

Currently released so far... 12478 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AU
ASEC
AE
AF
AORC
AEMR
AMGT
ABUD
AFFAIRS
APER
AS
AMED
AY
AG
AR
AJ
AL
AID
AM
AODE
ABLD
AMG
AFIN
ATRN
AGAO
AFU
AN
AA
ALOW
APECO
ADM
ARF
ASEAN
APEC
AMBASSADOR
AO
ASUP
AZ
AADP
ACOA
ANET
AMCHAMS
ACABQ
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APCS
AGMT
AINF
AIT
AORL
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
ADANA
ADPM
AX
ADCO
AECL
AMEX
ACAO
ASCH
AORG
AGR
AROC
ASIG
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
BL
BR
BO
BA
BD
BM
BK
BG
BU
BB
BH
BTIO
BY
BEXP
BP
BE
BRUSSELS
BF
BIDEN
BT
BX
BC
BILAT
BN
BBSR
BTIU
BWC
BMGT
CA
CASC
CVIS
CM
CH
CO
CU
CD
CWC
CI
CS
CY
CMGT
CF
CG
CR
CB
CV
CW
CE
CBW
CT
CPAS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CJAN
CODEL
CIDA
CDG
CDC
CIA
CTR
CNARC
CSW
CN
CONS
CLINTON
COE
CROS
CARICOM
CONDOLEEZZA
COUNTER
CL
COM
CICTE
CIS
CFED
COUNTRY
CJUS
CBSA
CEUDA
CLMT
CAC
COPUOS
CIC
CBE
CHR
CTM
CVR
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CACS
CAN
CITT
CARSON
CACM
CDB
CAPC
CKGR
CBC
EC
EG
EPET
ECON
ETRD
EFIN
EIND
EMIN
ENRG
EAID
EAGR
EUN
ETTC
EAIR
ENIV
ES
EU
EINV
ELAB
ECIN
EFIS
ELTN
EWWT
ECPS
ECONOMIC
ENGR
EN
EINT
EPA
ELN
ESA
EZ
ER
ET
EFTA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
EXTERNAL
EI
EUR
EK
ERNG
ENGY
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENERG
EINVEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELECTIONS
ETC
EUREM
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EURN
ECINECONCS
EEPET
EXIM
ERD
ENVI
ETRC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EAIG
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
EIAR
EXBS
ECUN
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINVETC
IZ
IT
IR
IS
IN
IC
IAEA
IO
ICAO
IWC
ID
IV
ISRAEL
IAHRC
IQ
ICTR
IMF
IRS
IDP
IGAD
ICRC
ICTY
IMO
IL
INRA
INRO
ICJ
ITU
IBRD
INMARSAT
IIP
ITALY
IEFIN
IACI
ILO
INTELSAT
ILC
ITRA
IDA
INRB
IRC
INTERPOL
IA
IPR
IRAQI
ISRAELI
INTERNAL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IBET
INR
IEA
IZPREL
IRAJ
ITF
IF
KDEM
KU
KPAL
KNNP
KCRM
KZ
KN
KS
KJUS
KTFN
KSCA
KV
KISL
KPAO
KPKO
KIRF
KTIA
KIPR
KFLO
KFRD
KTIP
KAWC
KSUM
KCOM
KAID
KE
KTDB
KMDR
KOMC
KWBG
KDRG
KVPR
KTEX
KGIC
KWMN
KSCI
KCOR
KACT
KDDG
KHLS
KSAF
KFLU
KSEO
KMRS
KSPR
KOLY
KSEP
KVIR
KGHG
KIRC
KUNR
KIFR
KCIP
KMCA
KMPI
KBCT
KHSA
KICC
KIDE
KCRS
KMFO
KRVC
KRGY
KR
KAWK
KG
KFIN
KHIV
KBIO
KOCI
KBTR
KNEI
KPOA
KCFE
KPLS
KSTC
KHDP
KPRP
KCRCM
KLIG
KCFC
KTER
KREC
KTBT
KPRV
KSTH
KRIM
KRAD
KWAC
KWMM
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KOMS
KX
KMIG
KRCM
KVRP
KBTS
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNAR
KPWR
KNPP
KDEMAF
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KGIT
KPAI
KTLA
KFSC
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KOM
KMOC
KJUST
KGCC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KO
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KCMR
KCHG
KICA
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KCGC
KWWMN
KPAK
KWNM
KWMNCS
KRFD
MOPS
MCAP
MPOS
MARR
MO
MNUC
MX
MASS
MG
MY
MU
ML
MR
MILITARY
MTCRE
MT
MEPP
MA
MDC
MP
MAR
MASSMNUC
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MD
MI
MEETINGS
MK
MCC
MEPN
MRCRE
MAS
MIL
MASC
MC
MV
MTCR
MIK
MUCN
MEDIA
MERCOSUR
MW
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTRE
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
NO
NATO
NL
NP
NZ
NSF
NI
NH
NG
NAFTA
NU
NASA
NR
NATOPREL
NSSP
NSG
NA
NT
NW
NK
NPT
NPA
NATIONAL
NPG
NSFO
NS
NSC
NE
NGO
NDP
NIPP
NRR
NEW
NZUS
NC
NAR
NV
NORAD
OTRA
OPCW
OVIP
OAS
OREP
OPIC
OIIP
OPRC
ODIP
OEXC
OPDC
OSCE
OIC
OSCI
OECD
OFDP
OFDA
OMIG
OPAD
OFFICIALS
OVP
OIE
OHUM
OCS
OBSP
OTR
OSAC
ON
OCII
OES
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PTER
PINS
PINR
PREF
PK
PROP
PA
PARM
PBTS
PMAR
PM
PGIV
PE
PRAM
PHUH
PHSA
PL
PNAT
PO
PLN
PAO
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PF
PEL
PBIO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PAS
POL
PREO
PAHO
PMIL
POGOV
POV
PAK
PNR
PRL
PG
PREFA
PSI
PINL
PU
PARMS
PRGOV
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
PROG
PORG
PTBS
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PRELP
PSEPC
PGOVE
PINF
PNG
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
POLINT
PGGV
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RELATIONS
RW
RO
RM
RP
ROOD
RICE
RUPREL
RSO
RCMP
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RF
RFE
RSP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
SU
SCUL
SNAR
SOCI
SF
SA
SHUM
SENV
SP
SR
SY
SANC
SC
SMIG
SZ
SARS
SW
SEVN
SO
SEN
SL
SNARCS
SNARN
SI
SG
SN
SH
SYR
SAARC
SPCE
SHI
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SYRIA
SWE
STEINBERG
SIPRS
ST
SNARIZ
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SIPDIS
SAN
TC
TI
TBIO
TH
TSPL
TRGY
TSPA
TPHY
TU
TW
TS
TAGS
TK
TX
TNGD
TZ
TF
TL
TV
TN
TD
TIP
TR
TP
TO
TT
TFIN
THPY
TERRORISM
TINT
TRSY
TURKEY
TBID
US
UK
UNGA
UP
UZ
UNMIK
USTR
UNO
UNSC
UN
UNESCO
UNAUS
UNHRC
UY
UG
UNHCR
UNCND
USOAS
USEU
UNICEF
UNEP
UV
UNPUOS
UNCSD
USUN
UNCHR
UNDC
USNC
UE
UNDP
UNC
USPS
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
UNFICYP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 04BOGOTA2199, COLOMBIA - ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #04BOGOTA2199.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
04BOGOTA2199 | 2004-03-02 22:05 | 2011-04-16 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Bogota |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
id: 14484
date: 3/2/2004 22:05
refid: 04BOGOTA2199
origin: Embassy Bogota
classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
destination: 04STATE7869
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
----------------- header ends ----------------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 BOGOTA 002199
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM, IWI, WHA/PPC,
WHA/AND
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC ELAB KCRM KFRD KWMN PGOV PHUM PREF PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA - ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT
REF: STATE 7869
¶1. Embassy point of contact on trafficking in persons is
human rights officer Kiersten Stiansen, phone number (571)
383-2122, fax number (571) 315-2163. Approximate amount of
time spent to prepare this report: 30 hours.
--------
Overview
--------
¶2. Colombia is a significant source of trafficking victims,
especially women and children destined for sexual
exploitation. According to the Administrative Department of
Security (DAS), which has responsibilities similar to the FBI
and INS, Colombia is the second most common country of origin
of trafficking victims in the Western Hemisphere, and there
are approximately 45,000-50,000 Colombian women working as
prostitutes overseas. According to the DAS, between 2 and 10
Colombian women leave the country every day as unwitting
victims of trafficking. Some Colombian men are trafficked,
usually for forced labor, and there is significant internal
trafficking of women for sexual exploitation, especially by
the FARC terrorist organization, as well as forced
conscription into terrorist armies. Female trafficking
victims are at high risk for sexually transmitted diseases,
unwanted pregnancies, and forced abortions. Most trafficking
victims come from major cities such as Bogota, Medellin, and
Barranquilla, the Caribbean coastal region, the departments
of Valle del Cauca and Norte de Santander, and cities in the
so-called "Coffee Zone," which includes the departments of
Risaralda, Caldas, and Quindio. Victims of internal
trafficking are brought from small towns and rural areas to
large urban centers with active sex industries, including
Bogota, Medellin, Cali, and Cartagena.
¶3. According to the DAS, most trafficking victims go to
Europe, especially Spain (30 percent) and the Netherlands (20
percent), as well as Germany, Italy, France and Sweden. Many
other trafficking victims end up in Japan (40 percent). The
primary trafficking routes to Europe remain through Paris and
Madrid. The main routes to Japan are via Paris, Madrid, or
Miami. Colombia is also used as a transit point for
trafficking victims from other countries, usually from South
America.
¶4. Most traffickers in Colombia are linked to narcotics
trafficking or other criminal organizations. Most
trafficking organizations include both Colombians and
criminals from destination countries. Colombia's continuing
economic difficulties, high unemployment, social exclusion,
crime, and terrorism contribute to the availability of
victims. Traffickers especially target females between the
ages of 14 and 30, especially those with limited education
and poor job prospects. They also target young single
mothers. They use a variety of techniques to recruit women.
According to the DAS, criminal gangs frequently allow
trafficking victims to return to Colombia if they agree to
recruit additional victims. These organizations place job
advertisements in major regional newspapers offering jobs in
Europe or Asia as nannies, maids, waitresses, sales clerks,
and models. They also advertise through internet chat-rooms
and marriage agencies. Once contact is established, criminal
gangs move quickly to send victims overseas before they can
reconsider or contact family. In addition, women are brought
to the airport at the last possible moment to minimize
potential government surveillance prior to their departure.
Victims are trained to memorize a fictitious cover story
designed to be convincing to immigration authorities in the
destination country. According to the DAS, 90 percent of
trafficking victims leave Colombia legally. In cases in
which women leave behind children in Colombia, criminal gangs
often threaten to harm them if the woman does not continue
working overseas.
¶5. There is political will at the highest levels of the GOC
to combat trafficking in persons. The Government has an
Inter-Agency Committee to Combat Trafficking in Women and
Children which includes representatives of the Ministry of
Justice and Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the DAS,
Interpol, the Colombian National Police (CNP), the Colombian
Institute for Family Welfare (ICBF), the Presidential Program
for the Human Rights, and the Offices of the Prosecutor
General, Inspector General, National Human Rights Ombudsman,
and Civil Registrar. The committee meets every two months
and has prepared information campaigns, promoted information
exchange between government entities, created trafficking hot
lines for victims, and encouraged closer cooperation between
the Government and Interpol. Some of the committee's
accomplishments over the last year included: training
prosecutors throughout the country on the application of
anti-trafficking Law 747 of 2002; updating the judicial
assistance manual to include trafficking crimes; inaugurating
a database to track criminal cases against trafficking
nationwide; and strengthening cooperation between the
government institutions that combat or discourage
trafficking. However, the effectiveness of anti-trafficking
efforts is limited by the scarce resources available to
relevant government agencies, which must devote most of their
resources to combating narcoterrorism. No Colombian
government official has been indicted for trafficking, and
there is no evidence of official complicity in any
trafficking activities.
----------
Prevention
----------
¶6. Although the GOC acknowledges that trafficking in persons
is a significant problem in Colombia, there is no single GOC
entity responsible for anti-trafficking efforts and no
specific national anti-trafficking plan. However, as noted
above, the GOC has an effective inter-agency committee that
works to coordinate and amplify GOC anti-trafficking
activities. Government programs designed to empower women,
such as a quota law that requires that local and regional
authorities place women in 30 percent of all appointed
positions, may have a positive long-term effect on Colombia's
trafficking problem. The GOC has excellent relations with
national and international NGOs and international
governmental organizations regarding trafficking. Colombia
has good control over its international airports, and uses a
sophisticated system for tracking passenger arrivals and
departures. However, its maritime and land borders are
extremely porous and vulnerable to exploitation by criminals
who traffic in persons. Nevertheless, the vast majority of
trafficking victims leave the country legally. The DAS, as
the country's immigration control agency, has successfully
identified potential trafficking victims preparing to board
international flights from Bogota. In 2003, they persuaded
nine women not to go overseas after convincing them their job
offers were fraudulent. The DAS has also had success in
capturing traffickers, or "coyotes." In February, DAS
officials in Antioquia department captured four traffickers
in the cities of Rionegro, near Medellin, and Turbo, on the
Caribbean coast. Those caught in Rionegro were attempting to
send Ecuadorian children to the U.S. using false documents.
¶7. The Hope Foundation ("Fundacion Esperanza"), an
anti-trafficking NGO, in coordination with the DAS, sends
representatives to Bogota's international airport to watch
for potential trafficking victims. In February 2004, with
the support of the International Organization for Migration
(IOM), the Foundation launched an information campaign to
assist travelers in Bogota,s international airport.
Travelers will be able to register with the Foundation, view
information on trafficking, and access the addresses and
phone numbers of Colombian consulates worldwide through a
kiosk in the international terminal. This information is
also available on a new internet site.
¶8. In July 2003, the IOM implemented a major anti-trafficking
public relations campaign to raise awareness in Colombia.
The campaign included placing large posters in airports,
foreign consulates, and travel agencies and running
professionally produced public service announcements on radio
and television. The IOM, with USG assistance, also created a
Call Center that allows persons to phone in anonymously to
ask about the legitimacy of work offers and provide
information on potential trafficking cases. Between July 31
and September 30, 2003, the center received 2,338 calls.
¶9. The IOM has also signed two agreements this year with GOC
agencies to increase cooperation in trafficking prevention.
On November 6, the IOM and the Inspector General,s Office
(Procuraduria) signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement to
strengthen the prevention of trafficking and the punishment
of traffickers. The IOM has also begun training local
representatives of the Inspector Generals' Office nationwide
and is developing an information-sharing database. On
December 10, the IOM signed an agreement with the DAS on
increased cooperation and development of a shared information
database.
--------------------------------------------
Investigation and Prosecution of Traffickers
--------------------------------------------
¶10. Law 599 of 2000 made the penalties for trafficking for
purposes of prostitution equivalent to those for rape and
sexual assault, carrying penalties of six to eight years in
prison and fines of up to 100 times the monthly minimum wage.
Law 747 of July 2002 broadened the definition of trafficking
in persons and provided for prison sentences between 10 and
15 years and fines up to 1,000 times the monthly minimum
wage. These penalties can be increased by up to one-third if
there are aggravating circumstances. Charges of illegal
detention, violation of the right to work in dignified
conditions, and violation of personal freedom may also be
brought against traffickers. Police actively investigate
trafficking offenses.
¶11. In accordance with Law 360 of 1997, the Prosecutor
General,s Office (Fiscalia) created a special unit to
investigate and prosecute sexual crimes, including
trafficking in persons. In 2003, the Prosecutor General,s
Office negotiated 13 plea bargains and convicted 3 persons
for trafficking offenses. There were another 306 cases in
various stages of processing and/or investigation. There was
a 38 percent increase in the number of trafficking cases
investigated by the Prosecutor General's Office over the past
year.
¶12. In the last year, the DAS conducted 6 major international
anti-trafficking operations that freed 14 women and led to
the arrest of 8 traffickers. For example, Colombia's
diplomatic mission in Japan, working with INTERPOL in both
Colombia and Japan, provided key information that led to the
capture of Japanese trafficker &Sony8 and two other
Japanese citizens, as well as the arrest of a Colombian woman
who worked as a recruiter for the Japanese mafia, the
"Yakuza." This woman would meet Colombian victims in Narita
airport in Japan where she would take their documents and
then sell the women to Japanese criminals. Based on the
information provided by an escaped victim, this woman was
deported back to Colombia in June 2003 where she was detained
by members of INTERPOL Colombia in Bogota,s airport, and met
by authorities with warrants for her arrest for the crimes of
trafficking in persons and conspiracy. According to the
police and DAS, most traffickers are linked to narcotics or
other criminal organizations. In some cases, Colombian
traffickers sell victims to foreign crime organizations; this
is especially the case with Japanese crime syndicates, as
noted above.
¶13. The IOM has provided training for government officials to
help trafficking victims. In particular, it has been working
with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to train its career
diplomats on how to spot and deal with trafficking victims,
as well as providing information on the scope of the problem
in Colombia and internationally. Since December 2002, the
IOM has conducted numerous workshops and trained more than
1,610 public officials from various government agencies in
different regional departments on the applicable regulations
for this crime.
¶14. GOC can extradite persons charged with trafficking in
other countries. However, there were no such extraditions
(nor requests for extradition) in the last year, according to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
¶15. Colombia's legislature approved ILO Convention 182 on the
worst forms of child labor. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Social Protection are taking the necessary steps to
finalize ratification. The GOC has already taken steps to
bring national law into conformity with the Convention. On
November 11, Colombia ratified the Optional Protocol to the
Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of
children, child prostitution, and child pornography. The
Protocol entered into force on December 11. It has also
signed, but not yet ratified, the Protocol to Prevent,
Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women
and Children, supplementing the UN Convention against
Transnational Organized Crime. The Colombian Congress has
approved the Protocol, but it is still pending approval by
the president and review by the Constitutional Court.
Colombia ratified ILO Convention 29 in 1969 and ILO
Convention 105 in 1963.
------------------------------------
Protection and Assistance to Victims
------------------------------------
¶16. Colombian consulates worldwide are responsible for
providing legal and social assistance to Colombian citizens
in need, including victims of trafficking. The GOC has
contracted legal advisors and social workers to help support
Colombians abroad. However, this type of assistance is only
provided in consular districts with at least 10,000 resident
Colombians. The GOC has no program for assisting trafficking
victims once they return to Colombia, but trafficked minors
can receive some assistance. For example, of the 25,000
children sexually exploited in Colombia, the Colombian Family
Welfare Institute (ICBF) has provided assistance, both
directly and through other specialized agencies, to over
14,400 over the last year. The IOM and the Hope Foundation
have provided short-term assistance to trafficking victims,
including educational information, social support, and
counseling. For example, with USG funding, the IOM is
assisting 50 children of female trafficking victims in
Bogota; 50 adult female trafficking victims in Medellin,
Antioquia department; 39 adult female trafficking victims in
Pereira, Risaralda department; 30 children of female
trafficking victims in Armenia, Quindio department; and
trafficking victims between the ages of 14 and 25 in
Cartagena, Bolivar department, and Barranquilla, Atlantico
department. The Foundation against Trafficking in Persons,
founded by the Ministry of Justice's former anti-trafficking
advisor, began a project to assist trafficking victims and
others hurt by the sex trade in Bogota. The Rebirth
Foundation ("Fundacion Renacer") provided assistance to
trafficking victims, especially children. In 2002, the
Rebirth Foundation helped 1,323 victims of trafficking,
including 392 girls and 270 boys.
¶17. The rights of trafficking victims are respected and the
government encourages victims to assist in the investigation
and prosecution of trafficking crimes. However, widespread
witness intimidation and limitations of the witness
protection program deter many victims from coming forward or
actively cooperating in investigations.
WOOD