VZCZCXRO9334
OO RUEHTRO
DE RUEHTRO #0911 3201552
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 161552Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5473
INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 0970
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 0914
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 1524
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS PRIORITY 0853
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 6022

UNCLAS TRIPOLI 000911 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, NEA/RA, AND G/TIP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KTIP KCRM KWMN PHUM PGOV PREL SMIG LY
SUBJECT: LIBYA: INTERIM TIP ASSESSMENT 
 
REF: STATE 112489 
 
¶1. (SBU) According to international organizations working in 
Libya on TIP-related programs, Libya is primarily a transit 
country for TIP victims.  Libya currently has no legal or 
regulatory framework to separate victims of trafficking from the 
general migrant population.  However, the GOL has taken steps, 
largely through its work with international organizations, to 
review the current law to include provisions specifically 
related to criminalizing all forms of trafficking.  A joint 
program recently conducted by the International Organization for 
Migration (IOM) and the Libyan Ministry of Justice (MOJ) 
included an assessment of the current Libyan legal framework as 
it relates to irregular migration and TIP in particular.  At the 
end of the program in October 2009, the Libyan participants -- a 
collection of 60 judges and prosecutors -- produced 
recommendations to amend national legislation in order to 
strengthen prosecution sanctions for traffickers and smugglers, 
as well as to include protection and assistance measures for 
both trafficked victims and smuggled migrants.  The IOM, pending 
renewed assistance from the Libyan, US, and EU governments, 
plans to continue its cooperation with the MOJ, with the goal of 
supporting the actual implementation of a new article in the 
Libyan criminal code. 
 
¶2. (SBU) During the last year, the GOL has made significant 
advances in its efforts to combat TIP, to punish human 
traffickers and smugglers, and to address the needs of TIP 
victims.  The Ministries of Justice and Internal Security have 
made concerted efforts to respond to and prosecute human 
traffickers, drawing on elements of Libya's existing criminal 
code.  International organizations note that the GOL views TIP 
largely as a security issue and has focused on prosecuting 
traffickers rather than responding to victims.  Libya has 
expanded its support for TIP-related training and 
awareness-building programs for law enforcement officials, 
judges, and prosecutors.  During the year, in cooperation with 
the IOM, the Libyan Ministry of Justice supported the training 
of judges and prosecutors from throughout Libya for the purpose 
of raising awareness on the main features and characteristics of 
TIP as a phenomenon distinct from other forms of migration. 
International organizations report that individual officials are 
receptive and eager for new information and training, but that 
Libya lacks an institutional or cultural awareness of 
trafficking.  The IOM cooperation is designed to build capacity 
within the Libyan Ministries of Justice and Interior and to 
encourage better communication between those two bodies in order 
to improve the GOL's ability to respond to TIP. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The GOL has also supported the cooperative work of 
international organizations with quasi-governmental 
organizations, such as the World Islamic Call Society (WICS), to 
provide religious counsel, and medical, legal and psychological 
support to victims of trafficking.  The GOL continues to allow 
outside groups (international and quasi-governmental 
associations) to provide targeted assistance for migrants -- 
including victims of trafficking -- held in detention.  GOL 
officials allow international organizations to have informal 
access to victims of trafficking held in detention on a 
case-by-case basis, and to provide some protective services to 
those individuals. 
 
¶4. (SBU) GOL officials have expressed support for 
awareness-raising programs through the media and 
quasi-governmental organizations.  The programs would be 
designed to enlighten the migrant population about the risks 
linked to irregular migration and underline the inhumane means 
and methods of criminal organizations involved in this activity. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Continued training is necessary to ensure that both 
effective and systematic identification procedures of TIP 
victims are developed and that protective services can be 
offered on a regular basis.  Individual Libyan officials and 
members of Libyan quasi-governmental organizations have 
expressed interest in receiving more TIP-related training.  The 
GOL has been supportive of US and EU assistance on such programs 
and has indicated a willingness to continue its active 
engagement in this area. 
 
CRETZ