launched an education 
campaign called "The Next Victim Could be You." The campaign 
included TV commercials, radio spots, and print ads featuring 
popular television personality Pirry.  Pirry also narrated a 
moving documentary on human trafficking that dramatically 
increased calls to the national anti-trafficking call center. 
 
 The campaign will continue in 2009.  The GOC, IOM, and some 
human rights organizations hosted anti-trafficking websites 
with public information on what services were available to 
victims of trafficking (including the sites 
www.tratadepersonas.gov.co).  In 2007 and 2008, the GOC 
conducted campaigns targeting the tourism industries in 23 
Colombian cities.  The campaigns provided information on 
commercial sexual exploitation and provided local resources 
for support. 
 
27.B. (SBU) Since Colombia is primarily a source or transit 
country, officials are more sensitized in detecting potential 
victims who are departing rather than arriving.  The Hope 
Foundation has continued to aggressively target airport 
officials and related travel companies to raise sensitivity 
about trafficking victims. In 2008, the UIAF launched a new 
methodology for tracking financial movements that can 
identify some human trafficking networks. 
 
27.C. (SBU) The mechanism for GOC coordination is the ICFTP. 
The MININT presides over the ICFTP.  Fourteen agencies are 
members: 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.  The ICFTP works closely 
with IOM and the Hope and Rebirth Foundations. 
 
27.D. (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 
paragraph. 27.C) developed the plan with participation of 
civil society and human rights organizations.  The ICFTP 
worked to integrate anti-trafficking issues into the National 
Plan of Development (2007-2010), including anti-trafficking 
language in the National Strategy Against the Prevention and 
Eradication of the Worst Forms of Child Labor, and is working 
at regional levels to include anti-trafficking issues in 
local development plans. 
 
27.E. (SBU) In 2007 and 2008, the GOC conducted targeted 
campaigns to the tourism industries in 23 Colombian cities. 
The campaigns provided information on commercial sexual 
exploitation and provided local resources for support. 
 
27.F.  (SBU)  The current maximum penalty for any crime in 
Colombia is 60 years.  A bill that would increase prison time 
for convicted pedophiles -- up to life imprisonment -- is 
currently before Congress.  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. 
 
27.G. (SBU) Not applicable to Colombia. 
 
BROWNFIELD