VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNM #0610/01 2320553
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 200553Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5269

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000610 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, G - A C Blank, G/TIP, AND DRL/EA 
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: KTIP KCRM KWMN PGOV PHUM SMIG NG
SUBJECT:  Niger:  TIP Tier 3 Reassessment 
 
REF:  State 81476 
 
¶1. This update provides Embassy Niamey's response to reftel para 4. 
 
¶2. The Government of Niger (GON) has not yet enacted legislation 
drafted in 2006 prohibiting human trafficking. Embassy Niamey, 
however, continues to prod the GON to do so.  Efforts to prosecute 
and punish trafficking offenders, particularly those guilty of 
slavery offenses, are weak in the absence of legislation prohibiting 
human trafficking.  There have been very few prosecutions and 
convictions of trafficking cases based on other provisions of the 
penal code. 
 
¶3. Appeals continue in the slavery case against Naroua, Hadizatou 
Mani's master.  On July 21, 2009, the tribunal of Birni N'Konni 
convicted and sentenced him to a two year suspended term, and 
ordered him to pay one million CFA ($2,000) in damages to Hadizatou 
and a fine of CFA 500,000 ($1,000) to the State of Niger.  On July 
25, 2009, Naroua complained that the sentence was excessive, and 
filed an appeal before the Court of Appeals of Niamey.  The same 
day, Nigerien human rights non-governmental organization (NGO) 
Timidria counter-appealed before the same court, claiming that the 
sentence against Naroua was not sufficiently stringent.  No date has 
been set for hearings. 
 
¶4. Efforts continue to rescue victims of traditional slavery 
practices.  Embassy Niamey inquired regarding NGO reports of 
Nigerien girls sold to Nigerian businessmen in Zaria, Nigeria.  NGOs 
reported that they had brought the issue to various Government of 
Niger (GON) ministries, including those of Justice; Women's 
Promotion and Children's Protection; and Interior, Public Security, 
and Decentralization, which promised to investigate.  To date, the 
pertinent ministers have not responded.  Embassy Niamey also 
received information that two women had been released by their 
"husbands" and that they had returned to their families in Niger and 
gotten married to men of their choice. 
 
¶5. Efforts to educate the public about the law criminalizing 
traditional slavery practices in Niger during the past several 
months have included the following: 
 
-- On April 3, 2009, ECOWAS ministers adopted a policy that would 
provide the region with a legal mechanism for protecting and 
assisting victims of trafficking.  The policy commits member states 
to providing victims of trafficking in persons (TIP) equitable 
access to assistance programs to facilitate their reintegration as 
functional members of society.  The policy's core areas include 
reception, identification, sheltering, health, counseling, family 
tracing, return/repatriation, integration, empowerment, follow-up, 
after care, and disengagement of victims; 
 
-- On April 27, 2009, Niger's Christian Workers Association 
organized a sensitization seminar on the working conditions of 
household helpers and restaurant service workers.  The seminar aimed 
to educate participants on their rights and on the prevention of 
risks that their work may involve; these included various forms of 
exploitation and trafficking; 
 
-- On June 10-12, 2009, on the occasion of the World Day Against 
Child Labor, the International Labor Organization International 
Program for the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO/IPEC) organized 
public events and a conference aimed at raising awareness on the 
issues Niger faces in combating the worst forms of child labor and 
child trafficking; 
 
-- On June 16, 2009, Niger's First Lady and the Minister of Women's 
Promotion and Children's Protection chaired a town hall meeting to 
sensitize the public on the occasion of the African Children's Day. 
Several cabinet members, diplomats, international organization 
representatives, NGOs, and the public attended the event.  The 
Minister of Women's Promotion and Children's Protection stressed the 
GON's commitment to implementing the relevant ILO conventions 
ratified by Niger, notably ILO Convention 182, in order to improve 
the situation of Niger's children.  The Minister called on the 
population to "massively" participate in all of the child protection 
sensitization sessions; she also urged the media to provide 
extensive coverage of the activities.  During the event, the 
Coalition of NGOs and Associations supporting Childhood in Niger 
(CONAFE-Niger) conducted public advocacy in which it welcomed 
"encouraging progress" in child protection; however, CONAFE-Niger 
"deplores the National Committee on Child Survival's lethargy and 
the lack of resources to facilitate its work...CONAFE-Niger is 
deeply concerned by the non-adoption of the Children's Code and the 
anti-trafficking law, and the inexistence of several legal 
provisions;" 
 
-- On June 25, 2009, Embassy officers visited three artisanal gold 
mines in Tillabery region, and noted that the GON and several NGOs 
have invested in both infrastructure and social programs to combat 
child labor and trafficking; and 
-- On July 28, 2009, the Nigerien Association for the Fight against 
Delinquency (ANTD), a local NGO working on child labor and 
trafficking, and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) 
organized a three-day workshop to sensitize marabouts (religious 
teachers) on the promotion of rights and the fight against 
children's forced and illegal migration.  Ambassador Allen opened 
the workshop, and reiterated USG and her strong personal support for 
efforts to combat child labor and trafficking. 
 
¶6. Comment:  Niger has very limited resources; since May GON 
officials at all levels have been distracted by the campaign for a 
referendum to adopt a new constitution.  In July, the GON issued a 
circular directing all government officials, international 
organizations, NGOs, and other donors to postpone seminars and other 
events until after the referendum.  The Ministry of Social Affairs 
and Labor's Human Rights Director, a key contact on TIP issues, 
received a new portfolio in June.  The GON appointed her replacement 
in mid-August.  End comment. 
 
ALLEN