P 200539Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY MBABANE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3640
INFO AMEMBASSY PRETORIA

UNCLAS MBABANE 000197 
 
 
DEPT FOR AF/S (MHarris), G-ACBlank, and G/TIP 
PRETORIA PLEASE PASS TO USAID (LReed) AND DAO (KLangdorf) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KTIP KCRM KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG WZ
SUBJECT: SWAZILAND TIER 3 TIP REASSESSMENT 
 
REF: A) STATE 070787      B) STATE 081476 
 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY: The government of the Kingdom of Swaziland (GKOS) has 
made significant and substantial progress in addressing human 
trafficking since the 2009 TIP report was published 90 days ago.  It 
has moved forward on all of the items recommended in Swaziland's 
Tier 3 Action Plan.  Swazi officials publicly recognized human 
trafficking as a problem, drafted and submitted an Anti-trafficking 
bill to the parliament, created a multi-sectored Anti-trafficking 
Task Force that is developing a national strategy on TIP, and began 
outreach efforts to educate the populace on the bill and the TIP 
issue.  Once the legislation is passed, it will be important to work 
with the GKOS to ensure that authorities implement the measures 
proposed to prevent, protect and prosecute.   END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  Since the 2009 TIP report was published in June, the GKOS has 
moved forward on all of the items recommended in Swaziland's Tier 3 
Action Plan.  In contrast to the political environment surrounding 
this issue prior to and immediately after the 2009 report, Swazi 
officials, including Prime Minister (PM) Dlamini, have publicly 
recognized the human trafficking problem and have encouraged efforts 
to fight it.  To determine the nature and extent of the problem, 
local NGO Swaziland Action Plan Against Abuse (SWAGAA) was 
commissioned to report on TIP in Swaziland, and should complete its 
study within the next few months. 
 
¶3.  The GKOS also created a Task Force on Anti-trafficking and 
drafted a comprehensive Anti-trafficking and human smuggling bill, 
which is currently completing its mandatory thirty day public 
comment period prior to being voted on by the parliament.  The Prime 
Minister has made a personal appeal for its passage, which is 
generally accepted as a mandate.  Although some shortcomings in the 
bill have been identified through widely attended public 
discussions, amendments can be made.  The PM feels it is important 
to utilize the momentum created by the Tier 3 ranking to get the 
bill passed and signed by King Mswati III, so implementation and 
subsequent refinement can begin. 
 
¶4.  Public education on the bill's contents has begun, with the 
first government-sponsored outreach occurring August 18.  Numerous 
media interviews on the subject have already been conducted with the 
PM and Task Force members.  The Anti-trafficking Task Force, made up 
of members from multiple government and law enforcement agencies, 
UNICEF and UNDP, and NGOs focused on assisting women, children, 
victims of abuse, and other vulnerable populations, has been 
drafting a road map to inform a national strategy on TIP.  Members 
have confirmed that plans are being finalized for an 
anti-trafficking hotline that victims can use to get assistance and 
report occurrences of slavery. 
 
¶5.  More formal training by experienced law enforcement 
professionals, prosecutors, social workers, etc. will be important 
to successful implementation of the national strategy.  Post hopes 
that project proposals developed to meet these needs will find 
funding.  Embassy Mbabane will assist these efforts as much as 
possible with our small staff, and greatly appreciates the 
supportive visit by Ambassador CdeBaca and Mark Taylor.  We have 
just received the box of resource materials requested by the head of 
the Task Force, and are sure they will be helpful.  With our 
continued follow-up and the knowledge of the GKOS that legislation 
means nothing without implementation, Post believes that the next 
report will statistically demonstrate the progress made by the GKOS 
toward identification and prosecution of real perpetrators; 
identification of, protection and care for victims; and widespread 
public education that will help prevent future cases of human 
trafficking in Swaziland.  Please let us know if additional 
information would be helpful. 
 
 
MORRISON