VZCZCXRO9144
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSW #0111/01 0721810
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131810Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BERN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5712
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BERN 000111 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR G/TIP, INL, DRL, PRM, IWI, EUR/PGI, EUR/AGS 
DEPT PLEASE PASS USAID 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KCRM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREF ELAB LS
SUBJECT: TIP - LIECHTENSTEIN: ANNUAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN 
PERSONS REPORT 
 
REF:  A) 08 STATE 132759, B) STATE 5577 
 
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TABLE OF CONTENTS: 
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¶I.  THE COUNTRY'S TIP SITUATION 
II. SETTING THE SCENE FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-TIP EFFORTS 
III. INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS 
IV. PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS 
¶V. PREVENTION 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶I. THE COUNTRY'S TIP SITUATION 
 
(U) A.-B. Liechtenstein is neither a source nor a transit 
country for trafficking in Persons. Nevertheless the socio- 
economic situation of Liechtenstein makes it a potential 
destination country for the organized trafficking in human 
beings. No cases of trafficking have been detected in 
Liechtenstein so far. The Liechtenstein authorities are 
however aware of the potential problem and have taken steps to 
mitigate the risk. 
 
(U) C. N/A 
 
(U) D. The most vulnerable groups are the temporarily employed 
dancers in bars and clubs. They reside in Liechtenstein for a 
maximum of six months within a calendar year on the basis of a 
special short-stay permit. The government has issued a 
directive on the admission of foreign nightclub dancers, which 
contains detailed rules and requirements intended to protect 
the dancers. For instance, the dancers must receive 
appropriate accommodation and be paid at least the minimum 
salary applicable to the hotel and restaurant industry; in 
addition, they must have health and accident insurance, and 
take part in a project entitled, "AIDS Prevention in the Sex 
Industry (APIS)". As a further protective measure, such work 
permits are only granted if foreign dancers requiring a visa 
were employed in Switzerland immediately prior to the 
beginning of their employment in Liechtenstein. The directive 
also specifies a quota for the employment of dancers: Each 
month, a nightclub may employ a maximum of five dancers. The 
National Police and the Immigration and Passport Office 
regularly carry out inspections in the red-light milieu and 
verify the residence status, employment conditions, salary 
payments and lodging of the women. 
 
(U) E. N/A. 
 
II. SETTING THE SCENE FOR GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-TIP EFFORTS 
 
(U) A. See I. A-B. (above) 
 
(U) B. There are several government agencies, all of them 
represented in the Liechtenstein Round Table, which are 
involved in anti-trafficking efforts:  the National Police, 
Office of Migration, and Office of the Attorney General, the 
Office of Social Affairs, the Office of Economic Affairs, the 
Victims Assistance Center, the Office of Sexual Health 
Counseling, and the Office of Foreign Affairs.  The Head of 
the anti-crime division of the police chairs the Round Table, 
and therefore has the lead in LiechtensteinQs anti-trafficking 
efforts. 
 
(U) C.-D. Given the absence of known trafficking victims, the 
government does not currently assess a need for extra anti- 
trafficking efforts. 
 
III. INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS 
 
(U) A. Since March 2008, Liechtenstein has been a State party 
to the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime 
(Palermo Convention) and its protocols against the smuggling 
of migrants and to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in 
persons, especially women and children. The new definition of 
trafficking in persons in the Liechtenstein Criminal Code 
(Section 104a StGB) is in conformity with the definition in 
the protocol. Section 104a (Trafficking in Human Beings) of 
the Liechtenstein Penal Code makes the recruitment, 
harbouring, receipt, transportation, transfer or offering of a 
person for the purpose of exploitation subject to criminal 
punishment. Exploitation includes sexual exploitation, 
 
BERN 00000111  002 OF 003 
 
 
exploitation by illegal removal of organs, and forced labour. 
According to Section 54 of the Liechtenstein Penal Code, 
Section 104a applies to offenses committed in other countries 
Q irrespective of the penal laws of the State where the 
offenses were committed. 
 
(U) In the Liechtenstein penal code, there are further 
provisions that may be considered as closely related to 
trafficking in human beings. These are Sections 210 (Offering 
for Prostitution), 217 (Cross-Border Trade for the Purpose of 
Prostitution), 215 (Promotion of Prostitution) and 216 
(Procuring for Prostitution). In addition, there are penalties 
under Sections 200-218 of the penal code for punishable 
actions with regard to sexual self-determination and other 
sexually related offences. Other offenses that can be linked 
to trafficking in human beings and that are addressed by the 
penal code are: Sections 104 (Slave Trade), 83 (Criminal 
Assault), 107 (Threats to Life and Limb), 105 (Coercion), 106 
(Serious Coercion), 99 (Deprivation of Liberty), and 100 
(Abduction of a Vulnerable or Defenseless Person), and 278a 
(Criminal Organization). 
 
(U) B.-C. Trafficking in persons is punishable by a prison 
sentence of up to three years, or up to five years if the 
trafficker used or threatened to use violence. If the victim 
is a minor or the trafficker belongs to a criminal 
organization, uses excessive violence, or jeopardizes the life 
of the victim, the sentence may be up to 10 years. There were 
no arrests or prosecutions for trafficking offences during the 
year. 
 
(U) D. Rape, including rape in marriage and partnership, is a 
criminal offence, and the government effectively prosecuted 
those accused of such crimes. Rape in marriage and partnership 
has the same penalties as rape in general. The sentence may be 
reduced if the victim decides to remain with the abusive 
spouse. Sections 200 and 201 of the Liechtenstein Penal Code 
prescribe prison sentences up to 20 years for rape and up to 
10 years for forcible sexual assault. 
 
(U) E. No cases of trafficking or forced prostitution have been 
detected in Liechtenstein. 
 
(U) F. The government does not provide any specialized 
training for government officials. 
 
(SBU) G. In 2008, the Criminal Police provided assistance in 
response to two international inquiries of Interpol concerning 
human trafficking. In another case, which was related to human 
trafficking, the Criminal Police assisted the Swiss 
authorities. 
 
(U) H.-J.-I. N/A 
 
(U) K. Prostitution is illegal; however, police tolerate it in 
the country's few nightclubs, as long as it does not cause 
public offense. 
 
(U) L. N/A 
 
(U) M. There have not been any prosecutions and/or convictions 
relating to child sex tourism. 
 
IV. PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS 
 
(U) A.-B.-C.-D.-E.-F. Liechtenstein government agencies and 
NGOs formed a Round Table on Human Trafficking in 2006.  In 
2007, the Round Table prepared guidelines for the handling of 
potential cases of trafficking in human beings in 
Liechtenstein. The guidelines were adopted by the government 
in July 2007 and provide a reflection period of 30 days for 
victims. If the victim or the witness decides to cooperate 
with the authorities, a limited residence permit is granted 
for the time of the investigations and court procedures 
(Article 16b of the Ordinance concerning the Admission and the 
Residence of Foreigners). After completion of the 
investigations and court procedures, the victim is to be 
assisted in returning to her/his home country. In severe cases 
of hardship, a special short-stay or long-term permit may be 
granted (Article 15 of the Ordinance concerning the Admission 
and the Residence of Foreigners). Further assistance to 
victims is provided under the Victims Assistance Act. 
 
(U) The Victims Assistance Act (VAA) entered into force on 
 
BERN 00000111  003 OF 003 
 
 
April 1, 2008.   The VAA provides for counseling and financial 
assistance for victims and their families. A Victims 
Assistance Unit has been established. Its goal is to provide 
the necessary assistance in individual cases with respect to 
medical, psychological, social, material, and legal needs or, 
if it cannot provide such assistance itself, to find 
appropriate providers. Concepts are being developed for the 
practical implementation of counseling services, which will 
take into account the needs of victims of criminal offences. 
In the area of financial assistance, both comprehensive legal 
aid and rights of compensation are provided for. 
 
(U) On January 1, 2005, a partial revision of the Code of 
Criminal Procedure entered into force. The goal of this 
legislative amendment was to improve the legal standing and 
protection of victims in criminal proceedings, in particular, 
young victims and victims of sexual offenses. 
 
(U) G.-M. N/A 
 
¶V. PREVENTION 
 
(U) A. The Liechtenstein Round Table on Human Trafficking was 
established to improve cooperation among law enforcement 
authorities, migration authorities, and the Victims Assistance 
Unit. Its aim is to develop a common understanding of the 
phenomenon and to identify the responsibilities of the 
different authorities. The Round Table has developed a 
prevention project known as "Magdalena" to provide the dancers 
in the seven nightclubs in Liechtenstein with information on 
their legal situation with respect to labor, residence, 
social, and health rights. The dancers will be required to 
participate in an information session offered once a month. At 
these events, the dancers will have the opportunity to meet 
with competent officials and representatives of care 
institutions. The aim of the Magdalena project is to reduce 
the risk of exploitative working and living conditions for 
foreign dancers working in Liechtenstein, and to increase the 
chances of uncovering potential cases of human trafficking. 
The project will start in spring 2009. 
 
(U) During the 2008 European Football Championship, 
Liechtenstein joined Switzerland and Austria in supporting a 
NGO-led public awareness campaign against trafficking in women 
and forced prostitution.  The campaign was to raise awareness 
among the visitors to the tournament and the public of the 
extent and the consequences of trafficking in persons. 
 
(U) Liechtenstein is engaged in combating trafficking in women 
and violence against women internationally. It supported the 
project of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and 
Human Rights (ODIHR) in 2002 on preventing violence against 
women in the Caucasus. In 2004, Liechtenstein made a 
contribution to the OSCE pilot program on combating human 
trafficking in Ukraine. In 2005, it supported the OSCE project 
on combating violence against women for the purpose of 
preventing trafficking in women in Moldova. In 2006, it 
supported the Council of Europe project on combating human 
trafficking in Georgia. In 2007 Liechtenstein supported the 
OSCE project on preventing human trafficking and the sexual 
abuse of minors in tourism. In 2008, Liechtenstein made a 
further contribution to a project of the OSCE and of the 
Council of Europe on preventing and combating trafficking. 
 
(U) B. N/A 
 
(U) C.-D. See A. (above) 
 
(U) E. N/A 
 
(U) F. During the reporting period the government has not 
taken any special measures to counter the possible 
participation in international child sex tourism by nationals 
of the country. 
 
(U) G. N/A 
 
CARTER