Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287
Articles
Brazil
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Sweden
00. Editorial
United States
Latin America
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Thailand
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
2010/12/25
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
2011/01/11
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
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
2011/05/25
2011/05/26
2011/05/27
2011/05/28
2011/05/29
2011/05/30
2011/05/31
2011/06/01
2011/06/02
2011/06/03
2011/06/04
2011/06/05
2011/06/06
2011/06/07
2011/06/08
2011/06/09
2011/06/10
2011/06/11
2011/06/12
2011/06/13
2011/06/14
2011/06/15
2011/06/16
2011/06/17
2011/06/18
2011/06/19
2011/06/20
2011/06/21
2011/06/22
2011/06/23
2011/06/24
2011/06/25
2011/06/26
2011/06/27
2011/06/28
2011/06/29
2011/06/30
2011/07/01
2011/07/02
2011/07/04
2011/07/05
2011/07/06
2011/07/07
2011/07/08
2011/07/10
2011/07/11
2011/07/12
2011/07/13
2011/07/14
2011/07/15
2011/07/16
2011/07/17
2011/07/18
2011/07/19
2011/07/20
2011/07/21
2011/07/22
2011/07/23
2011/07/25
2011/07/27
2011/07/28
2011/07/29
2011/07/31
2011/08/01
2011/08/02
2011/08/03
2011/08/05
2011/08/06
2011/08/07
2011/08/08
2011/08/10
2011/08/11
2011/08/12
2011/08/13
2011/08/15
2011/08/16
2011/08/17
2011/08/19
2011/08/21
2011/08/22
2011/08/23
2011/08/24
2011/08/25
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Antananarivo
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Alexandria
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embasy Bonn
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Brazzaville
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangui
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Belfast
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Cotonou
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chiang Mai
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Chengdu
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
DIR FSINFATC
Consulate Dusseldorf
Consulate Durban
Consulate Dubai
Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Guatemala
Embassy Grenada
Embassy Georgetown
Embassy Gaborone
Consulate Guayaquil
Consulate Guangzhou
Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Hong Kong
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kolonia
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Krakow
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Consulate Kaduna
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Lusaka
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Lome
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy Libreville
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Leipzig
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Mission Geneva
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Mogadishu
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maseru
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Merida
Consulate Melbourne
Consulate Matamoros
Consulate Marseille
Embassy Nouakchott
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Nuevo Laredo
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Consulate Nagoya
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Praia
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Moresby
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Podgorica
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Ponta Delgada
Consulate Peshawar
REO Mosul
REO Kirkuk
REO Hillah
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 Surabaya
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy Tirana
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York
USMISSION USTR GENEVA
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Mission CD Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
US Delegation FEST TWO
UNVIE
UN Rome
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vientiane
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AF
ADANA
ASEC
AFIN
AMGT
AE
AORC
AID
AR
AO
AU
ASEAN
AGOA
AFGHANISTAN
AFFAIRS
AMED
APER
ASECARP
APEC
AEMR
AS
AA
ANET
AFLU
ABLD
AL
ASUP
AJ
APECO
AMER
ABUD
AODE
AM
AFSN
AESC
AND
AG
ALOW
AROC
AVIANFLU
ATRN
ACOA
AEGR
AMGMT
AADP
AFSI
ACABQ
APRM
AZ
AIDS
ASE
AGAO
ADCO
ABDALLAH
ARF
AIDAC
ACOTA
ASCH
AC
ASEG
AGR
ACS
AMCHAMS
AN
AMIA
ASIG
ADPM
ADB
ANARCHISTS
ALOWAR
ARM
AUC
AINF
AINT
AORG
AY
AVIAN
AMEDCASCKFLO
AK
ARSO
ARABBL
ASO
ANTITERRORISM
ARABL
AOWC
AGRICULTURE
ALJAZEERA
AMTC
AFINM
AOCR
ABER
ARR
AFPK
ASSEMBLY
ASSK
AZE
AORCYM
AINR
AGMT
AEC
ACKM
APRC
AIN
ASCC
AFPREL
ASED
APERTH
ASFC
ASECTH
AFSA
AOMS
AORCO
ANTXON
ARC
AFAF
ADIP
AIAG
AFARI
AEMED
AORL
AX
ASECAF
AOPC
ASECAFIN
AFZAL
APCS
AMB
AGUIRRE
AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL
AIT
ARCH
AMEX
ALI
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AORCD
AVIATION
ARAS
AINFCY
ACBAQ
AOPR
AREP
ALEXANDER
ATRD
AEIR
AOIC
ABLDG
ASEX
AFR
ASCE
ATRA
ASEK
AER
ALOUNI
AMCT
AVERY
APR
AMAT
AEMRS
ASPA
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ALL
AECL
ACAO
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORD
AFL
AME
ADM
ASECPHUM
AGIT
ABT
ASECVE
AGUILAR
AT
ABMC
ALZUGUREN
ANGEL
ASR
ANTONIO
BMGT
BEXP
BM
BG
BL
BA
BR
BTA
BO
BY
BBSR
BLUE
BK
BF
BTIO
BELLVIEW
BE
BU
BN
BH
BD
BC
BTC
BILAT
BT
BX
BRUSSELS
BP
BB
BRPA
BUSH
BURMA
BMENA
BESP
BIT
BBG
BGD
BMEAID
BAGHDAD
BEN
BIO
BMOT
BWC
BLUNT
BURNS
BUT
BGMT
BAIO
BCW
BOEHNER
BFIF
BOL
BASHAR
BIMSTEC
BOU
BIDEN
BZ
BFIN
BTRA
BI
BHUM
BOIKO
BERARDUCCI
BOUCHAIB
BORDER
BEXPC
BTIU
BTT
BIOS
BEXB
BGPGOV
BOND
BLR
CE
CG
CH
CVR
CASC
CU
CI
CD
CO
CDG
CB
CJAN
CPAS
COM
CVIS
CMGT
CT
CENTCOM
CNARC
CTERR
COUNTER
CHIEF
CDC
CTR
CBW
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CY
CA
CM
CS
CWC
CN
CITES
CF
CWG
CIVS
CFIS
CASCC
CROATIA
CONS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CASA
COE
CJ
CHR
CODEL
CR
CBC
CACS
CHERTOFF
CAS
CONTROL
CONDITIONS
CONDOLEEZZA
CITEL
CV
CLINTON
CHG
CZ
CON
CTBT
CEN
CRIMES
COMMERCE
CLOK
CRISTINA
CFED
CARC
CND
CTM
CARICOM
COUNTRYCLEARANCE
CBTH
CHINA
CSW
CICTE
CJUS
CYPRUS
CW
CAMBODIA
CENSUS
CIDA
CRIME
CBG
CBE
CMGMT
CAIO
CEC
CARSON
CPCTC
CEDAW
COMESA
CVIA
CWCM
CEA
COSI
CAPC
CGEN
COPUOS
CGOPRC
COETRD
CKGR
CFE
CQ
CITT
CIC
CARIB
CVIC
CLO
CAFTA
CVISU
CHRISTOPHER
CACM
CIAT
CDB
CIS
CUL
CHAO
CNC
CL
CSEP
COMMAND
CENTER
COL
CAN
CAJC
CUIS
CONSULAR
CLMT
CIA
CBSA
CEUDA
CAC
CROS
CIO
CPUOS
CKOR
CVPR
CONG
CONTROLS
CEPTER
CVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGKIRF
CDCE
DPOL
DEMARCHE
DHS
DR
DA
DISENGAGEMENT
DEMOCRATIC
DEFENSE
DJ
DY
DARFUR
DHRF
DEA
DTRO
DPRK
DO
DARFR
DOC
DRL
DK
DOJ
DTRA
DOMESTIC
DAC
DOD
DEAX
DIEZ
DEOC
DELTAVIOLENCE
DCOM
DMINE
DRC
DCG
DPKO
DOMESTICPOLITICS
DE
DB
DOT
DEPT
DOE
DHLAKAMA
DHSX
DS
DKEM
DAO
DCM
DANIEL
DEM
DAVID
DCRM
ETRD
EAGR
ETTC
EAID
ECON
EFIN
ECIN
EINV
ELAB
EAIR
ENRG
EPET
EWWT
ECPS
EIND
EMIN
ELTN
EC
ETMIN
EUC
EZ
ET
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EU
EUN
EG
EINT
ER
ECONOMICS
ES
EMS
ENIV
EEB
EN
ECE
ECOSOC
EK
ENVIRONMENT
EFIS
EI
EWT
ENGRD
ECPSN
EXIM
EIAD
ERIN
ECPC
EDEV
ENGY
ECTRD
EPA
ESTH
ECCT
EINVECON
ENGR
ERTD
EUR
EAP
EWWC
ELTD
EL
EXIMOPIC
EXTERNAL
ETRDEC
ESCAP
ECO
EGAD
ELNT
ECONOMIC
ENV
ETRN
EIAR
EUMEM
ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID
EREL
ECOM
ECONETRDEAGRJA
ETCC
ETRG
ECONOMY
EMED
ETR
ENERG
EITC
EFINOECD
EURM
EENG
ERA
EXPORT
ENRD
ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC
EGEN
EBRD
EVIN
ETRAD
ECOWAS
EFTA
ECONETRDBESPAR
EGOVSY
EPIN
EID
ECONENRG
EDRC
ESENV
ETT
EB
ENER
ELTNSNAR
ECHEVARRIA
ETRC
EPIT
EDUC
ESA
EFI
ENRGY
ESCI
EE
EAIDXMXAXBXFFR
EETC
ECIP
EIAID
EIVN
EBEXP
ESTN
EING
EGOV
ETRA
EPETEIND
ELAN
ETRDGK
EAIDRW
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EPEC
ENVI
ELN
EAG
EPCS
EPRT
EPTED
ETRB
EUM
EAIDS
EFIC
EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM
EAIDAR
ESF
EIDN
ELAM
EDU
EV
EAIDAF
ECN
EDA
EXBS
EINTECPS
ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ
EPREL
EAC
EINVEFIN
ETA
EAGER
EINDIR
ECA
ECLAC
ELAP
EITI
EUCOM
ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID
EARG
ELDIN
EINVKSCA
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EFINTS
ECCP
ETC
EAIRASECCASCID
EINN
ETRP
EAIDNI
EFQ
ECOQKPKO
EGPHUM
EBUD
ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ
ENERGY
ELB
EINDETRD
EMI
ECONEFIN
EIB
EURN
ETRDEINVTINTCS
EIN
EFIM
ETIO
ELAINE
EMN
EATO
EWTR
EIPR
EINVETC
ETTD
ETDR
EIQ
ECONCS
EPPD
ENRGIZ
EISL
ESPINOSA
ELEC
EAIG
ESLCO
EUREM
ENTG
ERD
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ECINECONCS
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECUN
EFND
EPECO
EAIRECONRP
ERGR
ETRDPGOV
ECPN
ENRGMO
EPWR
EET
EAIS
EAGRE
EDUARDO
EAGRRP
EAIDPHUMPRELUG
EICN
ECONQH
EVN
EGHG
ELBR
EINF
EAIDHO
EENV
ETEX
ERNG
ED
FR
FREEDOM
FINREF
FJ
FI
FRELIMO
FOREIGN
FAA
FETHI
FAS
FTAA
FRB
FAO
FCS
FINANCE
FWS
FTA
FEMA
FDA
FLU
FRANCISCO
FBI
FORCE
FO
FARC
FK
FT
FCSC
FAC
FM
FMGT
FINV
FCSCEG
FARM
FERNANDO
FINR
FIN
FINE
FIR
FDIC
FOR
FOI
FCUL
FKLU
FMLN
FISO
FIXED
GM
GMUS
GG
GR
GE
GAZA
GT
GH
GZ
GJ
GLOBAL
GV
GABY
GOI
GA
GCC
GB
GY
GATT
GC
GUAM
GEORGE
GTIP
GOV
GOMEZ
GUTIERREZ
GL
GKGIC
GF
GU
GWI
GARCIA
GTMO
GN
GANGS
GIPNC
GAERC
GREGG
GUILLERMO
GASPAR
GERARD
GI
HK
HR
HUMANR
HUMAN
HO
HA
HUMANRIGHTS
HU
HHS
HIV
HUM
HRKAWC
HILLEN
HILLARY
HDP
HUMRIT
HSTC
HUMANITARIAN
HCOPIL
HADLEY
HURI
HL
HRETRD
HOURANI
HG
HARRIET
HESHAM
HI
HNCHR
HARRY
HRECON
HRC
HOSTAGES
HEBRON
HUMOR
HSWG
HYMPSK
HECTOR
HN
HYDE
HUD
HRPGOV
HIGHLIGHTS
ID
ILC
IS
IZ
ICAO
IMO
ITU
IR
IAEA
ICRC
IPROP
IT
IBRD
ISRAELI
IRAQI
ISSUES
ITRA
IV
IO
IGAD
IRAQ
IN
IMF
ICTR
ISCON
IADB
IDB
IEA
INR
IWC
ICCAT
ILO
INMARSAT
IOM
ICJ
IQ
ISPA
ITRD
IPR
INTELSAT
ISN
IAHRC
INTERNAL
IFAD
IICA
IHO
IRAN
IL
IRCE
IC
INTELLECTUAL
IRM
IE
ICTY
IDLI
IFO
ISCA
INF
INL
ISRAEL
INV
IBB
INFLUENZA
ISPL
ITER
ITIA
INRA
ISAF
IACHR
INTERPOL
IFR
IRS
INRB
IEF
ISAAC
ICC
INDO
IIP
IATTC
INAUGURATION
IND
INS
IZPREL
IACI
IEFIN
INNP
ILAB
IA
IMTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
IFIN
IRAJ
IX
ICG
IF
ITPHUM
ITA
IP
IACW
IK
IUCN
IZEAID
IRPE
IDA
ISLAMISTS
ITF
INRO
IBET
IDP
IRC
ISO
ICES
IRMO
ITPGOV
IQNV
IMSO
IRDB
IMET
INCB
IFRC
JA
JO
JP
JM
JCIC
JOHN
JE
JEFFERY
JS
JUS
JN
JOHNNIE
JAMES
JKUS
JOSEPH
JML
JAWAD
JSRP
JIMENEZ
JOSE
JKJUS
JK
JAPAN
KMDR
KPAO
KPKO
KJUS
KCRM
KGHG
KFRD
KWMN
KDEM
KTFN
KHIV
KGIC
KIDE
KSCA
KNNP
KHUM
KIPR
KSUM
KISL
KIRF
KCOR
KRCM
KPAL
KWBG
KN
KS
KOMC
KSEP
KFLU
KPWR
KTIA
KSEO
KMPI
KHLS
KICC
KSTH
KMCA
KVPR
KPRM
KE
KU
KZ
KFLO
KSAF
KTIP
KTEX
KBCT
KOCI
KOLY
KOR
KAWC
KACT
KUNR
KTDB
KSTC
KLIG
KSKN
KNN
KCFE
KCIP
KGHA
KHDP
KPOW
KUNC
KDRL
KV
KPREL
KCRS
KPOL
KRVC
KRIM
KGIT
KWIR
KT
KIRC
KOMO
KRFD
KUWAIT
KG
KFIN
KSCI
KTFIN
KFTN
KGOV
KPRV
KSAC
KGIV
KCRIM
KPIR
KSOC
KBIO
KW
KGLB
KMWN
KPO
KFSC
KSEAO
KSTCPL
KSI
KPRP
KREC
KFPC
KUNH
KCSA
KMRS
KNDP
KR
KICCPUR
KPPAO
KCSY
KTBT
KCIS
KNEP
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KNNB
KGCC
KINR
KPOP
KMFO
KENV
KNAR
KVIR
KDRG
KDMR
KFCE
KNAO
KDEN
KGCN
KICA
KIMMITT
KMCC
KLFU
KMSG
KSEC
KUM
KCUL
KMNP
KSMT
KCOM
KOMCSG
KSPR
KPMI
KRAD
KIND
KCRP
KAUST
KWAWC
KTER
KCHG
KRDP
KPAS
KITA
KTSC
KPAOPREL
KWGB
KIRP
KJUST
KMIG
KLAB
KTFR
KSEI
KSTT
KAPO
KSTS
KLSO
KWNN
KPOA
KHSA
KNPP
KPAONZ
KBTS
KWWW
KY
KJRE
KPAOKMDRKE
KCRCM
KSCS
KWMNCI
KESO
KWUN
KPLS
KIIP
KEDEM
KPAOY
KRIF
KGICKS
KREF
KTRD
KFRDSOCIRO
KTAO
KJU
KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW
KEN
KO
KNEI
KEMR
KKIV
KEAI
KWAC
KRCIM
KWCI
KFIU
KWIC
KCORR
KOMS
KNNO
KPAI
KBWG
KTTB
KTBD
KTIALG
KILS
KFEM
KTDM
KESS
KNUC
KPA
KOMCCO
KCEM
KRCS
KWBGSY
KNPPIS
KNNPMNUC
KWN
KERG
KLTN
KALM
KCCP
KSUMPHUM
KREL
KGH
KLIP
KTLA
KAWK
KWMM
KVRP
KVRC
KAID
KSLG
KDEMK
KX
KIF
KNPR
KCFC
KFTFN
KTFM
KPDD
KCERS
KMOC
KDEMAF
KMEPI
KEMS
KDRM
KEPREL
KBTR
KEDU
KNP
KIRL
KNNR
KMPT
KISLPINR
KTPN
KA
KJUSTH
KPIN
KDEV
KTDD
KAKA
KFRP
KWNM
KTSD
KINL
KJUSKUNR
KWWMN
KECF
KWBC
KPRO
KVBL
KOM
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KEDM
KFLD
KLPM
KRGY
KNNF
KICR
KIFR
KM
KWMNCS
KAWS
KLAP
KPAK
KDDG
KCGC
KID
KNSD
KMPF
KPFO
KDP
KCMR
KRMS
KNPT
KNNNP
KTIAPARM
KDTB
KNUP
KPGOV
KNAP
KNNC
KUK
KSRE
KREISLER
KIVP
KQ
KTIAEUN
KPALAOIS
KRM
KISLAO
KWM
KFLOA
LE
LU
LH
LA
LG
LO
LY
LANTERN
LI
LABOR
LORAN
LTTE
LT
LAS
LAB
LAW
LVPR
LARREA
LEBIK
LAURA
LS
LOTT
LOVE
LR
LEON
LAVIN
LGAT
LV
LAOS
LOG
LN
LB
MOPS
MO
MARR
ML
MASS
MZ
MR
MNUC
MX
MV
MCC
MY
MEDIA
MTCRE
MG
MCAP
MOPPS
MP
MI
MK
MC
MD
MA
MU
MASC
MW
MT
MEPP
MN
MTCR
MH
MEPI
MIL
MNUCPTEREZ
MMAR
MICHAEL
MUNC
MDC
MPOS
MONUC
MAR
MGMT
MAS
MEPN
MENDIETA
MARIA
MONTENEGRO
MOOPS
MSG
MARITIME
MURRAY
MUKASEY
MOTO
MCA
MFO
MEX
MRSEC
MMED
MACP
MAAR
MINUSTAH
MCCONNELL
MAPP
MGT
MARQUEZ
MANUEL
MNUR
MCCAIN
MF
MOHAMMAD
MOHAMED
MNU
MFA
MILITANTS
MINORITIES
MTS
MLS
MILI
MIAH
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MED
MARAD
MNVC
MINURSO
MNUCUN
MIK
MARK
MBM
MPP
MILITARY
MAPS
MNUK
MILA
MTRRE
MACEDONIA
MICHEL
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
MPS
MARRGH
MRCRE
MTRE
MORALES
MAP
MCTRE
MHUC
MOPSGRPARM
MOROCCO
MCAPS
NL
NU
NS
NI
NPT
NATO
NO
NG
NATEU
NSF
NZ
NAS
NP
NDP
NLD
NGO
NEPAD
NAFTA
NASA
NEA
NGUYEN
NIH
NK
NIPP
NONE
NR
NANCY
NEGROPONTE
NRR
NERG
NSSP
NSG
NSFO
NE
NATSIOS
NFSO
NATIONAL
NTDB
NT
NCD
NTSB
NRC
NELSON
NAM
NH
NPG
NEC
NSC
NFATC
NMFS
NATOIRAQ
NAR
NZUS
NARC
NCCC
NA
NC
NEW
NRG
NUIN
NOVO
NATOPREL
NEY
NV
NICHOLAS
NPA
NW
NARCOTICS
NORAD
NOAA
NON
NTTC
NKNNP
NMNUC
NUMBERING
ODIP
OIIP
OPRC
OSCE
OREP
OTRA
OPET
OSCI
OVIP
OECD
OCII
OUALI
OPDC
OEXC
OFPD
OPIC
OFDP
OPCW
OECV
OAS
OM
OMIG
ODAG
OPREP
ORA
OIC
OEXCSCULKPAO
OIG
OASS
OFFICIALS
ORTA
OSAC
OIL
OIE
OEXP
OPEC
OPDAT
OMS
OES
OHI
OMAR
OCRA
OFSO
OCBD
OSTA
OAO
ONA
OTP
ORC
OAU
OXEC
OA
ODPC
OPDP
OVIPPRELUNGANU
OASC
OSHA
OPCD
OTR
OPPI
OPCR
OF
OFDPQIS
OSIC
OHUM
OSTRA
OASCC
OBSP
OFDA
OPICEAGR
OIM
OGAC
OTA
OTRAORP
OPPC
OESC
OCEA
OVP
ON
OPAD
OTAR
OCS
ODC
OTRD
OCED
OSD
ORUE
OREG
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PGOV
PREL
PREF
PL
PM
PHSA
PE
PARM
PINS
PK
PUNE
PO
PALESTINIAN
PU
PBTS
PROP
PTBS
POL
POLI
PA
PGOVZI
POLMIL
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLM
PD
POLITICS
POLICY
PAS
PMIL
PINT
PNAT
PV
PKO
PPOL
PERSONS
PING
PBIO
PH
PETR
PARMS
PRES
PCON
PETERS
PRELBR
PT
PLAB
PP
PAK
PDEM
PKPA
PSOCI
PF
PLO
PTERM
PJUS
PSOE
PELOSI
PROPERTY
PGOVPREL
PARP
PRL
PNIR
PHUMKPAL
PG
PREZ
PGIC
PBOV
PAO
PKK
PROV
PHSAK
PHUMPREL
PROTECTION
PGOVBL
PSI
PRELPK
PGOVENRG
PUM
PRELKPKO
PATTY
PSOC
PRIVATIZATION
PRELSP
PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ
PMIG
PREC
PAIGH
PROG
PSHA
PARK
PETER
POG
PHUS
PPREL
PS
PTERPREL
PRELPGOV
POV
PKPO
PGOVECON
POUS
PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN
PWBG
PMAR
PREM
PAR
PNR
PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO
PARMIR
PGOVGM
PHUH
PARTM
PN
PRE
PTE
PY
POLUN
PPEL
PDOV
PGOVSOCI
PIRF
PGOVPM
PBST
PRELEVU
PGOR
PBTSRU
PRM
PRELKPAOIZ
PGVO
PERL
PGOC
PAGR
PMIN
PHUMR
PVIP
PPD
PGV
PRAM
PINL
PKPAL
PTERE
PGOF
PINO
PHAS
PODC
PRHUM
PHUMA
PREO
PPA
PEPFAR
PGO
PRGOV
PAC
PRESL
PORG
PKFK
PEPR
PRELP
PREFA
PNG
PGOVPHUMKPAO
PRELECON
PINOCHET
PFOR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PRELC
PREK
PHUME
PHJM
POLINT
PGOVPZ
PGOVKCRM
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PECON
PEACE
PROCESS
PLN
PRELSW
PAHO
PEDRO
PRELA
PASS
PPAO
PGPV
PNUM
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGIV
PRFE
POGOV
PEL
PBT
PAMQ
PINF
PSEPC
POSTS
PHUMPGOV
PVOV
PHSAPREL
PROLIFERATION
PENA
PRELTBIOBA
PIN
PRELL
PGOVPTER
PHAM
PHYTRP
PTEL
PTERPGOV
PHARM
PROTESTS
PRELAF
PKBL
PRELKPAO
PKNP
PARMP
PHUML
PFOV
PERM
PUOS
PRELGOV
PHUMPTER
PARAGRAPH
PERURENA
PBTSEWWT
PCI
PETROL
PINSO
PINSCE
PQL
PEREZ
PBS
RS
REFUGEES
RW
RP
RELFREE
RO
REGIONAL
RIGHTS
REACTION
REPORT
RU
RENAMO
RIGHTSPOLMIL
REFORM
RM
REFUGEE
REL
RELATIONS
ROW
RREL
REGION
RATIFICATION
RBI
RICE
ROOD
RODENAS
RUIZ
RODHAM
ROBERT
RGY
ROY
REUBEN
RELIGIOUS
RUEHZO
RODRIGUEZ
RUEUN
RELAM
RSP
RF
RSO
RCMP
REO
ROSS
RPTS
RENE
REID
RUPREL
RMA
RI
REMON
RPEL
RFE
RFIN
RA
RAFAEL
RAY
RUS
RPREL
ROBERTG
RECIN
RAMONTEIJELO
SNAR
SP
SN
SMIG
SL
SOCI
SU
SG
SF
SENV
SZ
SOE
SCUL
SY
SO
SR
SYR
SE
SA
SW
SIPDIS
SCIENCE
SADC
SI
SCI
SOCIETY
SC
SAARC
STR
SECRETARY
SANC
SSH
ST
SNA
SGWI
SEP
SOCIS
SETTLEMENTS
SPECIALIST
SK
SHUM
START
STET
SCVL
SREF
SCHUL
SCUIL
SYRIA
SECURITY
SPCE
SYAI
SMIL
SOWGC
STEPHEN
SNRV
SKCA
SENSITIVE
SECI
SNAP
SPP
SCUD
SOM
SPECI
SMIGBG
SENC
SCRM
SGNV
SECTOR
SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR
SENVSXE
SASIAIN
SACU
SENVSPL
SWMN
STEINBERG
SOPN
SOCR
SCOI
SCRS
SILVASANDE
SWE
SARS
SNARIZ
SUDAN
SENVQGR
SM
SNARKTFN
SAAD
SD
SAN
SIPRNET
STATE
SENS
SUBJECT
SFNV
SECSTATE
SSA
SPCVIS
SOI
SOFA
SCULKPAOECONTU
SPTER
SKSAF
SENVKGHG
SHI
SEVN
SANR
SPSTATE
SMITH
SCOM
SH
SNARCS
SNARN
SIPRS
SNARM
SIPDI
SCPR
SNIG
SELAB
SULLIVAN
SENVENV
SECDEF
SOLIC
SOIC
SPAS
SASC
SOSI
SEC
SEN
SENVCASCEAIDID
TU
TH
TW
TSPA
TRGY
TPHY
TBIO
TIFA
TS
TZ
TX
TSPL
TT
TK
TC
TINT
TERFIN
TERRORISM
TIP
TURKEY
TI
TECHNOLOGY
TNGD
TRSY
TRAFFICKING
TOPEC
TPSL
TP
TD
TR
TA
TIO
TREATY
TO
THPY
TECH
TRADE
TPSA
TG
TAGS
TF
TRAD
THKSJA
TVBIO
TNDG
TN
TBIOZK
TWI
TV
TWL
TRT
TWRO
TSRY
TTPGOV
TAUSCHER
TRBY
TRBIO
TL
TPKO
TIA
TGRY
TSPAM
TREL
TNAR
TBI
TFIN
TPHYPA
TWCH
THOMMA
THOMAS
TERROR
TRY
TBID
TPP
TE
THANH
TJ
TBKIO
UNGA
USUN
UN
UG
UNSC
UK
UP
US
UNCTAD
UNVIE
UNHRC
USTR
UNAMA
UNCRIME
UNESCO
UV
UNDP
UNHCR
UNCSD
UNCHR
UZ
USAID
UNEP
UNO
UNPUOS
UY
UNDC
UNCITRAL
UNAUS
UNCND
UA
UNMIK
USTDA
USEU
USDA
UNICEF
UR
UNFICYP
USNC
USTRRP
UNODC
UNRWA
UNOMIG
USTRPS
USAU
USCC
UNEF
UNGAPL
UNFPA
UNSCE
USSC
UGA
UEU
UNMIC
UNTAC
UNION
UNCLASSIFIED
USPS
UNA
UMIK
USOAS
UNMOVIC
UNFA
UNAIDS
UNCHC
USGS
UNSE
UNRCR
UNTERR
USG
UE
UAE
UNWRA
UNCSW
UNSCR
UNCHS
UNDESCO
UNPAR
UNC
UB
UNSCS
UKXG
UNGACG
UNREST
UNHR
USPTO
UNFCYP
USCG
UNIDROIT
UNSCD
UPU
UNBRO
UNECE
USTRUWR
UNCC
UNESCOSCULPRELPHUMKPALCUIRXFVEKV
VM
VE
VT
VETTING
VN
VZ
VIS
VC
VTPREL
VIP
VTEAID
VTEG
VOA
VA
VTIZ
VANG
VISIT
VO
VENZ
VAT
VI
VEPREL
VEN
WFP
WTO
WHO
WTRO
WBG
WMO
WIPO
WA
WI
WSIS
WHA
WCL
WE
WMN
WEBZ
WS
WAR
WZ
WMD
WW
WILLIAM
WEET
WAEMU
WM
WWBG
WWT
WWARD
WITH
WMDT
WTRQ
WCO
WEU
WALTER
WRTO
WB
WHTI
WBEG
WCI
WEF
WAKI
WHOA
WGC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09BERN93, TIP - SWITZERLAND: ANNUAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
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. #09BERN93.
| Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09BERN93 | 2009-03-02 16:35 | 2011-08-25 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Bern |
VZCZCXRO7006
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSW #0093/01 0611635
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021635Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BERN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5675
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 BERN 000093
SENSITIVE, SIPDIS
DEPT FOR G/TIP (J.DONNELLY/A.ROFMAN), INL, DRL, PRM, IWI,
EUR/PGI (J.BUCKNEBERG), EUR/CE (J.LUNA)
DEPT PLEASE PASS USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KTIP KCRM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREF ELAB SZ
SUBJECT: TIP - SWITZERLAND: ANNUAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
REPORT
REF: STATE 132759
¶I. SUMMARY OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS
------------------------------
(U) Switzerland continued to make substantial progress in its
anti-trafficking-in-persons practices and achievements,
investigating and prosecuting TIP cases vigorously. In 2008,
federal and cantonal (state) police led at least 26
investigations on trafficking or trafficking-related offenses.
With regard to prosecutions, data for 2007 show that Swiss
courts convicted at least 25 individuals for trafficking or
trafficking-related offenses. (Note: The official data for 2008
convictions will be available from the federal statistics office
in August. End Note) Punishments for convicted TIP offenders
in 2007 ranged from fines to unsuspended prison sentences of up
to four years. To further improve the process for gathering
statistics on investigations and prosecutions, the 26 cantons
decided to harmonize cantonal recording and reporting practices
by 2010. The government cooperated with other governments in
the investigation and prosecution of trafficking and
trafficking-related offenses.
(U) On the legal front, the Penal Code defines human trafficking
more comprehensively since 2007. Human trafficking, forced
prostitution of minors, and child sexual abuse can also be
prosecuted in Switzerland regardless of where the crime was
committed.
(U) Protection: The government enacted new protective measures
for TIP victims. The number of TIP victims referred by Swiss
authorities to assistance centers for victims of crime rose from
90 in 2006 to 128 in 2007.
(U) Efforts to improve the legal protections of TIP victims
continued. In 2008, the government amended the Federal Law on
Foreigners, thereby reinforcing the legal framework in which
cantons can provide TIP victims stays of deportation proceedings
to recover from their trauma and weigh participation in judicial
proceedings. The law further allows the federal government to
logistically and financially assist trafficking victims and
witnesses, for whom a return is acceptable, in the re-
integration in their countries of origin. The government also
revised the Federal Victims Assistance Law. The revision, which
entered into force on January 1, 2009, enhances crime victims'
right to emergency protections and allows cantons to pool
resources to establish regional victim assistance centers
specializing in certain types of crime (e.g. TIP).
(U) On September 8, 2008, the Swiss government signed the
Council of Europe's Convention on Human Trafficking. The
government is expected to submit a bill for the ratification of
the Convention to the Parliament in 2009. Experts assess that
current Swiss law largely meets the requirements of the
Convention, with some adjustments still required in the area of
witness protection.
(U) Prevention: Swiss government agencies continued to fund
several prevention and protection programs abroad. In
conjunction with the 2008 European Soccer Cup co-hosted by
Switzerland in June, the government provided $96,000 to an NGO-
led advertising campaign to raise awareness among the visitors
to the tournament and the public of the extent and the
consequences of trafficking in persons. The campaign targeted
male customers of commercial sexual services, calling on them to
help potential victims of trafficking get access to aid
organizations.
(U) The Federal Criminal Police established in September 2008 a
mechanism to allow travel agencies and individual persons to tip
off law enforcement bodies about child sex tourists.
Switzerland pursued a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual
exploitation by personnel serving in international peace-keeping
missions. All civil and military persons serving in peace-
keeping missions are subject to the Code of Conduct of the UN
(and/or NATO-PfP respectively) and undergo specific awareness
raising training before deployment.
II. THE COUNTRYQS TIP SITUATION
-------------------------------
BERN 00000093 002 OF 013
(U) A. The Swiss Federal Office of Statistics and the Swiss
Federal Office of Police collect data on TIP and TIP-related
crimes. Useful NGO information also is available, particularly
with regard to assistance provided to victims of TIP crimes.
Because Switzerland has a federalized system in which 26 cantons
have primary and largely independent authority for law
enforcement, national data collection is a more cumbersome
process than in centralized states. Moreover, data on
convictions and sentences often changes until judicial appeals
processes have run their course, which can take 18 months or
more. To further improve the process for gathering statistics
on investigations and prosecutions, the 26 cantons decided to
harmonize cantonal recording and reporting practices
by 2010.
(SBU) The Federal Office of Police Coordination Unit against the
Trafficking of Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (KSMM) remains
the best source for authoritative TIP data. While the KSMM
routinely draws on its relationships with cantonal authorities
to obtain TIP-related data, KSMM contacts have spearheaded
efforts to harmonize the reporting of TIP data from the cantons
to the Federal Office for Statistics, with a view to generating
TIP data that is as comprehensive and authoritative as possible.
In the context of this effort, the KSMM actively has solicited
post's input, and even invited post's TIP POC to attend a KSMM
meeting with representatives of the Federal Office of
Statistics.
(U) B. Switzerland is primarily a country of destination for
persons being trafficked, almost exclusively women, but transit
also occurs. Trafficking occurs both across borders and within
the country. Swiss officials estimate the number of trafficking
victims at a few hundred per year. Several cantons (states),
including Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern, Vaud, and Ticino,
recorded an increase in the number of registered prostitutes and
commercial sex establishments. Federal Police assess that the
total number of potential trafficking victims currently living
in Switzerland is between 1,500 and 3,000. The great majority
of trafficking victims are forced into nude dancing and
prostitution. Trafficking for the purpose of labor exploitation
as domestic servants also occurs but is very limited.
(U) C. In some cases, victims are subjected to physical and
sexual violence, threats to themselves or their families or
both, drugs, withholding of documents, and incarceration.
Police estimates suggest that up to 50 percent of illegal
prostitutes' gross income is paid to brothel owners and
traffickers who organize the passage and entry to Switzerland.
While the majority of TIP victims still are found in Swiss urban
areas, in recent years police and NGOs increasingly have
encountered TIP victims working in contact bars in more rural
areas.
(U) D. Both Federal Police and NGO sources noted an increase in
2007/2008 in the number of young women being trafficked into
Switzerland for sexual exploitation from Eastern Europe,
particularly Romania. TIP victims in Switzerland typically come
from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union (Hungary,
Poland, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Romania,
Ukraine, Moldova), Latin America (Brazil, Dominican Republic),
Asia (Thailand, Cambodia), and to a lesser extent from Africa
(Nigeria, Cameroon). The Zurich-based Information Center for
Women from Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe (FIZ)
reported that roughly 50 percent of the 167 TIP victims
counseled in 2008 came from Eastern Europe, another 27 percent
from Latin America, about 14 percent from Asia, and the
remaining 9 percent from Africa.
(U) E. Trafficking into the country is primarily performed by
individuals and small groups related through ethnic, clan, or
family ties, as well as, occasionally, organized criminals.
Federal Police have reported that traffickers are increasingly
well organized with far-reaching international networks. Often,
the perpetrators and victims are from the same cities and
regions. In addition to men, women also play a role in the
recruitment, intermediary, or exploitation process. How many
trafficking victims were lured into Switzerland under false
pretenses and how many were brought in fully aware that they
were going to engage in prostitution in Switzerland is unclear,
but under Swiss law both are punishable as human trafficking.
BERN 00000093 003 OF 013
III. SETTING THE SCENE FOR THE GOVERNMENTQS
ANTI-TIP EFFORTS
-------------------------------------------
(U) A. Government officials at the highest level acknowledge
that trafficking is a problem. On September 8, 2008, the Swiss
government signed the Council of Europe's Convention on Human
Trafficking. The government is expected to submit a bill for
the ratification of the Convention to the Parliament in 2009.
Experts assess that current Swiss law largely meets the
requirements of the Convention, with some adjustments still
required in the area of witness protection. The cantons were
consulted in advance on the matter, supported the signing
of the Convention, and reported to the federal government that
they were ready to perform the tasks required by its
implementation.
(U) B. The Federal Office of Police (BAP) is the federal
government's primary actor in anti-trafficking efforts. The
BAP's Federal Criminal Police handles international cooperation
and investigations of organized crime; the Service for Analysis
and Prevention, i.e. the domestic intelligence service, does
strategic analysis of information. The Federal Office of Police
also hosts the Coordination Unit against the Trafficking of
Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (KSMM), which is the federal
government's interdepartmental body to coordinate and monitor
anti-trafficking efforts. The KSMM develops anti-TIP strategies
and policies in consultation with its constituting ministries
that retain final responsibility for their implementation.
(U) The prosecution of illegal prostitution (i.e. prostitution
without a valid work permit) and trafficking of persons normally
falls under the jurisdiction of cantonal police and judicial
authorities. However, cases linked to organized crime fall
under the authority of the federal authorities to investigate
and prosecute. The Federal Office of Migration has the lead in
easing the return of trafficking victims and assisting in their
re-integration in their home societies.
(U) The following government agencies are represented on the
Steering Committee of the KSMM, taking active part in the fight
against human trafficking:
Federal Level:
-- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Political Division IV (Human Security)
- Directorate for International Law
- International Development Cooperation
-- Finance Ministry
- Swiss Border Guards
-- Ministry for Justice and Police
- Office of the Prosecutor General
- Federal Office for Migration
- Federal Office of Justice
- Federal Office of Police
-- Economics Ministry
- Directorate of Labor
Cantonal (i.e. state) Level:
-- National Conference of Cantonal Chiefs of Police
-- National Conference of Prosecuting Offices
-- National Conference of Equal Opportunity Offices
-- National Conference of Victims Assistance Centers
-- National Conference of Cantonal Migration Offices
NGOs/IOs:
-- Information Center for Women from Africa, Latin America, and
Eastern Europe (FIZ), Zurich
-- International Organization for Migration, Bern
-- Foundation Terre des Hommes, Lausanne
(U) C. In general, criminal cases against traffickers are not
pursued (for lack of evidence) unless their victims are willing
to testify. Federal and cantonal police and immigration
authorities follow a policy of granting potential TIP victims a
stay of deportation proceedings to give them time to recover
from their trauma and to let them freely decide whether to
participate in judicial proceedings against their tormentors.
On January 1, 2008, the New Federal Law on Foreigners became
effective, which gives special protection to TIP victims or
witnesses who testify against their traffickers and regulates
their stay during and after judicial proceedings.
(U) A number of major urban centers and suburban cantons have
BERN 00000093 004 OF 013
established written agreements on a referral process for TIP
victims in the context of regular roundtable meetings between
NGOs and cantonal justice, police, and immigration authorities.
As a direct result of the federal regulations to stay
deportation proceedings and the better local cooperation between
NGOs and law enforcement officials, the number of TIP victims
willing to testify against their traffickers has risen
considerably.
(U) D. The Federal Office of Police's Coordination Unit against
the Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (KSMM) is
the federal government's main coordinating and monitoring body
of its anti-trafficking efforts. Through its coordinating role,
the KSMM keeps abreast of anti-trafficking efforts on all fronts
(prevention, victim protection, and prosecution) both at the
federal and cantonal level. In addition, its remit includes
monitoring of parliamentary ratification of international
conventions and offering expert advice on trafficking-relevant
legislative reform.
(U) The KSMM has made available its assessment of Swiss anti-
trafficking efforts to the Council of Europe, the OSCE, and the
UN. The Federal Police's Service for Analysis and Prevention,
i.e. the government's domestic intelligence service, does
strategic analysis of human trafficking in and throughout
Switzerland and publishes its findings in the Federal Office of
Police's annual report on homeland security.
IV. INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS
--------------------------------------------- ----
(U) A. The Swiss Penal Code has two articles specifically
prohibiting trafficking in persons: Article 182, effective since
December 1, 2006, stipulates that anyone acting as the supplier,
broker, or buyer in the trafficking of a human being for the
purposes of sexual exploitation, labor exploitation, or to
remove a body organ shall be liable to imprisonment or a fine,
or both. The act of recruiting an individual for the purposes
aforementioned also qualifies as trafficking and is liable to
the same punishment. If the trafficking victim is a minor under
18 years of age or if the perpetrator repeatedly engages in
human trafficking, the minimum penalty is a prison sentence of
one year. Article 182 applies universally; traffickers are
subject to prosecution in Switzerland even if the act of
trafficking was committed abroad, and regardless of whether
trafficking is a crime in the foreign country where the act took
place.
(U) Article 195 prohibits the promotion of prostitution and
states that anyone inducing a person into prostitution by
abusing a situation of dependency or promising pecuniary
advantage, anyone impairing a prostitute's freedom of movement
by checking on the activities in question or fixing the place,
time or extent or any other circumstances of the prostitution,
or anyone secluding a person for prostitution shall be liable to
imprisonment.
(U) Other forms of trafficking or exploitation of human beings
are implicitly covered by the Penal Code's provisions against
threat, coercion, deprivation of personal liberty, and
kidnapping (Articles 180, 181, 183). The Immigration and
Naturalization Law penalizes facilitating the illegal
immigration of foreigners into Switzerland as well as the
employment of foreigners without proper work permission. The
Constitution implicitly bans forced or compulsory labor.
Article 27 provides for economic freedom and explicitly
guarantees the right to choose freely one's profession as well
as unrestrained access to and unencumbered exercise of a gainful
occupation. Forced or bonded labor by children is explicitly
forbidden under Article 30 of the 1964 Labor Act.
(U) B. The maximum sentence for trafficking in persons for
sexual exploitation is a prison term of twenty years (Penal Code
Article 182). Coercing someone into prostitution or restricting
a prostitute's personal freedom (Penal Code Article 195) can
carry a prison sentence of up to ten years.
(U) C. Under Penal Code Article 182 the penalties prescribed for
trafficking for labor exploitation are the same as for
trafficking for sexual exploitation. The minimum penalty is a
fine; if the victim was a minor under 18 years of age, the
BERN 00000093 005 OF 013
minimum penalty is a one-year prison sentence. Maximum penalty
is 20 years in prison. Article 182 explicitly prohibits all
acts related to labor trafficking - recruitment, supply,
transfer, or the receipt of persons being trafficked. Thus,
both the labor recruiters in labor source countries and the
employers or labor agents in labor destination countries are
subject to prosecution in Switzerland. Article 182 applies
universally; labor recruiters are subject to prosecution in
Switzerland, even if the act was committed in a foreign country
where labor trafficking may not constitute a criminal offense.
(U) D. The Penal Code also punishes rape, forcible sexual
assault, and other sex crimes. Sexual activity with minors
(Article 187) and sexual acts with dependent persons (Article
188) are punishable with up to five years imprisonment; sexual
coercion (Article 189), rape (Article 190), and sexual
violations of mentally or physically incapacitated persons
(Article 191) are liable to a maximum ten year prison sentence;
sexual acts with detainees (Article 192) and taking advantage of
a person's distress or dependency due to employment or any other
condition to induce a sexual act or acceptance thereof (Article
193) carry a maximum penalty of imprisonment for up to three
years.
(U) E. The investigation and prosecution of forced prostitution
and human trafficking as well as the protection of victims in
Switzerland normally fall under the jurisdiction of the cantons,
and national statistics lag by 6-18 months.
Investigations & Prosecutions
-----------------------------
(U) Under Switzerland's federal structure, the cantons hold
jurisdiction over most criminal infractions, and statistical
records of reported crime and police investigations vary greatly
from canton to canton. In 2007, the inter-cantonal Working
Group on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling established a
database on the ongoing investigations and prosecutions on
suspicion of human trafficking or forced prostitution in the
cantons. Cantonal authorities report ongoing
investigations/prosecutions on a voluntary basis. The data base
is maintained by the Human Trafficking/Migrant Smuggling
Investigative Unit of the Federal Criminal Police, which also
coordinates inter-cantonal and international trafficking
investigations. According to this developing database, there
were at least 26 police investigations or prosecutions during
2008 for human trafficking for the purposes of sexual or labor
exploitation.
CONVICTIONS
------------------------------------
Year Art. 196/182 Art. 195 Total
------------------------------------
1999 7 14 21
2000 5 17 22
2001 2 17 19
2002 2 11 13
2003 7 6 13
2004 2 12 14
2005 12 15 27
2006 5 14 19
2007 18 17 35
(U) (Note: Swiss Federal Police contacts inform us that
statistics for 2008 will be available in August. End Note)
(U) In 2007, 25 individuals were convicted in charges brought
for a total of 35 TIP offenses. Penalties for 2007 convictions
ranged between 5 months suspended prison sentences to 4 years
prison sentences; in addition the traffickers received fines
ranging from $86(100 Swiss francs) to $18,292 (21,250 Swiss
francs). The courts also convicted traffickers to pay a maximum
of $ 12,912 (15,000 Swiss francs) in moral damages.
(U) F. Investigators of the Federal Criminal Police receive
specialized training in investigating incidences of organized
crime, including human trafficking. Under the 2001 Efficiency
Bill, the Federal Criminal Police obtained from the cantons the
jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute more complex cases of
human trafficking that span several cantons or are linked to
BERN 00000093 006 OF 013
organized crime. The Federal Criminal Police also handles
international cooperation in the investigation of incidences of
human trafficking.
(U) G. The Swiss government readily cooperates with other
governments in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking
cases. The Federal Criminal Police takes part in the expert
working groups of both Europol and Interpol.
(U) Switzerland has a bilateral cooperation accord between
Europol and the Swiss Police, allowing the latter to obtain
information from Europol's intelligence files on organized
crime, drug trafficking and terrorism. Under the terms of the
agreement, Swiss Federal Police have assigned to The Hague a
liaison officer whose role is to support and coordinate the
cooperation between Switzerland and other EU countries. There
is also a Swiss Police liaison at the headquarters of Interpol.
(U) On October 15, 2008, Switzerland and Eurojust, an EU agency
based in the Hague dealing with judicial co-operation, agreed to
strengthen cooperation beyond the existing 2006 bilateral
cooperation agreement in the fight against international crime.
The agreement is intended to institutionalize the exchange of
information between Switzerland and Eurojust, to ensure a high
degree of data protection, and to allow for a Swiss liaison
officer to Eurojust. Later on December 12, 2008, Switzerland
also joined the EU-Schengen Area, which therefore enables Swiss
judicial authorities to have access to the EU criminal database
and fight more effectively against criminal networks.
(U) H. Extradition is permitted if the act in question is
punishable under Swiss law and the law of the requesting state,
liable to a term of imprisonment of at least one year, and no
Swiss court is competent in the matter. No Swiss national shall
be extradited to a foreign country for penal prosecution or
execution of a verdict without his or her written consent. The
person in question may revoke consent until the order for the
extradition is issued. A request for extradition is complied
with only if the requesting country accords reciprocity.
Foreigners may be extradited to another state for offenses
punishable under its laws or for serving a term of imprisonment
if this state applies for extradition or accepts, upon request
of the Swiss authorities, to prosecute the person in question or
to execute a verdict cast by Swiss authorities. Swiss Police
statistics record extraditions only by country so no
extraditions statistics are available for specific criminal
offenses. There have been no changes to extradition law.
(U) I. Trafficking is not tolerated in Switzerland, and there
are no indications or reports that government officials are
involved.
(U) J. N/A
(U) K. Prostitution is legal for Swiss citizens and foreign
residents with valid work permits if the practitioners are
registered with police and comply with taxation and other
cantonal requirements. Pimping has been decriminalized since
1992, and brothel owners may legally sublet room and negotiate
the terms with the prostitutes. However, Article 195 of the
Penal Code penalizes abusing a state of dependency to induce
someone into prostitution or restricting a prostitute's freedom
with a prison term of up to ten years. Clients are not liable
before the law, unless they knowingly engage in sexual relations
with a prostitute younger than the required minimum age of 18
years.
(U) Some cantons (states) have adopted more stringent laws
regulating the sex trade. A hotline for victims of human
trafficking was launched in Geneva in June by the NGOs "Friends
of Humanity" and "End Human Trafficking Now!" The hotline allows
victims of human trafficking who are afraid to call the police
to obtain support. By calling the hotline, victims can get
social, psychological and medical assistance. They are also
assisted in finding temporary shelter and legal advice.
(U) In May 2008, the Jura cantonal government announced a
prostitution bill which would require persons engaged in
prostitution or sex salons to register. The bill contains
provisions adopted in the cantons of Vaud and Neuchtel in 2004
and 2005.
BERN 00000093 007 OF 013
(U) In the canton of Fribourg, prostitution reportedly has
increased significantly in recent years. Many prostitutes are
believed to be working illegally and it is suspected that many
sex salons are not registered. According to cantonal police
estimates, the canton of Fribourg officially has 250 registered
prostitutes. In addition, there are 40 to 50 sex salons, and
eight cabarets employing many dancers from foreign countries. It
is believed that many dancers, mainly from eastern European
countries, also engage in prostitution.
(U) L. There have been no indications or reports that Swiss
military or civilian personnel deployed on international peace-
keeping missions have engaged in or facilitated severe forms of
trafficking or exploited victims of such trafficking.
Switzerland pursues a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual
exploitation by personnel participating in international peace-
keeping missions.
(U) M. The 2002 partial revision of the Penal Code providing for
the extraterritorial coverage of Switzerland's child sexual
abuse laws entered into force on January 1, 2007. Anybody
violating Swiss child sexual abuse laws is subject to
prosecution in Switzerland under the extraterritorial provisions
of the Penal Code regardless of the legislation of the foreign
country where the abuse took place.
¶V. PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS
---------------------------------------
(U) A. Under the Swiss Victims Assistance LAW (OHG), all TIP
victims are entitled to help from government-funded victims
assistance centers for abuse victims or women shelters and enjoy
special safeguards during criminal proceedings, and cantonal
authorities do provide these protections in practice.
Switzerland does not yet have a comprehensive witness protection
program providing victims of crime with new identities.
(U) On January 1, 2009, a revision entered into force, which
requires the cantonal victim assistance centers to take into
account the special needs of different groups of victims of
crime. Under the revised OHG, a canton can pay financial
compensation to another canton for counseling services provided
to a victim of crime within the latter cantonQs jurisdiction.
This is meant to provide urban centers additional incentives and
resources to establish specialized regional victim counseling
centers, such as a victims' assistance centers tailored to
supporting TIP victims.
(U) In 2007, Parliament adopted a new federal code of criminal
trial proceedings that will supplant the existing 26 cantonal
codes. The new federal code strengthens the existing witness
protection measures under the OHG in order to avoid a
perpetrator in a TIP case learning the identity of a prosecution
witness and it gives witnesses the right to call on an attorney
and/or a confidante during court proceedings. The government
plans to put the new federal code into effect at the beginning
of 2010. Implementation requires several years because, even
under the new federal code of criminal trial proceedings, law
enforcement remains the dominion of the cantons. Cantons need
time to amend their legislation and adjust cantonal operating
modes to the new federal regulations on court proceedings.
(U) Since 2003, the government has strengthened protective
measures of cabaret/night club dancers on temporary artistic
visas, so called L-permits, often thought of as being at special
risk of being exploited by their employers. In 2003, the
Economics Ministry, the Federal Office for Migration, the
Association of Concert Halls, Cabarets, Nightclubs, and
Discotheques (ASCO), and FIZ Zurich adopted a standard labor
contract for the employment of cabaret dancers, effective
beginning of 2004. The standard labor contract regulates the
rights and responsibilities of both contracting parties,
stipulates salary and the details of traveling costs, and
contains labor law provisions on night shifts and rest periods.
According to the terms of the standard labor contract, cabaret
dancers earn a gross income of 4,800 Swiss francs for 23 working
days per month. After deduction of a source tax, rent, social
security, and unemployment insurance contributions, the cabaret
dancers earn a net income of 2,200 Swiss francs per month. The
Economics Ministry and the Cantonal Labor Inspectorates monitor
BERN 00000093 008 OF 013
implementation. L-permit applicants have to sign a copy of
their labor contract with the Swiss cabaret or nightclub in the
presence of a Swiss consular official in their country of
origin.
(U) In 2006, the Federal Office for Migration issued a new set
of regulations regarding L-visa holders. The regulations
explicitly stipulate that the contractual salary of the cabaret
dancer be transferred to a bank account in that person's name
and that the nightclub employer bears responsibility for signing
a health insurance contract on the cabaret dancer's behalf,
which must be mentioned in the labor contract. Both
requirements are designed to facilitate the monitoring of
working conditions by cantonal labor Inspectorates.
(U) B. Under the OHG, TIP victims, are entitled to free and
immediate material and medical aid as well as psychological,
social, and legal assistance. Local victims assistance centers
have to provide TIP victims with a minimum of 14 days of
emergency lodging, 14 days of living allowance, 4 hours of
consultation with a lawyer and 5 sessions of psychotherapy, with
all other expenses for medical treatment, transportation,
personal safety, or translation services being covered by the
government. If recovery requires more time, the government is
obligated to assume the additional cost of longer-term care.
The victims' assistance center may lodge a TIP victim in a
shelter for battered women.
(U) According to Swiss federal government statistics, in
2007 (Note: the KSMM informs post that 2008 statistics will be
available in August. End Note.) a total of 128 victims of human
trafficking or forced prostitution received help from government
victims assistance centers, compared to 90 in 2006. The NGO FIZ
Makasi, an assistance center counseling TIP victims, assisted
167 trafficking victims in 2007, compared to 133 in 2006, 116 in
2005 and 85 in 2004. FIZ Makasi, which was launched in 2004 by
the Zurich-based NGO FIZ, has received some financial
contributions from the federal government and several cantons
for counseling services offered to TIP victims under their
jurisdiction. The Canton of Zurich in 2007 contracted out the
counseling of TIP victims to FIZ Makasi and continues to support
the umbrella agency FIZ.
(U) Foreign juvenile victims of crime under 18 years of age have
to be placed under the protection of the Cantonal Guardianship
Office (Vormundschaftsbehoerde) during their stay in
Switzerland. In criminal court proceedings, the OHG provides
special protective measures for juvenile victims of crime:
Questioning by police or the investigative magistrate must occur
soon and the testimony is recorded on videotape. Cross-
examinations are not allowed. The questioning has to be done by
a recognized expert and no more than two sessions are allowed.
The law recognizes the special needs of juvenile victims of
crime and they may only serve as witnesses of the prosecution if
their testimony is indispensable for the conviction of a
suspect.
(U) In case of the repatriation of a juvenile victim of crime
(after the end of the stay-of-deportation proceedings or a
criminal court procedure), the Federal Office for Migration and
cantonal migration offices have to take into account that the
person in question is a minor under 18 years of age. Under the
law, a return to the country of origin is only permissible if
the authorities have ascertained that the juvenile can be placed
again in the care of the parents or a close relative, or if
there is a satisfactory care structure in place in the country
of origin.
(U) Post has requested information from Swiss authorities
regarding whether specialized care for male victims of TIP is
available in Switzerland, and will convey the result of that
query in a supplemental report.
(U) C. Federal and cantonal governments provide some funding to
NGOs and women shelters that provide services to TIP victims,
primarily on the basis of agreed per capita payments for
services rendered to victims. Under the 1993 OHG, all cantons
are obligated to offer TIP victims the services listed above.
Internationally, the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides
funding to International Organizations and NGOs providing
services to TIP victims, primarily through its development aid
BERN 00000093 009 OF 013
arm SDC and the rest through its human rights and human security
division. Post has requested the MFAQs TIP-related funding
statistics for 2008, and will provide that information in a
supplemental report.
(U) D. The government does assist foreign victims of trafficking
by granting relief from deportation and providing temporary to
permanent residency status in cases of serious hardship. Under
the Federal Law on Foreigners, effective January 1, 2008,
cantonal immigration authorities are expected to grant TIP
victims a minimum 30-day stay of deportation proceedings to let
them recover from their trauma and weigh participation in
judicial proceedings against their traffickers (cantonal
immigration authorities have been granting temporary stays of
deportation to TIP victims since 2004, in accord with federal
guidelines). Cantonal immigration authorities may admit TIP
victims willing to cooperate with judicial authorities for up to
three months or may issue short-term residency permits (with the
consent of the federal authorities) if the criminal
investigation takes longer. In 2007, cantonal immigration
offices granted the 30-day stays of deportation proceedings to
33 trafficking victims (39 in 2006) and issued 6 short-term
residency permits for the duration of legal/court proceedings
against their traffickers (three in 2006). Post will provide
2008 statistics on stays of deportation proceedings for TIP
victims in a supplemental report, when that information is
available from Swiss federal authorities.
(U) E/F. The new Federal Law on Foreigners further strengthens
the legal status of TIP victims and witnesses, explicitly
authorizing the government to waive normal immigration
requirements and grant residency permits for victims of human
trafficking as well as witnesses in human trafficking cases.
The Federal Office for Migration grants trafficking victims
temporary admission in Switzerland if they are at risk of
personal harm as witnesses in criminal proceedings or if a
return to the country of origin is deemed unreasonable. In
2007, four victims were granted such long-term residency permits
on grounds of personal hardship after the end of court
proceedings (three in 2006). The law also allows the federal
government to logistically and financially assist trafficking
victims and witnesses for whom a return is acceptable in their
re-integration in their countries of origin. In April 2008, the
Federal Office for Migration started a two-year pilot project to
assist trafficking victims and witnesses in their return to and
re-integration in their home societies. Post will provide 2008
statistics on any residency permits provided to TIP victims in a
supplemental report, when that information is available from
Swiss federal authorities.
¶G. The government enacted new protective measures for TIP
victims. The number of TIP victims receiving counseling
services from professional assistance centers for victims of
crime rose from 90 in 2006 to 128 in 2007.
(U) Embassy contacts stress that statistics available indicate
that persons on L-permits do not figure prominently among TIP
victims. For example, of the 167 TIP victims counseled by the
anti-TIP NGO FIZ in 2007, 30 had entered the country on a L-
permit. Roughly half of the TIP victims counseled by FIZ
crossed the border into Switzerland either without proper
documentation or as tourists. Police authorities share the
assessment that the great majority of TIP victims enter the
country without any proper documentation.
(U) H. Ten cantons have established a formal referral process
for TIP victims to improve their protection and security by
regulating the procedures for identifying and referring TIP
victims for assistance. As noted above, the government has
strengthened protective measures of cabaret/night club dancers
on temporary artistic visas, so called L-permits, often thought
of as being vulnerable to exploitation by their employers.
(U) I. Under the new Federal Law on Foreigners, effective
January 1, 2008, cantonal migration authorities are expected to
grant TIP victims a stay of deportation proceedings to recover
from their trauma and weigh participation in judicial
proceedings (cantonal immigration authorities have been granting
temporary stays of deportation to TIP victims since 2004, in
accord with guidelines sent out by the FOM). The new law
further strengthens the legal status of TIP victims and
BERN 00000093 010 OF 013
witnesses, explicitly authorizing the government to waive normal
immigration requirements and, in cases of serious hardship,
grant residency permits for victims of human trafficking as well
as witnesses in human trafficking cases.
(U) The new Federal Law on Foreigners also allows the federal
government logistically and financially to assist in the
voluntary return to and re-integration of trafficking victims
and witnesses in their countries of origin. The Federal Office
for Migration in April 2008 started a two-year pilot project to
assist primarily victims and witnesses of human trafficking and
secondarily cabaret dancers in Switzerland who are in an
exploitative situation. The pilot project is being implemented
in co-operation with cantonal bodies assisting returning
migrants and the International Organization for Migration.
Under the new Federal Law on Foreigners, the beneficiaries of
the pilot program receive the same assistance and have access to
the same counseling services as are offered to asylum seekers
returning voluntarily. This includes financial, material, and
medical assistance in the return to the country of origin. The
pilot project takes into account the special needs of TIP
victims (i.e. risk assessment, rehabilitation programs, etc.).
After the pilot phase, the project will be evaluated and
potentially modified. It is expected to be turned into an
indefinite TIP victim return assistance program.
(U) J. The Swiss Government encourages TIP victims to assist
judicial authorities in trafficking investigations and
prosecutions by granting them temporary residency and financial
support, and admitting them to stay if a return to their country
of origin posed a serious risk of personal harm. The Swiss
Victims Assistance Law (OHG) safeguards TIP victims' rights in
criminal prosecutions with special rules for trial procedures
and for compensation and redress. The OHG covers all victims of
crimes, including foreigners staying illegally in Switzerland.
The OHG provides for the special protection of witnesses'
identity in criminal court proceedings: victims/witnesses may
request the trial to take place behind closed doors and avoid
confrontation with the defendant. The OHG is a federal law and
thus binding on all cantonal codes of criminal trial
proceedings. TIP victims may also file civil suits against
their traffickers and seek financial compensation. Under the
new Federal Law on Foreigners, effective January 1, 2008, TIP
victims temporarily admitted for the duration of court
proceedings against their traffickers may be issued a work
permit during their stay.
(U) Several major urban centers have established a referral
process for TIP victims in the context of regular roundtable
meetings between NGOs and cantonal justice, police and
immigration authorities. As a direct result of the regulation to
stay deportation proceedings and the better cooperation between
NGOs and law enforcement officials, the number of TIP victims
willing to testify against their traffickers has risen
considerably. FIZ reports that of the 167 TIP victims being
counseled during 2007, 83 were testifying to law enforcement
officials against their trafficker. In 2005, 37 out of a total
of 116 TIP victims had cooperated with judicial authorities. In
other words, the percentage of TIP victims willing to testify
against their traffickers rose from less than 10 percent to over
50 percent in a matter of a few years.
(U) K. The GOS provides extensive training for government
officials in identifying trafficking victims and providing
assistance. The Swiss Police Institute in 2007 held specialized
five-day anti-TIP workshops for migration and law enforcement
officials and border guards.
(U) The Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs briefs experts and
diplomatic personnel about the problem of trafficking in human
beings prior to their postings abroad, and draws their attention
to a code of conduct drafted by a joint working group on human
trafficking. According to these rules, diplomatic staff shall
stay clear of any person who can reasonably be suspected of
engaging in trafficking in human beings or those who are
involved in other criminal activities under the laws of either
the host country or of Swiss or international law. The
Department of Foreign Affairs also urges its embassies and
consulates to develop ongoing relationships with NGOs assisting
trafficking victims.
BERN 00000093 011 OF 013
(U) The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs anti-TIP
information and prevention program for visa applicants is
conducted by all Swiss consulates worldwide. The program (that
started as a pilot project at Embassies Moscow and Kiev)
consists of the following elements: a personal interview with
every first-time L-visa applicant; the signing of a standardized
labor contract with a Swiss night club in the presence of a
Swiss consular official; a briefing of the L-visa applicant on
her or his legal and contractual rights; and an information
brochure with the phone numbers and addresses of victim
assistance hotlines or drop-in centers in Switzerland for
persons in need.
(U) L. N/A
(U) M. The following is a list of IOs and NGOs operating in
Switzerland that provide services to trafficking victims:
Terre des Hommes, Switzerland;
Ecpat Switzerland (end child prostitution, child pornography and
trafficking of children for sexual purposes);
International Organization for Migration;
International Labor Organization;
Women's Information Center for Women from Africa, Asia, Latin
America and Eastern Europe (FIZ): counseling,
publications/articles, symposiums/workshops, participation in
round tables with aids-prevention and anti-violence groups,
multi-lingual educational radio programs, and international
contact building.
(U) In addition, a number of smaller NGOs counseling women in
the sex trade as well as women shelters that exist in most urban
centers, deal with the problem of human trafficking. A great
number of these organizations are linked in the national network
"Prostitution Collective Reflection" (ProKoRe). The major
counseling centers and primary points of contact of ProKoRe are
FIZ in Zurich, Xenia in Bern, and ASPASIE in Geneva.
(U) The national organizations and domestic NGOs typically deal
with TIP victims, prostitutes, and victims of domestic violence
and offer victim counseling, crisis intervention and emergency
lodging, legal and medical assistance, and assisted returns to
the country of origin. Cooperation with local authorities is
varied but typically includes regular meetings and
institutionalized information exchange, cooperation in the
context of working groups or roundtables, financial support by
local communities and cantons, as well as public funding for
specific projects.
VI. PREVENTION
-------------
(U) A. In conjunction with the European Soccer Cup (Euro 08),
which Switzerland hosted jointly with Austria in June 2008, the
federal government provided $96,000 (100,000 Swiss francs) to
NGOs to kick-start suitable public awareness campaigns against
trafficking and forced prostitution. The campaign primarily
targeted potential QclientsQ of prostitutes.
(U) The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a conference on
November 12 dedicated to the topic of QThe Overlaps of
Prostitution, Migration, and Human Trafficking.Q The conference
was held in Bern and attended by experts from governments, NGOs,
and multi-lateral organizations (please see also BERN 32).
(U) B. Switzerland's borders are adequately monitored and
immigration regulations are stringent. Switzerland's visa
sections in countries of origin inform applicants of "artistic
visa" or L-permits about their rights when working in
Switzerland. Information brochures are available in 16
languages. Some embassies have also displayed respective
information on their homepage.
(U) Swiss Foreign Affairs Department officials have sensitized
visa adjudicators to the problem and have invited NGOs to give
training to embassy staff.
(U) The Swiss Border Guards, an administrative unit of the
Federal Department of Finance, cooperate closely with the
Federal Office for Migration on issues of asylum and migration.
Combating irregular migration and the smuggling of migrants is a
priority for the Swiss Border Guards. Border Guard officials
BERN 00000093 012 OF 013
receive special training to heighten awareness of human
trafficking as part of the normal training program. Members of
the Swiss Border Guards took part in the training classes in
combating human trafficking held at the Swiss Police Academy in
Neuchatel in April and October 2007. Border guards report all
suspicious activities to the cantonal police force of the area,
which holds sole authority for further criminal investigations.
However, in practice it has proven difficult for border guard
officials to spot victims of human trafficking because the
latter often give only limited information about themselves and
commonly do not denounce their traffickers out of fear of
reprisals. The leadership of the Swiss Border Guards, the
Federal Office for Refugees, and the Federal Office for
Migration are all represented on the KSMM to assure the flow of
information and the analysis of immigration patterns for
evidence of trafficking.
(U) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs constantly adjusts measures
to combat visa abuse, ensuring that procedures are tailored to
local conditions. In 2005 the MFA introduced systematic risk
assessments and began subjecting Swiss missions to comprehensive
inspections every four years. The MFA puts special importance
on raising awareness among visa clerks and their line managers
and on their careful screening and preparation for the task in
high-risk missions.
(U) C. The key office coordinating the anti-trafficking efforts
of the various government agencies is the Coordination Unit
against the Trafficking of Persons and Smuggling of Migrants
(KSMM), which started operations at the beginning of 2003.
Formally a part of the Federal Office of Police, the KSMM
processes and passes information and coordinates policy within
the federal administration as well as between the federal
agencies and the cantons (states). It is also the primary point
of contact for international inquiries on all issues linked to
illegal migration and human trafficking.
(SBU) In May 2008, the Swiss federal government organized a
visit of 15 Swiss police, judicial, and NGO officials to Romania
for a dialogue on TIP prevention and to coordinate on some
concrete TIP cases. MFA officials have informed post that the
Swiss federal government plans to use this exchange as a model
for dialogue and coordination with other countries.
(U) Internationally, Switzerland was one of the initiators of
the OSCE Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings and
has been supporting the OSCE Special Rapporteur since 2000, both
financially and with expert secondments.
(U) D. The KSMM seeks to implement the national action plan that
its interdepartmental steering committee first adopted in 2003.
In keeping with its decentralized structure, the steering
committee is the KSMM's highest organ. The steering committee
consists of directorate-level representatives of the federal
departments involved in combating human trafficking, delegates
from cantonal conferences and associations, as well as
representatives from three NGOs and international organizations
with a consultative status. The Steering Committee sets targets
and the guidelines for the KSMM's activities and controls the
drafting and implementation of measures. The Steering Committee
is chaired by the Federal Office of Police. Specific measures
are developed and implemented either by working groups set up
for that purpose or by individuals with special support from
the KSMM Secretariat.
(U) E. In conjunction with the European Soccer Cup (Euro 08),
which Switzerland hosted jointly with Austria in June 2008, the
federal government provided $96,000 (100,000 Swiss francs) to
NGOs to kick-start suitable public awareness campaigns against
trafficking and forced prostitution. The campaign primarily
targeted potential QclientsQ of prostitutes.
¶F. (U) In summer 2008, the Association of Travel Offices in
Switzerland signed an International Code of Conduct related to
preventing child abuse abroad. In coordination with this
effort, the Swiss federal police added a form to its internet
site where suspected incidents of child sex tourism can be
reported to appropriate law enforcement authorities.
(U) G. Switzerland pursues a zero-tolerance policy regarding
sexual exploitation by personnel serving in international peace-
BERN 00000093 013 OF 013
keeping missions. It lobbied multilateral bodies to adopt a
zero-tolerance policy and has itself adopted this policy in its
National Action Plan to implement UN Security Council Resolution
1325 (which the GOS adopted on January 31, 2007) All civil and
military persons serving in peace-keeping missions are subject
to the Code of Conduct of the UN (and/or NATO-PfP respectively).
Specific Swiss government training modules discuss the problem
of human trafficking and the vulnerability of women to sexual
abuse in armed conflicts - including also by international
peacekeepers. At the duty station, establishments associated
with commercial sex are designated off-limits to staff deployed
on peace-keeping missions. Compliance with this regulation is
monitored by Swiss military policing units on the ground and
violations are punished. There have been no reports of serious
misconduct of Swiss civilian or military staff deployed on
international peace-keeping missions.
Post POC
--------
(U) Chris Buck, Deputy POL/E Counselor
Tel. [41] (31) 357-7213
Fax. [41] (31) 357-7344
[Note: Post will provide an estimate of the number of hours
spent in preparation of this report (and the ranks of the
various personnel contributing those hours), when the report has
been finalized. End Note]
CARTER