VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDJ #1367/01 3371300
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031300Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1078
INFO RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 001367 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E, G/TIP, AND AF/RSA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KTIP KCRM SMIG PHUM KWMN DJ
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: 2009 TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT 
 
REF: 09 STATE 112432; 09 DJIBOUTI 1303; 09 DJIBOUTI 1053 
09 DJIBOUTI 1155; 09 DJIBOUTI 327 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY.  Djibouti has made important recent progress in 
recognizing and combating trafficking in persons (TIP).  The GODJ 
took several key steps in 2009 to address TIP, including inviting 
the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to set up a 
Djibouti office, and working with IOM on an awareness campaign to 
discourage irregular migration and warn potential travelers of the 
risks of becoming a victim of TIP (refs B-D). Djibouti has 
consistently sought greater collaboration with its regional 
neighbors on TIP and migration issues, and the GODJ recently 
highlighted TIP issues during high-level bilateral talks with 
Ethiopia.  The GODJ has welcomed a planned G/TIP-funded legal 
advisor to work with the Ministry of Justice on TIP prosecutions, 
and has consistently requested additional partnerships to combat 
TIP.  Senior GODJ officials have recognized that TIP is an 
important challenge, and are increasingly looking both to domestic 
resources and to international partners for strategies and 
resources to combat it.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
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SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKING OFFENDERS 
 
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¶2. (SBU) REF A QUESTION A: The GODJ continues to actively pursue 
and prosecute migrant smugglers and traffickers.  GODJ justice 
officials (ref B) report that in the past two years, the GODJ has 
seized approximately 16 watercraft and 50 vehicles used by 
smugglers.  According to police statistics published in June 2009, 
148 such offenders were transferred to the judicial system, and 130 
were eventually sentenced to prison terms.   Senior GODJ officials 
from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Justice have 
warmly welcomed a planned G/TIP funded program that would provide a 
U.S. Department of Justice Office of Prosecutorial Development, 
Assistance, and Training (OPDAT) Intermittent Legal Advisor to work 
with the Ministry of Justice and other key officials on TIP 
prosecutions.  (COMMENT.  GODJ officials have increasingly 
demonstrated a nuanced understanding of the differences between TIP 
and migrant smuggling.  Djibouti is facing large flows of voluntary 
economic migrants, and GODJ officials continue to underscore the 
importance of properly prosecuting both smugglers and traffickers. 
The OPDAT program may well boost the GODJ 's ability to effectively 
identify, differentiate, and prosecute both of these groups.  END 
COMMENT.) 
 
 
 
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NATIONWIDE ANTI-TRAFFICKING CAMPAIGN 
 
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¶3. (SBU) REF A QUESTION B: At the GODJ's invitation, IOM 
established a Djibouti office on May 13, in office space provided 
by the GODJ in the Ministry of Labor.  The GODJ has worked 
effectively with IOM on an information campaign to discourage 
irregular migration, and to warn potential migrants of the danger 
of becoming a TIP victim.  Several IOM-GODJ billboards have been 
put up at key locations throughout the country, such as the 
northern town of Obock (where many migrants depart for Yemen and 
the labor markets of the Gulf), and a central roundabout at a 
Djibouti-Ethiopia trucking corridor junction outside of Djibouti 
City.  The billboards use easy-to-understand visual imagery, as 
well as short messages in several languages, to educate potential 
migrants. 
 
 
 
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TRAINING ON ANTI-TRAFFICKING LAW 
 
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¶4. (SBU) REF A QUESTION C:  GODJ officials at all levels continue 
to demonstrate greater familiarity with TIP issues and with 
Djibouti's 2007 comprehensive anti-trafficking law.  In June 2009, 
Djiboutian officials participated in a three-day, IOM-sponsored 
workshop on the essentials of migration management, which included 
training elements on TIP.  GODJ officials have welcomed the planned 
G/TIP-funded OPDAT program, which will include significant training 
elements for judges, prosecutors, and other GODJ officials. 
 
 
 
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MECHANISMS FOR INCREASED PROTECTIVE SERVICES 
 
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¶5. (SBU) REF A QUESTION D: Djibouti hosts very few international 
NGOs, and many local NGOs have very limited capacity to implement 
large-scale programming.  There are also very few NGOs working in 
trafficking-related fields.  The GODJ continues to work with UNICEF 
and other partners on a program to assist orphans and vulnerable 
children (who may be more vulnerable to TIP or other forms of 
exploitation); a pilot phase of this program assisted 700 OVCs. 
The GODJ also supports orphan-sponsorship programs through the 
state-affiliated Islamic charity foundation Diwan al-Zakat. 
 
 
 
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COMMENT 
 
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¶6. (SBU) Djiboutian officials continue to show an increased 
understanding of TIP, and increased political will to combat and 
prevent it.  GODJ officials routinely acknowledge that much remains 
to be done to fight TIP, especially in areas such as victim 
protection.  However, they have welcomed current modest USG 
assistance to address TIP issues, and have requested additional 
support to fully implement the letter and spirit of the 2007 
anti-trafficking law.  END COMMENT. 
SWAN