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Viewing cable 09BERLIN256, GERMANY - 2009 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT
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| Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09BERLIN256 | 2009-03-04 11:06 | 2011-08-24 01:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Berlin |
VZCZCXRO0463
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHRL #0256/01 0631106
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041106Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3451
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
RHEFHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 18 BERLIN 000256
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR G/TIP, EUR/CE, EUR/PGI, DRL, G-AC, INL, AND PRM
STATE - PLEASE PASS USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIP KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB GM
SUBJECT: GERMANY - 2009 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT
REF: A. STATE 00132759
¶B. 07 BERLIN 256
¶C. 09 BERLIN 65
¶D. 08 BERLIN 750
¶E. 08 BERLIN 1116
BERLIN 00000256 001.2 OF 018
¶1. (SBU) The following is Mission Germany's submission for
the ninth annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. The
entire report should be treated as sensitive but
unclassified. Mission points of contact are David Fisher
(email: fisherdl@state.gov; tel: 49-30-8305-2439) and Jacqueline
Dadswell (email: dadswellj@state.gov; tel: 49-30-8305-2275).
¶2. (U) THE COUNTRY'S TIP SITUATION:
¶A. What are the sources of available information on trafficking in
persons? What plans are in place (if any) to undertake further
documentation of human trafficking? How reliable are these
sources?
A vast amount of information is available from a multitude of
sources, including multiple Federal government ministries, state
level offices, the Federal Office of Criminal Investigation
(Bundeskriminalamt; BKA), the state criminal police
(Landeskriminaldmter; LKAs) and NGOs. Given that TIP is an issue of
considerable importance to the German government and civil society
groups, new reports, statistics and studies are produced on a
continuous basis. Information produced by government offices is
reliable. As an example, the BKA makes a concerted effort to
compile accurate statistics, but acknowledges that many instances of
trafficking go unreported due to the difficulty in identifying
victims. Although studies and reports produced by NGOs typically
reflect their individual viewpoints, the information is generally
reliable.
¶B. Is the country a country of origin, transit, and/or destination
for internationally trafficked men, women, or children? Does
trafficking occur within the country's borders? To where are people
trafficked? For what purposes are they trafficked? Provide, where
possible, numbers or estimates for each group of trafficking
victims. Have there been any changes in the TIP situation since the
last TIP Report (e.g. changes in destinations)?
Germany is a transit and destination country for men and women
trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation, and,
to a lesser extent, forced labor. Trafficking takes place into,
within, and through Germany - no territory is out of the
government's control. As in recent years, most sex trafficking
victims came from Eastern European countries. Law enforcement
authorities recorded 689 victims trafficked for sexual exploitation
in 2007 compared to 775 in 2006. The majority of victims (89
percent) came from Europe, including Germany (27 percent). The
largest numbers of foreign victims came from Bulgaria (11 percent),
Romania (10 percent), the Czech Republic (8 percent) and Poland (8
percent). The report notes a significant increase in the number of
Bulgarian, Hungarian and Nigerian victims.
Non-European victims came from Africa, Asia, and the Western
Hemisphere. Twelve percent of the victims were underage/younger
than 18 years, half of them being German nationals. One percent
(seven victims) was younger than fourteen years (4 Germans, and one
victim each from Poland, Albania and Turkey). The majority of
victims (57 percent; 392 victims) were under-21 year olds, a slight
increase compared to 2006. According to the BKA, and confirmed by
the Berlin LKA for the Berlin area, the most probable reason for the
significant number of under 21-year olds is the fact that it is
easier to identify these alleged victims due to the penal norms laid
down under section 232 subsection 1, sentence 2 of the Penal Code.
This section criminalizes the inducement of a person under
twenty-one years of age to engage in or continue to engage in
prostitution.
¶C. What kind of conditions are the victims trafficked
into?
Victims are trafficked for purposes of sexual and labor
exploitation. The majority of sex trafficking victims worked in
bars and brothels or apartments. The number of victims working for
escort services or in street prostitution was also significant.
There have only been a handful of labor trafficking/exploitation
cases, occurring mainly in restaurants and in domestic households
BERLIN 00000256 002.2 OF 018
where workers (often illegal residents) were exploited. There were
also reports of labor trafficking in the agricultural sector.
¶D. Vulnerability to TIP: Are certain groups of persons more at risk
of being trafficked (e.g. women and children, boys versus girls,
certain ethnic groups, refugees, IDPs, etc.)?
As in previous years, the majority of sex trafficking victims (95
percent) were women. Sex trafficking victims are typically young
women from Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia, but also Germans, who
have low incomes, limited education/academic, difficult social
backgrounds and little work experience.
¶E. Traffickers and Their Methods: Who are the
traffickers/exploiters? Are they independent business
people? Small or family-based crime groups? Large
international organized crime syndicates? What methods
are used to approach victims? What methods are used to move the
victims (e.g., are false documents being used?). Are employment,
travel, and tourism agencies or marriage brokers involved with or
fronting for traffickers or crime groups to traffic individuals?
The BKA registered 714 suspected sex traffickers in 2007, an
increase of 8 percent compared to 2006. 78 percent of the 714 TIP
suspects were men. Despite increasing numbers, authorities
registered an average of less than 2 suspected traffickers per
investigation. This suggests that smaller criminal groups or
sub-structures of larger perpetrator groups were responsible for
most trafficking. According to the BKA report on Organized Crime,
authorities investigated 28 organized crime cases in the area of
"Crime related to Nightlife" in 2007, the majority being sexual
exploitation TIP investigations.
As in previous years, German nationals comprised the largest share
of suspected traffickers (344 traffickers; corresponding to 48
percent of the 714 trafficking suspects). Seventy-one (21 percent
of the 344) German citizen perpetrators were naturalized citizens
with places of birth outside of Germany (primarily Poland,
Kazakhstan Russia, and Turkey). The largest number of non-German
suspects came from Turkey (49 perpetrators, or 7 percent of the 714
total), Bulgaria (42, or 6 percent), Hungary (29, or 4 percent),
Romania (25, or 3 percent), and Poland (24, or 3 percent). Just 90
of the 714 traffickers held non-European nationalities: 28 from
Asia, 16 African, 4 from the Americas, and 42 unknown.
The BKA registered 71 suspected labor traffickers in 2007. Of
those, 40 were men and fifty-nine percent of the suspects were
foreigners.
With regard to sex trafficking, approximately one third of victims
reported that they had agreed to engage in prostitution. According
to the BKA report, many victims who agreed to work as prostitutes
were deceived regarding exploitative conditions of the work
situation. Fifteen percent of victims said they were professionally
recruited (e.g., by talent agencies or newspaper advertisements).
Twenty-five percent of victims reported being deceived about the
true purpose of their entry into Germany. According to the BKA
report, 16 percent of the victims reported that traffickers used
violence to coerce them into prostitution. The majority of the
victims worked in bars and brothels (362) or apartments (187). The
number of victims working for escort services (59) or in street
prostitution (73) was also significant. Sixty-nine victims stated
they were unwilling to testify as a result of threats they had
received.
Traffickers promised victims high earnings and better living
conditions, but traffickers exploited the fact that debts, e.g., for
organizing passports or visas and travel expenses, had to be paid to
deliberately create relationships of dependency. The victims felt
they had no option but to accept the conditions and permanently work
as prostitutes.
¶3. (U) SETTING THE SCENE FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-TIP
EFFORTS:
¶A. Does the government acknowledge that trafficking is a problem in
the country? If not, why not?
The government acknowledges TIP is a problem in Germany that must be
vigorously combated. When presenting the Federal Criminal Police
Office's (BKA) 2007 TIP statistics in July 2008, BKA president Joerg
BERLIN 00000256 003.2 OF 018
Ziercke emphasized that fighting human trafficking is a "priority
area for the BKA." In meetings with Mission representatives, German
officials stressed the importance of fighting TIP and described
Germany's numerous anti-TIP initiatives and programs.
¶B. Which government agencies are involved in anti-trafficking
efforts and which agency, if any, has the lead?
To varying extents, the following federal and state government
agencies are involved in anti-TIP efforts. At the Federal level, the
Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior citizens, Women and Youth (Family
Ministry) is the lead agency in combating sex trafficking. The
Justice Ministry, Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
(Development Ministry), the Ministry for Labor and Social Affairs,
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior,
Office of Criminal Investigations (BKA), and Finance Ministry (The
Customs Authorities' Illegal Employment Control Task Force (FKS)
also participate in anti-TIP work at the Federal level.
Numerous state (Laender) offices, including state ministries for
Women and Gender Affairs, Social Affairs, Interior, Justice and
Labor are involved in developing programs at the state level.
Several states have interagency anti-TIP working groups and/or task
forces that include NGOs. Twelve of sixteen Laender have formal
cooperation agreements between police and NGOs. As an example, the
Lower Saxony Interior Ministry enacted an amended TIP decree on July
11, 2008. This decree regulates the cooperation between police,
prosecution offices, foreigner offices, social security offices,
youth welfare offices, labor agencies, and TIP NGOs. The goal is a
cross-departmental, victim-centered, cooperative approach to protect
the victims of trafficking.
As a result of the 2005 amendment of trafficking provisions in the
Federal Penal Code, state police authorities have restructured their
organized crime or TIP units to include labor exploitation crimes.
The Laender Offices of Criminal Investigations (LKA) have special
units that deal with TIP or with organized crime and regularly
review their strategies.
Furthermore, a number of interagency cooperative bodies exist. The
Federal-State Interagency Working Group on Trafficking in Women,
established in 1997 under the Family Ministry's lead, reviews
counter-trafficking issues, disseminates best practices, and
provides input for new laws and directives. (Please see the "Best
Practices" Section at the end of this cable)
A federal-state working group on combating sexual exploitation of
children has existed since 2003 and meets several times every year.
In November 2008, the Family Ministry published a Status report on
the "Plan of Action of the Government of the Federal Republic of
Germany for the Protection of Children and Young People from Sexual
Violence and Exploitation" that evaluates the status of the Action
Plan's goals and identifies areas of improvement.
The Federal Ministry of the Interior created an inter-agency
analysis and strategy center on illegal migration (GASIM) in 2006
that is comprised of experts from the police, security agencies,
customs authorities, the Foreign Ministry and the Agency for
Refugees and Migration. It is designed to exchange and collect
information on illegal migration, related organized crime, visa
fraud, illegal employment, and trafficking; to analyze the illegal
migration situation; and to support investigations and international
cooperation.
The Labor Ministry is at present working to advance the strategic
coordination between the federal and Laender levels in the area of
labor TIP, drawing from the good experiences of the federal/state
interagency working group set up in 1997 to coordinate action
against sex trafficking. (Comment: The IOM - International
Organization for Migration labor TIP project mentioned under
Prevention question C: Mechanisms for Cooperation is a first step.
End Comment.)
¶C. What are the limitations on the government's ability to address
this problem in practice? Is overall corruption a problem? Does
the government lack the resources to aid victims?
German officials pointed out the general difficulty of identifying
trafficking victims and getting them to testify in trials.
Testifying often means danger and sacrifices for the victims, even
in cases when they enter victim protection programs. Germany does
BERLIN 00000256 004.2 OF 018
not generally offer permanent residence status to victims -
temporary residency permits are issued for those victims willing to
cooperate with investigators and testify in trials. However, these
residency permits are of limited duration and therefore victims
often see little personal advantage to cooperating with
investigators.
Four of the sixteen Federal Laender do not have formal cooperation
agreements between TIP counseling centers and police.
Not all prosecutors' offices of the Federal Laender have specialized
departments dealing with TIP cases. Moreover, some prosecution
offices have decided in favor of a more general approach comprising
sexual offences or organized crime.
No cases of TIP-related corruption have come to the Embassy's
attention.
Generally speaking, the German government has the resources to aid
TIP victims.
-- D. To what extent does the government systematically
monitor its anti-trafficking efforts (on all fronts --
prosecution, victim protection, and prevention) and
periodically make available, publicly or privately and
directly or through regional/international organizations,
its assessments of these anti-trafficking efforts?
The government and government-funded NGOs systematically monitor
Germany's anti-trafficking efforts. In addition, parliamentarians
routinely query the government on efforts against TIP and related
issues, obliging the government to publish reports in response. The
German government makes regular assessments of its counter-TIP
efforts available to the UN, the EU, the Council of Europe, and the
OSCE. The BKA, as well as the Federal-State Interagency Working
Group on Trafficking in Women, state level interagency working
groups, and Laender Offices of Criminal Investigation (LKAs) meet
regularly to evaluate and discuss counter-TIP programs. Independent
NGOs conduct their own evaluations of the government's counter-TIP
efforts and regularly publish assessments.
Each year the BKA produces a report on trafficking in persons in
Germany covering the previous year's developments. Topics include
statistics on investigations, victims, and traffickers.
In January 2009 the government-funded KOK (Association against
Trafficking in Women and Violence against Women in the Migration
Process) published an updated 180-page booklet that draws a
comprehensive picture of TIP from the viewpoint of non-governmental
organizations in Germany. In 2008 the KOK also published a study on
the abuse of Au-Pair relationships as a form of human trafficking.
The Family Ministry is currently exploring the possibility of
establishing a national trafficking rapporteur and has been
reviewing and assessing other countries' approaches on national
rapporteurs that might serve as a model for a German institution.
(See Ref D for more details.)
¶4. (U) INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS:
¶A. Existing Laws against TIP: Does the country have a
law or laws specifically prohibiting trafficking in
persons -- both for sexual exploitation and labor? Please
provide a full inventory of trafficking laws, including
non-criminal statutes that allow for civil penalties
against alleged trafficking crimes. Does the
law(s) cover both internal and transnational forms of
trafficking?
Trafficking for sexual exploitation is prohibited under Section 232
of the Federal Penal Code and labor exploitation is prohibited under
Section 233, both
domestically and trans-nationally. Trafficking for labor
exploitation includes slavery, bondage, debt peonage, and working
under exploitative working conditions.
Furthermore, a vast array of related laws with similar penalties
exist which are often used in trafficking cases, e.g., promotion of
trafficking (Section 233a), kidnapping (Section 234), abduction
(Section 234a), child stealing (Section 235), child trade (Section
BERLIN 00000256 005.2 OF 018
236), deprivation of liberty (section 239), extortionate kidnapping
(Section 239a), coercion (Section 240), promoting sexual acts of
minors (section 180), exploitation of prostitutes (Section 180a),
pimping (Section 181a), sexual abuse of juveniles (Section 182),
forcible sexual assault/rape (Section 177), sexual abuse of children
(section 176), and human smuggling (Section 96 of the Immigration
Law). The German Penal Code makes a clear distinction between
trafficking in persons and human smuggling.
¶B. Punishment of Sex Trafficking Offenses: What are the prescribed
and imposed penalties for trafficking people for sexual
exploitation?
Penalties for sex trafficking (Section 232) range from six months
(one year for serious cases) to ten years imprisonment. These
penalties are commensurate with penalties for other serious crimes.
Attempted sex trafficking is also punishable under Section 232. Per
2005 amendments to the Penal Code, fines may no longer be imposed as
penalties instead of prison sentences.
It is standard German practice for judges to suspend prison
sentences of two years or less for all crimes, not just TIP-related
crimes. Suspended sentences often are handed down to first-time
offenders and those, such as drivers and telephone operators, who
played an auxiliary role in the crime. Those who receive suspended
sentences are often required to perform community service, pay
damages, and/or meet regularly with a parole officer.
The Federal Statistics Office publishes conviction and sentencing
statistics for all crimes each year. The statistics are available
on the Internet at http://www.destatis.de. These detailed and
comprehensive compilations list convictions, sentences, time served,
nationality of the offenders, status as first-time and/or juvenile
offenders, along with other data.
Due to the implementation of a new program within the Federal
Statistics Office, the statistics for 2007 prosecutions will not
available before April 2009. For 2006 statistics, please see ref B.
(Comment: Post will follow up and report as soon as the 2007
statistics become available. End Comment)
Representative TIP court cases follows:
On November 11, 2008 a court in Lower Saxony convicted an Italian
national on charges of a severe case of trafficking, rape and bodily
harm of a German prostitute, and sentenced him to a seven year
prison sentence. The sentencing became possible after the victim
entered the witness protection program and comprehensively testified
against the perpetrator.
On January 29, 2008 the Hanover District Court found a Polish-German
couple guilty of pimping, and sentenced them to five year, six month
and three year, three month prison terms, respectively. The couple
exploited more than 30 young Polish females in apartment brothels.
On July 2, 2008 the Verden Regional Court (Lower Saxony) sentenced
two German men to 14 years and 12.5 years respectively for
trafficking in persons, forced prostitution, kidnapping and rape.
Both must also pay their five female victims 150,000 euros
(approximately $189,000). The victims were German and Bulgarian and
all resident in Germany. The perpetrators lured the women - who had
sought jobs as baby sitters, nannies and cleaning personnel - under
false pretenses and violently abducted them. Subsequently, the
victims were locked up, chained in a dog cage, and raped by the
accused.
In August, 2008 the Frankfurt Regional Court opened proceedings
against 11 Nigerians on primarily trafficking and pimping charges.
They were accused of trafficking 10 women from Nigeria to Germany.
The accused threatened and intimidated victims with violence and
voodoo rituals if they did not pay back loans for their
transportation and forced them into prostitution in brothels in
Frankfurt and Cologne. The victims were lured to Germany with the
promise of being able to work as bar tenders, dancers or cleaning
ladies. According to the police, the traffickers took the victims'
money and passports. On September 24, 2008 the court sentenced the
main defendant to four years in prison for smuggling of foreigners
and forging of documents on a commercial basis as well as aiding to
pimping, and one of the "madams" was sentenced to a three-year and
six month prison term (for TIP and pimping). The court sentenced
another to two years and six months of prison (for smuggling of
BERLIN 00000256 006.2 OF 018
foreigners on a commercial basis). All defendants confessed before
the hearing of evidence during the trial.
When explaining TIP prosecutions and trials, prosecutors assured
post that they seek to have perpetrators sentenced under any and all
crimes possible. This does not necessarily mean trafficking charges
(although this is the objective), but could be other charges such as
smuggling, violations of Residence Act, and tax evasions that are
easier to prove if there is not sufficient evidence for a TIP
prosecution.
Prosecutors underlined that apart from pursuing justice in single
cases, a prime goal is to uncover criminal structures. Therefore,
numerous investigations are often brought together which can take
long periods of time and are not reflected in the general
statistics. Prosecutors also explained that confessions, especially
in early stages of trials, can act as a mitigating factor in regards
to sentencing. According to Hamburg prosecutors, a confession can
easily reduce 1/3 of the sentence.
In Germany, prison sentences of up to two years for first time
convicts -- regardless of the crime committed -- are often
suspended, and convicted persons are released on probation. The
trial judge decides whether to suspend a sentence or sentence
probation based on detailed rules of the Penal Code and case law.
By law, prison sentences over two years have to be served, however
release on probation is possible once two-thirds of the sentence
(and in some cases, half of the sentence) has been served.
¶C. Punishment of Labor Trafficking Offenses: What are
the prescribed and imposed penalties for trafficking for
labor exploitation, such as forced or bonded labor?
Section 233 of the Penal Code (Trafficking in Human Beings for the
Purpose of the Exploitation of Workers) criminalizes the actions of
individuals who "exploit another person through a coercive
situation, or the helplessness that is associated with their stay in
a foreign country, to induce them into slavery, serfdom, or debt
bondage, or to take up or continue work with him or a third party
under working conditions that are strikingly disproportionate to the
working conditions of other workers who perform the same or a
comparable activity."
The penalties for labor trafficking, including slavery and forced
labor, range from six months to ten years imprisonment. Under
Section 233a (promotion of trafficking) a recruiter in a source
country could be sentenced to six months to ten years in prison.
Section 233 covers employers or agents who exploit a victim's
helplessness to bring him/her into slavery, bondage, debt peonage,
or exploitative working conditions. Attempted labor trafficking is
also punishable under both sections. Depending on the circumstances
confiscation of passports or travel documents are punishable under
section 233 or can be punishable under sections 242 (theft), 274
(suppression of documents).
The Federal Statistics Office will not publish statistics on imposed
penalties and prosecutions for 2007 before April 2009. (See B.
above)
Compared to sex trafficking cases, there are significantly fewer
labor trafficking investigations and prosecutions. This is partly
due to the fact that Sections 233 and 233a of the Penal Code only
became effective in 2005. In regards to defining exploitative
working conditions, working conditions are exploitative pursuant to
Section 233 if they "...are in clear discrepancy to those of other
workers performing the same or a similar activity". As there is no
statutory minimum wage for most sectors in Germany, it can be
difficult for prosecutors and judges to determine on case by case
basis if working conditions are exploitative.
The following trials reflect some German efforts to bring labor
traffickers to justice:
On February 17, 2008 a Bavarian court sentenced a suspended police
officer to three years and three months incarceration on forced
labor charges. The offender exploited a number of East Europeans
working on his strawberry farm.
In June 2008, another Bavarian court gave a two year suspended
sentence on forced labor charges to a dog breeder for exploiting an
Au pair girl from Mongolia over a period of two years. The victim
BERLIN 00000256 007.2 OF 018
had to carry out gardening and household work, as well as clean
dozens of dog cages. The perpetrator received a four year
probationary period and was ordered to pay 3000 Euro to a
crime-victim organization and 4500 Euro to the victim. The court
reportedly considered the suspect's confession at an early stage in
the trial as mitigating factor in sentencing deliberations.
¶D. What are the prescribed penalties for rape or forcible sexual
assault?
The penalty for rape under Section 177 of the Penal Code is two to
fifteen years imprisonment. This sentence is commensurate with
penalties for other serious crimes. Forcible sexual assault is
punishable by one to ten years in jail. Sexual assault of children
is punishable by imprisonment from six months to fifteen years.
¶E. Law Enforcement Statistics: Did the government prosecute any
cases against human trafficking offenders during the reporting
period? If so, provide numbers of investigations, prosecutions,
convictions, and sentences imposed, including details on plea
bargains and fines, if relevant and available. Please note the
number of convicted traffickers who received suspended sentences and
the number who received only a fine as punishment.
The latest statistics for TIP investigations available are for 2007.
The 2007 BKA report lists 454 completed pre-trial investigations
for sex trafficking crimes conducted by state and federal police
authorities, compared with 353 in 2006 (a 29 percent increase).
Police authorities also launched 92 pre-trial investigations for
labor trafficking crimes in 2007, which is an 18 percent increase
compared to 2006. A large number of investigations were conducted
into other crimes linked to these trafficking investigations,
including a variety of other sex crimes, such as abuse or rape (184
investigations), offenses involving violence (64), smuggling
offenses (42), narcotics violations (30), counterfeiting (16), and
weapons-related violations (16). According to the BKA report, the
majority of cases were attendant or logistic offenses connected to
trafficking.
German law enforcement officials conducted a number of high profile
TIP raids and prosecutions that led to the break-up of trafficking
rings in 2008.
For instance, at the end of May 2008, more than 150 police officers
simultaneously raided 22 properties in Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein
and North Rhine-Westphalia in pursuit of an internationally
operating trafficking ring. A 40-year old of Romanian origin is
believed to be the head of the trafficking ring. An arrest warrant
was issued against him for suspicion of trafficking and commercial
smuggling of foreigners. The other suspects, aged 30 to 60, are
suspected of having lured women to Germany under false promises and
having forced them into prostitution.
Hamburg police conducted a further series of raids in September,
2008 in connection with a criminal association of 13 German men.
Police-obtained information that indicated the group of men was
sexually abusing male children and juveniles, producing and
distributing child-pornography and facilitating meetings between the
boys and other men. At the end of the investigation, police found
that while their leads were accurate, the evidence obtained was
insufficient for a court case. However, one 51-year old man was
arrested on September 15, 2008 and subsequently found guilty of six
cases of sexual abuse of adolescents and one case of abuse of a
13-year old child. On January 23, 2009 a Hamburg court sentenced
him to two years and three months incarceration for sexual abuse of
adolescents. Three further trafficking proceedings resulted from
this case and are ongoing as of February 2009.
On November 18, 2008 customs officials raided a production site in
Zeven (Lower Saxony) and nine more locations in Lower Saxony. An
accused is suspected of trafficking and defalcation of wages. The
State Prosecution Office, which initiated an investigation against
the German suspect, believes that he recruited 25 women in
north-eastern Europe in order to exploit them as packagers in
Germany.
In May 2008, four male Germans, three men from Bulgaria and a woman
from Poland were arrested and now face charges for human trafficking
and forced prostitution. They will stand trial in Koblenz. The
group is accused of forcing 14 women from Bulgaria into prostitution
between September 2006 and December 2007. The accused were arrested
BERLIN 00000256 008.2 OF 018
after police forces conducted a raid of brothels in five German
states, including Rheinland-Pfalz. One of the victims is a 17-year
old woman from Bulgaria.
In August and September 2008, Baden-Wuertenmberg (B-W) police forces
conducted a series of raids in Stuttgart and its surrounding
communities, in eastern B-W and in the northern and southern part of
the Black Forest. Most of the raids were connected to
investigations against a group of Nigerians who had forced women
into prostitution. Several people were arrested during the raids.
In June 2008, B-W police forces arrested a 38-year old man from
Hungary and a 46-year-old woman who will stand trial in Stuttgart.
Both are accused of forcing a 16-year old woman from Hungary into
prostitution. They face additional charges of human trafficking,
rape and assault. Both are in preliminary detention. A trial date
has not yet been set.
The BKA report states that in 14 of the 454 pre-trial investigations
in 2007, assets were seized, collecting 1.6 million Euros
(approximately $2 million), compared to 2.2 million Euros seized in
¶2006. In TIP investigations, German police employ a full range of
investigative techniques, including wiretaps, electronic
surveillance, undercover operations, and offers of mitigated
punishment for suspects who cooperate with police investigations.
¶F. Does the government provide any specialized
training for government officials in how to recognize,
investigate, and prosecute instances of trafficking?
The government and government-funded NGOS provide a range of
specialized TIP training to judges, prosecutors and police.
The German Judicial Academy (Deutsche Richterakademie) is the
national training academy for Judges and Prosecutors and is managed
jointly by the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Laender (state)
Ministries of Justice. It offers training to prosecutors and judges
that also cover issues of TIP and the sexual exploitation of women
and children in connection with cross-border crime. The Academy
also offers training on domestic violence and child abuse, as well
as dealing with victims of sexual violence.
On the Federal level, the BKA regularly organizes specialized
seminars that are primarily geared towards investigating officers,
but are also offered to members of victim protection departments and
prosecutors (often a colleague from German speaking countries, e.g.
Austria or Switzerland also will attend). During these seminars,
representatives from various professional groups highlight different
aspects of TIP. The BKA also organized workshops in source and
transit countries to improve international cooperation or invited
officials from transit and source countries for workshops in
Germany.
Laender governments cooperated with numerous NGOS to provide
training. For example, Berlin LKA teamed with the NGO Ban Ying,
(which is mainly funded by the Berlin Senate) to provide for TIP
police training sessions in 2008. (Please see ref C.)
¶G. Does the government cooperate with other governments
in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking
cases? If possible, provide the number of cooperative
international investigations on trafficking during the
reporting period.
The Federal Office of Criminal Investigations (BKA) has a
counter-trafficking office that coordinates international TIP cases,
promotes cooperation with other countries and regional organizations
(including through the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative
(SECI) and the Baltic Sea Task Force), cooperates closely with
Europol (Analytical Work File PHOENIX)and Interpol (Interpol Working
Group on Trafficking Human Beings), and organizes training programs
for German and foreign law enforcement authorities. The BKA's
Organized Crime Section covers both trafficking for purposes of
sexual and for labor exploitation. In 2008 the BKA conducted
extensive international cooperation in sex trafficking cases where
either foreign victims or perpetrators were involved or in crimes of
international scope. This cooperation has included the Netherlands,
Poland, Bulgaria, Greece and Romania. Due to ongoing investigations
and operational agreements the BKA could not reveal further
details.
BERLIN 00000256 009.2 OF 018
According to German prosecutors, cooperation in legal assistance
matters with new EU member states such as Poland and the Czech
Republic as well as Romania and Bulgaria is excellent. Such
cooperation facilitates efforts to investigate and identify from
which regions and areas victims originated.
¶H. Does the government extradite persons who are charged with
trafficking in other countries? If so, please provide the number of
traffickers extradited during the reporting period, and the number
of trafficking extraditions pending. In particular, please report on
any pending or concluded extraditions of trafficking offenders to
the United States.
In 2007, the latest year for which statistics are available, Germany
extradited individuals on sex trafficking charges to the following
countries: Belgium (3), France (1), Netherlands (4), Luxembourg (1),
Poland (1), Ukraine (1) and Switzerland (1). There were no cases of
extraditions on trafficking charges to the United States.
Law enforcement sources report the number of extradition requests is
low because foreign traffickers arrested in Germany are generally
prosecuted in Germany. Germany can extradite non-German citizens or
request the extradition of German and non-German citizens in
accordance with extradition treaties or the Federal International
Legal Assistance Code. Under the EU Arrest Warrant Act (2006),
German nationals accused of extraditable crimes (including TIP and
sexual exploitation) can be extradited to other EU member states for
the duration of their trials.
¶I. Is there evidence of government involvement in or tolerance of
trafficking, on a local or institutional level? If so, please
explain in detail.
There was no evidence that came to the attention of the Embassy of
government involvement in, complicity or tolerance of trafficking.
¶J. If government officials are involved in trafficking, what steps
has the government taken to end such participation?
N/A
¶K. Is prostitution legalized or decriminalized? Specifically, are
the activities of the prostitute criminalized? Are the activities
of the brothel owner/operator, clients, pimps, and enforcers
criminalized? Are these laws enforced? If prostitution is legal
and regulated, what is the legal minimum age for this activity?
Note that in countries with federalist systems, prostitution laws
may be under state or local jurisdiction and may differ among
jurisdictions.
Prostitution in Germany is legal, but highly regulated and
restricted in practice. Communities have the authority to ban
prostitution or to use zoning ordinances to exclude its practice
from specific areas, usually city centers and residential
neighborhoods. Prostitutes who violate this ban can be fined and
charged under Section 184d of the Penal Code. The minimum age for
prostitution is 18 years. However, individuals who induce another
person under the age of 21 to take up or continue in prostitution or
to commit sexual acts on or in front of the perpetrator or a third
party are subject to criminal prosecution under Section 232
(Trafficking in Human Beings for the Purpose of Sexual
Exploitation).
Brothel keepers or landlords are criminally liable under Section
180a of the German Penal Code if they hold prostitutes in personal
or financial dependency, or if they employ a person under 18 as a
prostitute.
Pimping, defined as exploiting a prostitute, controlling/arranging
the services of a prostitute for monetary gain, or impairing a
prostitute's financial or personal independence, is a crime under
Section 181a of the penal code. The maximum sentence is five years.
As noted above, individuals who induce another person under the age
of 21 to engage in prostitution are criminally liable under Section
232 (Trafficking in Human Beings for the Purpose of Sexual
Exploitation).
Section 182 II of the penal code criminalizes the acts of clients
who solicit sexual services from a person under the age of 18. In
2008, legislation raising the "protection age" to 18 years entered
into force. Prior to these amendments the age of legal consent was
BERLIN 00000256 010.2 OF 018
16, and clients of voluntary prostitutes who were sixteen or
seventeen years old did not commit a crime. The new law
criminalizes the acts of clients who patronize prostitutes younger
than 18. The law also criminalizes an attempt to do so and holds
liable perpetrators over the age of 13 if the crime was committed
under exploitation of a coercive situation (18 years in all other
cases). The legislation implements the requirements of a 2003 EU
Framework Decision and an optional protocol of the Convention on the
Rights of the Child. (Please see ref E.)
The 2002 Law to Regulate the Legal Status of Prostitution was part
of a wider effort to improve the social and legal situation of
prostitutes. Prostitutes working under contract (e.g., at a
brothel) are legally required to contribute to social security and
unemployment, health care, and retirement insurance. Furthermore,
prostitutes may participate in state-level retraining and assistance
programs.
In 2007, the Federal Government announced plans to introduce a
regulation on the criminal liability of clients of those forced into
prostitution. Although these plans have yet to be implemented, the
above mentioned law criminalizing the acts of clients of prostitutes
under 18 years is characterized by German authorities as a step in
this direction. The government will also examine ways to increase
penalties for landlords who exploit prostitutes by charging
exploitatively high rent to make them on par with penalties for
pimps.
Following the recommendations of the government's evaluation, the
Family Ministry is developing concepts for Model projects to help
individuals get out of prostitution and is identifying NGO program
implementers.
Following a special hearing in the Baden-Wuertemberg state
parliament on human trafficking in October 2007, the state Ministry
of Finance established a new fund, which provides 100,000 Euros
(approximately $126,000) annually as financial assistance to victims
of forced prostitution. In addition, the Baden-Wuertemberg state
government now recognizes the 25th of November as an official day to
raise awareness of violence against women.
¶L. For countries that contribute troops to international
peacekeeping efforts, please indicate whether the government
vigorously investigated, prosecuted, convicted and sentenced
nationals of the country deployed abroad as part of a peacekeeping
or other similar mission who engaged in or facilitated severe forms
of trafficking or who exploited victims of such trafficking.
International Peacekeeping. Germany's anti-trafficking laws have
extraterritorial effect under Section 6 of the Penal Code, i.e., it
is a crime under German law to engage in/facilitate severe forms of
trafficking or to exploit
victims of such trafficking. Post is not aware of any information
indicating that German nationals deployed abroad as part of
peacekeeping or police training missions engaged in or facilitated
severe forms of trafficking or exploited victims of trafficking. In
the event such evidence came to light, German law requires
authorities to investigate and, as warranted, prosecute suspected
perpetrators.
¶M. If the country has an identified problem of child
sex tourists coming to the country, what are the
countries of origin for sex tourists? How many foreign
pedophiles did the government prosecute or
deport/extradite to their country of origin? If your
host country's nationals are perpetrators of child sex
tourism, do the country's child sexual abuse laws have
extraterritorial coverage to allow the prosecution of suspected sex
tourists for crimes committed abroad? If so, how many of the
country's nationals were prosecuted and/or convicted during the
reporting period under the extraterritorial provision(s) for
traveling to other countries to engage in child sex tourism?
Germany's sexual abuse laws have extraterritorial effect. Thailand
is the primary destination for German (child) sex tourists, but also
neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia and the
Philippines.
A small number of child sex tourism cases in the Dominican Republic
came to the BKA's attention, but they primarily concern German
residents in the country.
BERLIN 00000256 011.2 OF 018
Neither the BKA nor the federally-owned corporation Gesellschaft
fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), which supports the German
Government in achieving its development-policy objectives, has heard
of any cases of German child sex tourists to Madagascar.
Since 2006, the BKA has stepped up cooperation with law enforcement
officials in South East Asia to investigate German sex tourists and
pedophiles operating outside of Germany. The goal is to facilitate
prosecution of perpetrators in the countries where the crimes are
committed, as well as in Germany.
In July 2008, the Higher Regional court in Kiel sentenced a German
citizen arrested in Cambodia in February 2007 on charges of sexual
abuse of children, to a six and a half year prison term with
subsequent preventive detention. 14 witnesses, including seven
children were flown in from Cambodia to testify as witnesses in the
case.
In May 2008 authorities arrested a 66-year old German citizen in
Thailand on suspicion of sexual abuse of two boys age 13 and 14
years old.
In December 2008 authorities arrested a 66-year old German citizen
in Thailand along with two British citizens, a US citizen, as well
as a Thai citizen on suspicion of sexual abuse of minors.
¶5. (U) PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS:
¶A. What kind of protection is the government able under existing
law to provide for victims and witnesses? Does it provide these
protections in practice?
Several options exist in Germany regarding witness protection
programs. Victims may be placed under police protection and the
care of NGOs. Furthermore, prosecutors have the right to order
protective measures as deemed necessary (such as bodyguards,
testimony under disguise, etc.) for the duration of the trial. In
some cases, police witness protection programs may relocate the
victim to an undisclosed location with a new identity.
According to some NGOs, traditional witness protection programs
which often entail a break of communication with family and friends
and have not proved effective in practice for traumatized TIP
witnesses, as their social networks are key to reintegrating TIP
victims into society.
¶B. Does the country have victim care facilities
(shelters or drop-in centers) which are accessible to
trafficking victims? Do foreign victims have the same
access to care as domestic trafficking victims? Where
are child victims placed (e.g., in shelters, foster care,
or juvenile justice detention centers)? Does the country
have specialized care for adults in addition to children?
Does the country have specialized care for male victims
as well as female? Does the country have specialized
facilities dedicated to helping victims of trafficking?
Are these facilities operated by the government or by
NGOs? What is the funding source of these facilities?
Please estimate the amount the government spent (in U.S.
dollar equivalent) on these specialized facilities
dedicated to helping trafficking victims during the
reporting period.
German NGOs operate counseling centers in approximately 45 German
cities, providing assistance and facilitating victim protection.
The vast majority of counseling centers focus on female victims
corresponding to the fact that 95 percent of identified victims are
female. Cooperating closely with police authorities (in twelve of
sixteen federal states through formal cooperation agreements), the
centers help victims deal with the German authorities, escort them
to trials, and provide them with shelter, legal counsel,
interpreters, job training, and related rehabilitation services.
Foreign victim witnesses are entitled to financial support for basic
living expenses and basic health care under the Benefit Rules for
Asylum Seekers. These benefits are about 30 percent lower than
benefits afforded to the unemployed under the Federal Social Welfare
Law. Victims who have been battered are entitled to long-term
therapy, as well as pension and disability payments under the
Victims' Compensation Act, even if they are illegal aliens.
BERLIN 00000256 012.3 OF 018
The government-funded KOK, the lead body representing 36 NGOs and
counseling centers assisting victims, publishes a brochure that
comprehensively explains the full range of benefits and compensation
claims to which TIP victims are legally entitled. The publication
is designed to inform victims, counseling centers, and government
agencies to ensure they make use of all of the support at their
disposal. In 2007, the Family Ministry and the KOK published a
reference document for use by counseling centers that explains
benefits available to trafficking victims, including psychological
treatment, under the Victims Compensation Act. This document is
still current and frequently used in practice.
Nongovernmental organizations providing services to trafficking
victims receive their funding primarily from state and local
governments as well as faith-based institutions (mainly affiliated
with Catholic or Protestant Churches).
¶C. Does the government provide trafficking victims with access to
legal, medical and psychological services?
If so, please specify the kind of assistance provided.
Does the government provide funding or other forms of support to
foreign or domestic NGOs and/or international
organizations for providing these services to trafficking
victims?
The Laender and municipal governments, as well as charities, support
civil society organizations that provide a range of legal, medical
and psychological services to trafficking victims. Formal
cooperation agreements in 12 of Germany's 16 states provide
mechanisms for NGOs to assist victims as described in paragraph B
above.
The manner in which authorities finance subsistence for trafficking
victims depends on their residence status. There are different kinds
of residence permits and, correspondingly, different levels of
social benefits. NGOS report that it is possible that a victim
witness from a non-European country could receive more assistance
based on asylum laws than an EU citizen who does not get any
assistance, as is the usual practice in many German states or
municipalities. There is currently no standardized procedure in
Germany regarding financial support for victim witnesses from EU
countries. In most cases, the approval of financial support depends
on whether the police and/or prosecutors confirm the individual's
status as a witness. In addition, the government agencies can find
it difficult to ascertain the correct type and level of financial
support for victims.
Hamburg NGO KOOFRA, in cooperation with KOK, completed a study on
the eligibility of victims from EU member states for benefits,
analyzing the legal requirements. The Federal State Working Group
discussed the findings in February 2009 and communicated these to
the Laender. Common/standardized practices are expected to be
implemented in the future.
People falling victim to human trafficking on German territory and
who as a consequence have suffered damage to their health are
generally entitled to claims under the Victims Compensation Act
(OEG). Damage to health may be physical or psychological, temporary
or permanent. The right to compensation generally exists from the
point of application. The extent of compensation is determined in
accordance with the Federal Social Assistance Act
(Bundesversorgungsgesetz) and includes in particular, health care,
pension and invalidity benefit, supplementary help with living
expenses, housing aid and help in respect to special living
circumstances. Damages for pain and suffering or compensation in
respect of other damage to property or assets such as, for example,
withheld earnings from prostitution, are excluded.
Injured parties from EU member states generally receive payments as
would German citizens. Non-EU nationals are treated differently
depending on the circumstances: where the injured party has been
legally resident for a continuous period of between six months and
three years within Germany, the victim is granted benefits from the
OEG. Has the individual been a legal and continuous resident in
Germany for more than three years, the individual can claim as would
a German citizen. Injured parties legally resident for less than
six months are entitled only to a single hardship payout.
¶D. Does the government assist foreign trafficking victims, for
example, by providing temporary to permanent residency status, or
BERLIN 00000256 013.2 OF 018
other relief from deportation? If so, please explain.
In August 2007, Germany adopted amendments to the immigration law to
implement EU Council Directive 2004/81/EC on the issuance of
residence permits to TIP victims who are third-country nationals.
The law formally codified the practice of granting TIP victims who
reside in Germany illegally a minimum of a one month grace period
before deportation. Victims who agree to testify against the
trafficker are entitled to remain in Germany for the duration of the
trial. Thereafter, victims must be repatriated. However, if they
face threats to life, personal injury, or freedom, a permanent
residence permit may be granted.
¶E. Does the government provide longer-term shelter or housing
benefits to victims or other resources to aid the victims in
rebuilding their lives?
TIP victims assistance programs are generally limited to the length
of the legal process. (For benefits available e.g. under the
Victims Compensation Act, please see paragraph C above.)
¶F. Does the government have a referral process to transfer victims
detained, arrested or placed in protective custody by law
enforcement authorities to institutions that provide short- or
long-term care (either government or NGO-run)?
A well-established referral process exists in all 16 states. In
cases where a cooperation agreement exists, the process is
formalized. Authorities must inform victims of their rights and
with their consent contact a counseling center. As noted above,
victims are granted a minimum one month grace period to decide
whether to testify against their traffickers and, if they decide to
testify, receive a temporary residence permit. Victims who decline
to testify are generally deported, but in certain cases may apply
for asylum.
Nongovernmental organizations providing services to trafficking
victims receive their funding primarily from state and local
governments.
¶G. What is the total number of trafficking victims
identified during the reporting period? Of these, how
many victims were referred to care facilities for
assistance by law enforcement authorities during the
reporting period? By social services officials? What is
the number of victims assisted by government-funded
assistance programs and those not funded by the
government during the reporting period?
According to the BKA, the total number of trafficking victims was
790 (689 sex trafficking and 101 labor trafficking victims) in 2007,
the latest year for which numbers were available. The German
government does not publish detailed statistics addressing the
remaining questions.
¶H. Do the government's law enforcement, immigration,
and social services personnel have a formal system of
proactively identifying victims of trafficking among
high-risk persons with whom they come in contact (e.g.,
foreign persons arrested for prostitution or immigration
violations)? For countries with legalized prostitution,
does the government have a mechanism for screening for
trafficking victims among persons involved in the
legal/regulated commercial sex trade?
German states employ victim-centered, multidisciplinary approaches
to identify and protect trafficking victims. These approaches
involve police, prosecutors, immigration authorities, labor
inspectors, municipal government officials, public health and safety
authorities, NGOs, and victim services providers. Some states have
established counseling services (e.g., "intervention agencies" in
Mecklenburg-Pomerania and Lower Saxony and mobile counseling
services in Berlin) that actively reach out to at-risk women to
supplement the activities of more traditional counseling centers.
Guidelines developed in October 2007 by the Family Ministry for
TIP-related training for police, counseling centers, prosecutors and
judges and other authorities include standardized modules on victim
identification techniques. In 2008 the Family Ministry distributed
these through the State Social and Labor Ministers' Conference and
will further distribute them to the competent state and municipal
BERLIN 00000256 014.2 OF 018
authorities. The state-level feedback was very positive.
Of the 454 sex trafficking investigations concluded in 2007, 145 (32
percent) were the result of complaints filed by victims.
Seventy-six (17 percent) involved complaints filed by third parties.
Slightly more than fifty percent were the result of police checks.
According to the BKA report, police initiatives (e.g., random checks
carried out in red-light districts) play an important role in the
identification of trafficking victims and "contribute to gaining a
better insight into the area of undetected crimes."
¶I. Are the rights of victims respected? Are trafficking victims
detained or jailed? If so, for how long? Are victims fined? Are
victims prosecuted for violations of other laws, such as those
governing immigration or prostitution?
Victims' rights are respected. Victims are granted a grace period
to stay in Germany. Victims are not generally detained or fined,
but placed with counseling centers. Counter-TIP legislation enacted
in February 2005 gives prosecutors more authority to decline
prosecuting victims who have committed minor crimes.
¶J. Does the government encourage victims to assist in the
investigation and prosecution of trafficking? How many victims
assisted in the investigation and prosecution of traffickers during
the reporting period? May victims file civil suits or seek legal
action against traffickers? Does anyone impede victim access to
such legal redress? If a victim is a material witness in a court
case against a former employer, is the victim permitted to obtain
other employment or to leave the country pending trial proceedings?
Are there means by which a victim may obtain restitution?
The government encourages trafficked victims to cooperate in the
investigation and prosecution of TIP cases. Victim witnesses are
entitled to join as "joint plaintiffs" in criminal proceedings
against traffickers and to have a lawyer free of charge. As joint
plaintiffs, they can actively participate in the proceedings, and
are entitled to pursue civil remedies, including claims for
compensation, in addition to the criminal proceedings
(Adhaesionsverfahren).
TIP victims that received a residence permit on humanitarian grounds
(Sec 25 Subsection 4a Residence Act -Aufenthaltsgesetz) for the
duration of ongoing criminal proceedings, may be granted a work
permit (Sec 6a Beschaeftigungsverfahrensordnung).
The Victims' Rights Reform Law, enacted in 2004, expands the rights
of crime victims in criminal proceedings. The intent of the law is
to reduce the psychological burden on crime victims, to increase
their procedural rights, and to make it easier for victims to file
claims for compensation against traffickers. Victim witnesses
qualified to join as joint plaintiffs are also entitled to an
interpreter. The law allows a third party, e.g., a representative
from a counseling center, to be present when police or prosecutors
question the victim. Police and prosecutors are required to inform
victims of their rights regarding witness protection, participation
in the trial as joint plaintiffs, and access to an attorney free of
charge in the case.
¶K. Does the government provide any specialized training for
government officials in identifying trafficking victims and in the
provision of assistance to trafficked victims, including the special
needs of trafficked children? Does the government provide training
on protections and assistance to its embassies and consulates in
foreign countries that are destination or transit countries? What
is the number of trafficking victims assisted by the host country's
embassies or consulates abroad during the reporting period? Please
explain the type of assistance provided (travel documents, referrals
to assistance, payment for transportation home).
The government provided specialized training discussed in section
Investigations and Prosecutions Questions under "F" above.
In early 2009, the BKA published a guidance brochure on providing
assistance for the professional treatment of sex trafficking
victims. The brochure will be available to federal and state
police, judges and prosecutors, as well as to municipal employees
e.g. working for foreigner and social welfare offices.
The BKA also commissioned a study on Victim Identification that will
be completed by mid 2009.
BERLIN 00000256 015.2 OF 018
Embassy contacts were not aware of any cases of German trafficking
victims being identified in third countries. If such a case were to
occur, German embassies and consulates abroad would provide consular
assistance to victims. This assistance could come in the form of
counselling, acting as an intermediary to family, medical and other
support institutions on the spot and in Germany, or by issuing
travel documents and - if necessary - by subsidiary payment of
transportation home.
In October 2007, the Family Ministry published guidelines developed
by the Federal-State Interagency Working Group on Trafficking that
offer standardized modules for TIP-related training for police,
counseling centers, prosecutors and judges and other authorities.
The guidelines are intended to raise awareness and to contribute to
the specialization of police and personnel in the justice system and
the staff of foreigner services and social services offices in order
to help them to recognize trafficking victims and to equip them to
respond to victims' special needs. These guidelines are still
current and stakeholders continued to use them during the reporting
period.
¶L. Does the government provide assistance, such as medical aid,
shelter, or financial help, to its nationals who are repatriated as
victims of trafficking?
N/A
¶M. Which international organizations or NGOs, if any, work with
trafficking victims? What type of services do they provide? What
sort of cooperation do they receive from local authorities?
International organizations and NGOs that work with victims include
IOM, faith-based organizations (SOLWODI, Misereor, Caritas), and
Terre-des-hommes. Cooperation among numerous local NGOs and local
authorities is close and in most Laender is formalized.
¶6. (U) PREVENTION:
¶A. Did the government conduct anti-trafficking information or
education campaigns during the reporting period? Do these campaigns
target potential trafficking victims and/or the demand for
trafficking (e.g. "clients" of prostitutes or beneficiaries of
forced labor)?
German public awareness of trafficking has increased significantly.
In 2008, the government continued to support and fund NGOs campaigns
in Germany and abroad. The awareness campaigns target potential
trafficking victims and potential clients of trafficking victims.
The Federal Family Ministry fully funds KOK, the lead body
representing 36 NGOs and counseling centers assisting victims. The
KOK as a member of the Federal-State Interagency Working Group
coordinates projects, conferences, studies, research, and outreach
campaigns.
NGOs routinely and continuously carry out public awareness campaigns
mainly through streetworking but also other areas.
For instance, the Coordination and Counseling Center for Victims of
Trafficking (KOBRA) in Hannover organized two information campaigns
in the framework of "Street work" in 2008. On World Aids Day, KOBRA
also held an information campaign designed to raise the awareness of
clients to trafficking.
A number of NGOS (e.g., Ban Ying, KOBRA, VERA) conducted public
awareness campaigns e.g., produced postcards, showed films and
organized meetings raising awareness about human trafficking. Berlin
NGO Ban Ying (which is mainly funded by the Berlin Senate) operates
the websites "verantwortlicher freier.de" (responsible client) and
www.modern-slavery-in-germany.de.
On October 7, 2008, Berlin labor unions teamed with NGOs to discuss
trafficking and labor exploitation, in particular the subjects of
illegal workers, forced labor and wage dumping.
A number of Protestant faith-based organizations and the Nadeschda
counseling center organized a two-day conference exploring the
connection between TIP and sexually transmitted diseases.
In Leipzig NGO Kobra (which is mainly funded by Saxony's Social
BERLIN 00000256 016.2 OF 018
Ministry) organized one of the traditional Monday peace prayers in
the Nikolai-Church and dedicated it to the topic of trafficking.
In 2008 NGO VERA organized a series of four films regarding human
trafficking. (Comment: Saxony Anhalt's Social Ministry provides 90
percent of VERA's funding, the Workers Welfare Union funds the
remaining 10 percent. End Comment) The film showing was followed by
discussions with members of VERA and the directors of the films.
The series was supported by the city of Magdeburg and the State of
Saxony-Anhalt. VERA held two events with the police in order to
improve the public awareness of human trafficking. As preventive
measures, VERA had produced a flyer, which they distributed at
police stations, foreigners offices, immigration organizations and
shelters for women.
VERA has excellent links with groups throughout eastern Europe (many
in part EU-funded) and can help make sure that women who return get
not only counselling but, often, help in further training or
education to give them job options in their home countries. VERA
applied for EU funds for language courses and vocational training
for trafficking victims.
The Hanns Seidel Foundation will hold a full-day seminar on TIP,
March 5, 2009 in Munich.
Combating trafficking in persons is also a focus of developmental
cooperation projects.
¶B. Does the government monitor immigration and emigration patterns
for evidence of trafficking?
The Interagency Analysis and Strategy Center on Illegal Migration
(GASIM), established in May 2006, monitors and analyzes illegal
migration movements and patterns of organized crime, including
trafficking. Law enforcement officials use roving patrols to screen
for potential TIP victims attempting to enter from bordering
countries that are party to the Schengen Agreement. Under the
Schengen Agreement, Germany and other EU countries have reciprocally
agreed to abolish border inspections. Poland and the Czech Republic
became party to the Schengen Agreement in December 2007. Germany
still retains formal border checkpoints along its border with
Switzerland. The Federal Police (Bundespolizei), as the successor
agency since July 2005 to the Federal Border Police, cooperates
closely with counterparts in neighboring countries. In 2004, German
and Polish authorities established joint border police task forces
in Frankfurt/Oder to conduct joint investigations at the border.
Similar joint police/customs task forces have been established along
the German-Czech border.
¶C. Is there a mechanism for coordination and communication between
various agencies, internal, international, and multilateral on
trafficking-related matters, such as a multi-agency working group or
a task force?
In addition to the Federal-State Interagency Working Group on
Trafficking in Women, similar interagency working groups and/or task
forces exist in several states. The BKA Division for Combating
Trafficking is another important player promoting cooperation at
both the national and international level). The LKAs have
counter-TIP or organized crime units, as well as public
anti-corruption units and/or task forces.
In 2008, Germany, through the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social
Affairs, took the lead among five EU member states in establishing
a network on the subject of 'Asylum and Trafficking' supported by
the European Social Fund (ESF). Members met twice in 2008. The
network's goals are to promote information exchange, share
experiences, connect projects and develop strategies. Through
transnational projects the network aims to increase an exchange
between countries of origin and destination for labor TIP.
In 2008 the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs began developing a
project to establish an alliance to identify, protect and support
labor trafficking victims in Berlin that, in the future, may serve
as a nationwide model cooperation concept. (The project will be
executed by IOM that will team with partners such as the Labor
Ministry, the Berlin Senate and labor unions.) The main goals are to
sensitize and train professional groups that come into contact with
potential labor trafficking victims; to establish a roundtable of
key actors and to raise public awareness on labor TIP. The ESF is
co-funding the project that is expected to begin in spring 2009.
BERLIN 00000256 017.2 OF 018
Germany is active in numerous international fora on TIP (e.g.,
Baltic Sea Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings, Baltic
Sea Task Force on Organized Crime; Southeast European Cooperative
Initiative Task Force; G8; Interpol; Europol). Germany has also
taken a leading role in the EU and UN on counter-trafficking.
Germany contributes to the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions
and Human Rights (ODIHR) and its counter-trafficking project fund.
The BKA has stationed liaison officers in German embassies in
Eastern European countries and Asia; they focus on legal
cooperation and legal assistance, including TIP and child sex
tourism cases.
In 2008, the Coordination and Counselling Center for Victims of
Trafficking (KOBRA) in Lower Saxony carried out a comprehensive
cooperation and exchange project with Poland aimed at cross-border
cooperation, which was financed by the Lower Saxony government.
Polish and German participants included police officers, police
training centers, and TIP NGOs in Germany as well as Poland. Three
police officers at a time spent a week working with their
counterparts in the other country. Following that, a workshop was
held with all the participants to evaluate the experiences.
KOBRA was also engaged in a networking project with Bulgaria. For
four days KOBRA representatives visited a local TIP NGO, the police,
and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Bulgaria
for the purpose of exchanging information. Later on,
representatives of the Bulgarian TIP NGO Animus visited Lower Saxony
for four days. The NGOs created a joint prevention and information
flyer for dissemination in Bulgaria and a flyer with pictograms for
easier understanding of trafficking cases for distribution in
Germany.
¶D. Does the government have a national plan of action
to address trafficking in persons? If the plan was
developed during the reporting period, which agencies
were involved in developing it?
Germany first developed a national action plan to counter violence
against women, including TIP, in 1999 and issued the second action
plan in 2007. The Federal Family Ministry, the lead government
ministry for combating TIP, is responsible for coordinating the
government-wide implementation of the action plan. The main
coordination tool is the Federal-State Interagency Working Group,
which brings together all federal and state agencies plus select NGO
representatives. The Ministry's action plans are posted on the
Ministry's website (www.bmfsfj.de).
¶E. What measures has the government taken during the reporting
period to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts?
Because prostitution is legal in Germany, the government does not
take steps to reduce demand for commercial sex acts. However,
state-funded NGOs conducted a variety of public awareness campaigns
focused on TIP. (See Prevention section, paragraph A above.) The
federal government also worked on developing model projects on
possibilities for prostitutes to get out of prostitution.
¶F. Required of all Posts: What measures has the government taken
during the reporting period to reduce the participation in
international child sex tourism by nationals of the country?
The German government supported a number of projects concerning
child sex tourism. The German association of travel agencies and
tour organizers (DRV) and the federal association for the tourism
sector have signed the Code of Conduct for the Protection of
Children from child sex tourism developed by ECPAT. Since 2001, the
German travel industry has distributed a leaflet to clients
developed by EPCAT, DRV and German police authorities to raise
awareness of concerning sexual abuse of children. This brochure was
updated in 2008.
¶G. Required of posts in countries that have contributed over 100
troops to international peacekeeping efforts: What measures has the
government adopted to ensure that its nationals who are deployed
abroad as part of a peacekeeping or other similar mission do not
engage in or facilitate severe forms of trafficking or exploit
victims of such trafficking?
BERLIN 00000256 018 OF 018
The Action Plan to Combat Violence against Women requires prevention
measures and efforts to raise awareness within the German armed
forces and among German police officers deployed abroad. German
Government training for military personnel and police officers in
advance of deployments abroad, including UN, EU and other
peacekeeping and police training missions, already includes sessions
focused on sexual exploitation, abuse and other human rights issues.
Unit commanders receive special training on human trafficking,
including how to sensitize their subordinates.
¶7. (U) BEST PRACTICES
German authorities have developed a number of innovative
arrangements to promote the cooperation between federal and state
authorities in combating TIP.
-- Federal-State Interagency Working Group on Trafficking in Women
The Federal-State Interagency Working Group on Trafficking in Women,
established in 1997 under the Family Ministry's lead, facilitates a
constant exchange between stakeholders and is responsible for
coordinating various activities and initiatives against trafficking
on the national (both Federal and State) and international level.
The Working Group reviews counter-trafficking issues, disseminates
best practices, and provides input for new laws and directives. The
group meets roughly three times a year. Participants include
representatives from the Federal Ministries of Justice, Interior,
Foreign Affairs, Economics and Technology, Labor, Health, and
Development, as well as from NGOs, law enforcement agencies, and
state governments. The working group developed a model cooperation
agreement to formalize cooperation among police, welfare agencies,
and NGOs to enhance protection and assistance to victims and to
encourage victims to testify against traffickers. Twelve of the
sixteen federal states have concluded a cooperation agreement.
Family Ministry representatives agreed that one of the TIP Report's
primary goals is to call on other countries to recognize their
responsibility to combat trafficking. With this in mind, Germany's
approach -- if properly highlighted in future reports -- could serve
as a model for other countries, particularly those with a federal
structure.
-- Association against Trafficking in Women and Violence against
Women in the Migration Process (KOK)
The Federal Family Ministry fully funds KOK, the lead body
representing 36 NGOs and counseling centers assisting victims. KOK
offers a nationwide networking structure for German NGOs involved in
combating human trafficking and violence against women in the
process of migration. The KOK coordinates member activities and
organizes projects, conferences, studies, research, and outreach
campaigns. KOK facilitates cooperation between governmental and
non-governmental actors and also operates on an international level.
KOK is a member of the Federal-State Interagency Working Group.
KOK's medium term work plan includes continuing lobbying activities
to strengthen domestic TIP legislative proposals, further
international engagement with sending and transit countries,
improving victims assistance efforts and seeking increased funding
for these programs.
Post will pouch copy of KOK booklet to G/TIP.
German government officials stated that such an institution is
unique in Europe and therefore might serve as a model for other
countries.
¶8. (U) Mission hours spent researching, compiling, and clearing this
report:
-- Drafter: FS-02: 10 hours; FSN-10: 100 hours.
-- Clearance: FS-02: 1 hour; FS-02: 0.5 hour; FS-02: 0.5 hours;
FS-02, 1.5 hours; FS-03: 0.5 hour; FS-04: 0.5 hour; FS-04: 0.5
hours; FSN-10: 1 hour.
-- Approval: FE-MC: 1.5 hours.
KOENIG