

Currently released so far... 51122 / 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
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/11
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
2011/05/08
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
2011/08/09
2011/08/10
2011/08/11
2011/08/12
2011/08/13
2011/08/15
2011/08/16
2011/08/17
2011/08/18
2011/08/19
2011/08/21
2011/08/22
2011/08/23
2011/08/24
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
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 Peshawar
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
UNVIE
UN Rome
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vientiane
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AMGT
ASEC
AEMR
AR
APECO
AU
AORC
ADANA
AJ
AF
AFIN
AMED
AS
AM
ABLD
AFFAIRS
AMB
APER
ACOA
AND
AA
AE
AADP
AID
AO
AL
AG
AORD
ADM
AINF
AINT
ASEAN
AORG
ABT
APEC
AY
ASUP
ARF
AGOA
AVIAN
ATRN
ANET
AGIT
ASECVE
ABUD
AODE
ALOW
ADB
AN
ADPM
ASPA
ARABL
AFSN
AZ
AC
AIAG
AFSI
ASCE
ASIG
ACABQ
ADIP
AFGHANISTAN
AROC
ADCO
ACOTA
ANARCHISTS
AMEDCASCKFLO
AK
ARABBL
ASCH
ANTITERRORISM
AGRICULTURE
AOCR
ARR
ASSEMBLY
AORCYM
AFPK
ACKM
AGMT
AEC
APRC
AIN
AFPREL
ASFC
ASECTH
AFSA
AINR
AOPC
AFAF
AFARI
AX
ASECAF
ASECAFIN
AT
AFZAL
APCS
AGAO
AIT
ARCH
AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL
AMEX
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AORCD
AVIATION
ARAS
AINFCY
ACBAQ
AOPR
AREP
AOIC
ASEX
ASEK
AER
AGR
AMCT
AVERY
APR
AEMRS
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
ACS
AMCHAMS
AECL
AUC
ACAO
BA
BR
BB
BG
BEXP
BY
BRUSSELS
BU
BD
BTIO
BK
BL
BE
BMGT
BO
BM
BX
BN
BWC
BBSR
BTT
BC
BH
BILAT
BUSH
BHUM
BT
BTC
BMENA
BOND
BAIO
BP
BF
BRPA
BURNS
BUT
BBG
BCW
BOEHNER
BOL
BASHAR
BIDEN
BFIN
BZ
BEXPC
BTIU
CPAS
CA
CASC
CS
CBW
CIDA
CO
CODEL
CI
CROS
CU
CH
CWC
CMGT
CVIS
CDG
CTR
CG
CF
CHIEF
CJAN
CBSA
CE
CY
CB
CW
CM
CHR
CD
COE
CV
COUNTER
CT
CN
CPUOS
CTERR
CVR
CVPR
CDC
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CONS
COM
CACS
CR
CONTROLS
CAN
CACM
COMMERCE
CAMBODIA
CFIS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITES
CONDOLEEZZA
CZ
CTBT
CEN
CLINTON
CFED
CARC
CTM
CARICOM
CSW
CICTE
CYPRUS
CBE
CMGMT
CARSON
CWCM
CIVS
COUNTRYCLEARANCE
CENTCOM
CAPC
COPUOS
CKGR
CITEL
CQ
CITT
CIC
CARIB
CVIC
CAFTA
CVISU
CDB
CEDAW
CNC
CJUS
COMMAND
CENTER
COL
CAJC
CONSULAR
CLMT
CBC
CIA
CNARC
CIS
CEUDA
CHINA
CAC
CL
DR
DJ
DEMOCRATIC
DEMARCHE
DOMESTIC
DISENGAGEMENT
DB
DA
DHS
DAO
DCM
DAVID
DO
DEAX
DEFENSE
DEA
DTRO
DPRK
DOC
DTRA
DK
DAC
DOD
DRL
DRC
DCG
DE
DOT
DEPT
DOE
DS
DKEM
ECON
ETTC
EFIS
ETRD
EC
EMIN
EAGR
EAID
EFIN
EUN
ECIN
EG
EWWT
EINV
ENRG
ELAB
EPET
EIND
EN
EAIR
EUMEM
ECPS
ES
EI
ELTN
ET
EZ
EU
ER
EINT
ENGR
ECONOMIC
ENIV
EFTA
ETRN
EMS
EUREM
EPA
ESTH
EEB
EET
ENV
EAG
EXIM
ECTRD
ELNT
ENVIRONMENT
ECA
EAP
EINDIR
ETR
ECONOMY
ETRC
ELECTIONS
EICN
EXPORT
EARG
EGHG
EID
ETRO
EINF
EAIDHO
ECIP
EENV
EURM
EPEC
ERNG
ENERG
EIAD
EXBS
ED
EREL
ELAM
EK
EWT
ENGRD
EDEV
ECE
ENGY
EXIMOPIC
ETRDEC
ECCT
EUR
ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID
EFI
ECOSOC
EXTERNAL
ESCAP
ETCC
EENG
ERA
ENRD
ECLAC
ETRAD
EBRD
ENVR
ECONENRG
ELTNSNAR
ELAP
EPIT
EDUC
EAIDXMXAXBXFFR
EETC
EIVN
EDRC
EGOV
ETRA
EAIDRW
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ESA
ETRDGK
ENVI
ELN
EPRT
EPTED
ERTD
EUM
EAIDS
EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM
EDU
EV
EAIDAF
EDA
EPREL
EINVEFIN
EAGER
ETMIN
EUCOM
ECCP
EIDN
EINVKSCA
ENNP
EFINECONCS
ETC
EAIRASECCASCID
EINN
ETRP
ECONOMICS
ENERGY
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
ETRDEINVTINTCS
EFIM
ETIO
EATO
EIPR
EINVETC
ETTD
ETDR
EIQ
ECONCS
ENRGIZ
EAIG
ENTG
EUC
ERD
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ESENV
ECINECONCS
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECUN
FR
FI
FOREIGN
FARM
FIR
FAO
FK
FARC
FAS
FJ
FREEDOM
FAC
FINANCE
FBI
FTAA
FM
FCS
FAA
FORCE
FDA
FTA
FT
FCSC
FMGT
FINR
FIN
FDIC
FOR
FOI
FO
FMLN
FISO
GM
GERARD
GT
GA
GG
GR
GTIP
GH
GZ
GE
GB
GY
GAZA
GJ
GEORGE
GOI
GCC
GMUS
GI
GLOBAL
GV
GC
GL
GOV
GKGIC
GF
GWI
GIPNC
GUTIERREZ
GTMO
GANGS
GAERC
GUILLERMO
GASPAR
HR
HA
HYMPSK
HO
HK
HUMAN
HU
HN
HHS
HURI
HUD
HUMRIT
HUMANITARIAN
HUMANR
HL
HSTC
HILLARY
HCOPIL
HADLEY
HOURANI
HI
HUM
HEBRON
HUMOR
IZ
IN
IAEA
IS
IMO
ILO
IR
IC
IT
ITU
ID
IV
IMF
IBRD
IWC
ICAO
ICRC
INF
IO
IPR
ISO
IK
ISRAELI
IQ
ICES
IDB
INFLUENZA
IRAQI
ISCON
IGAD
IRAN
ITALY
IRAQ
ICTY
ICTR
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IQNV
IADB
INTERNAL
INMARSAT
IRDB
ILC
INCB
INRB
ICJ
ISRAEL
INR
IEA
ISPA
ICCAT
IOM
ITRD
IHO
IL
IFAD
ITRA
IDLI
ISCA
INL
INRA
INTELSAT
ISAF
ISPL
IRS
IEF
ITER
INDO
IIP
IND
IEFIN
IACI
IAHRC
INNP
IA
INTERPOL
IFIN
ISSUES
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ITA
IP
IRPE
IDA
ISLAMISTS
ITF
INRO
IBET
IDP
IRC
KMDR
KPAO
KOMC
KNNP
KFLO
KDEM
KSUM
KIPR
KFLU
KE
KCRM
KJUS
KAWC
KZ
KSCA
KDRG
KCOR
KGHG
KPAL
KTIP
KMCA
KCRS
KPKO
KOLY
KRVC
KVPR
KG
KWBG
KTER
KS
KN
KSPR
KWMN
KV
KTFN
KFRD
KU
KSTC
KSTH
KISL
KGIC
KSEP
KFIN
KTEX
KTIA
KUNR
KCMR
KCIP
KMOC
KTDB
KBIO
KBCT
KMPI
KSAF
KACT
KFEM
KPRV
KPWR
KIRC
KCFE
KRIM
KHIV
KHLS
KVIR
KNNNP
KCEM
KLIG
KIRF
KNUP
KSAC
KNUC
KPGOV
KTDD
KIDE
KOMS
KLFU
KNNC
KMFO
KSEO
KJRE
KJUST
KMRS
KSRE
KGIT
KPIR
KPOA
KUWAIT
KIVP
KICC
KSCS
KPOL
KSEAO
KRCM
KSCI
KNAP
KGLB
KICA
KCUL
KPRM
KFSC
KQ
KPOP
KPFO
KPALAOIS
KREC
KBWG
KR
KTTB
KNAR
KCOM
KESS
KINR
KOCI
KWN
KCSY
KREL
KTBT
KFTN
KW
KRFD
KFLOA
KHDP
KNEP
KIND
KHUM
KSKN
KOMO
KDRL
KTFIN
KSOC
KPO
KGIV
KSTCPL
KSI
KPRP
KFPC
KNNB
KNDP
KICCPUR
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KDMR
KFCE
KIMMITT
KMCC
KMNP
KSEC
KOMCSG
KGCC
KRAD
KCRP
KAUST
KWAWC
KCHG
KRDP
KPAS
KTIAPARM
KPAOPREL
KWGB
KIRP
KMIG
KLAB
KSEI
KHSA
KNPP
KPAONZ
KWWW
KGHA
KY
KCRIM
KCRCM
KGCN
KPLS
KIIP
KPAOY
KTRD
KTAO
KJU
KBTS
KWAC
KFIU
KNNO
KPAI
KILS
KPA
KRCS
KWBGSY
KNPPIS
KNNPMNUC
KNPT
KERG
KLTN
KPREL
KTLA
KO
KAWK
KVRP
KAID
KX
KENV
KWCI
KNPR
KCFC
KNEI
KFTFN
KTFM
KCERS
KDEMAF
KMEPI
KEMS
KBTR
KEDU
KIRL
KNNR
KMPT
KPDD
KPIN
KDEV
KFRP
KTBD
KMSG
KWWMN
KWBC
KA
KOM
KWNM
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KRGY
KNNF
KICR
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
KDDG
KCGC
KID
KNSD
KMPF
KWMM
MARR
MX
MASS
MOPS
MNUC
MCAP
MTCRE
MRCRE
MTRE
MASC
MY
MK
MG
MU
MILI
MO
MZ
MEPP
MCC
MEDIA
MOPPS
MI
MAS
MW
MP
MEPN
MV
MD
MR
MC
MCA
MT
MIL
MARITIME
MOPSGRPARM
MAAR
MOOPS
ML
MA
MN
MNUCPTEREZ
MTCR
MUNC
MPOS
MONUC
MGMT
MURRAY
MACP
MINUSTAH
MCCONNELL
MGT
MNUR
MF
MEPI
MOHAMMAD
MAR
MAPP
MNU
MFA
MTS
MLS
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MED
MNVC
MIK
MBM
MILITARY
MAPS
MARAD
MDC
MACEDONIA
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
MPS
NZ
NATO
NI
NO
NU
NG
NL
NPT
NS
NA
NP
NASA
NSF
NEA
NANCY
NSG
NRR
NATIONAL
NMNUC
NC
NSC
NAS
NARC
NELSON
NATEU
NDP
NIH
NK
NIPP
NR
NERG
NSSP
NE
NTDB
NT
NEGROPONTE
NGO
NATOIRAQ
NAR
NZUS
NCCC
NH
NAFTA
NEW
NRG
NUIN
NOVO
NATOPREL
NV
NICHOLAS
NPA
NSFO
NW
NORAD
NPG
NOAA
OPRC
OPDC
OTRA
OECD
OVIP
OREP
ODC
OIIP
OAS
OSCE
OPIC
OMS
OFDP
OFDA
OEXC
OPCW
OIE
OSCI
OM
OPAD
ODPC
OIC
ODIP
OPPI
ORA
OCEA
OREG
OMIG
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OEXP
OPEC
OFPD
OAU
OCII
OIL
OVIPPRELUNGANU
OSHA
OPCD
OPCR
OF
OFDPQIS
OSIC
OHUM
OTR
OBSP
OGAC
OESC
OVP
ON
OES
OTAR
OCS
PREL
PGOV
PARM
PINR
PHUM
PM
PREF
PTER
PK
PINS
PBIO
PHSA
PE
PBTS
PA
PL
POL
PAK
POV
POLITICS
POLICY
PO
PRELTBIOBA
PKO
PIN
PNAT
PU
PGOVPREL
PALESTINIAN
PTERPGOV
PELOSI
PAS
PP
PTEL
PROP
PRELAF
PRHUM
PRE
PUNE
PIRF
PVOV
PROG
PERSONS
PROV
PKK
PRGOV
PH
PLAB
PDEM
PCI
PRL
PRM
PINSO
PERM
PETR
PPAO
PERL
PBS
PETERS
PRELBR
PCON
POLITICAL
PMIL
POLM
PKPA
PNUM
PLO
PTERM
PJUS
PARMP
PNIR
PHUMKPAL
PG
PREZ
PGIC
PAO
PROTECTION
PRELPK
PGOVENRG
PATTY
PSOC
PARTIES
PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ
PMIG
PAIGH
PARK
PETER
PHUS
PKPO
PGOVECON
POUS
PMAR
PWBG
PAR
PGOVGM
PHUH
PTE
PY
POLUN
PDOV
PGOVSOCI
PGOVPM
PRELEVU
PGOR
PBTSRU
PHUMA
PHUMR
PPD
PGV
PRAM
PARMS
PINL
PSI
PKPAL
PPA
PTERE
PGOF
PINO
PREO
PHAS
PAC
PRESL
PORG
PS
PGVO
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PINT
PRELP
PREFA
PNG
PTBS
PFOR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PREK
PHJM
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PECON
PEACE
PROCESS
PLN
PEDRO
PF
PGPV
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGIV
PHUMPREL
POGOV
PEL
PBT
PAMQ
PINF
PSEPC
POSTS
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PGOC
PNR
RS
RP
RU
RW
RFE
RCMP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
REFORM
RO
ROW
ROBERT
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RELATIONS
RAY
ROBERTG
RIGHTS
RM
RATIFICATION
RREL
RBI
RICE
ROOD
REL
RODHAM
RGY
RUEHZO
RELIGIOUS
RELFREE
RUEUN
RELAM
RSP
RF
REO
REGIONAL
RUPREL
RI
REMON
RPEL
RSO
SCUL
SENV
SOCI
SZ
SNAR
SO
SP
SU
SY
SI
SMIG
SYR
SA
SW
SF
SR
SYRIA
SNARM
START
SPECIALIST
SG
SNIG
SCI
SGWI
SE
SIPDIS
SANC
SELAB
SN
SETTLEMENTS
SCIENCE
SENVENV
SENS
SPCE
SPAS
SECURITY
SENC
SOCIETY
SOSI
SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR
SEN
SPECI
ST
SL
SENVCASCEAIDID
SC
SECRETARY
STR
SNA
SOCIS
SADC
SEP
SK
SHUM
SYAI
SMIL
STEPHEN
SNRV
SKCA
SENSITIVE
SECI
SCUD
SCRM
SGNV
SECTOR
SAARC
SENVSXE
SWMN
STEINBERG
SOPN
SOCR
SCRS
SWE
SARS
SNARIZ
SUDAN
SENVQGR
SAN
SM
SFNV
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SCULKPAOECONTU
SENVKGHG
SHI
SEVN
SH
SNARCS
SNARN
SIPRS
TBIO
TW
TRGY
TSPA
TU
TPHY
TI
TX
TH
TIP
TSPL
TNGD
TZ
TS
TC
TK
TURKEY
TERRORISM
TPSL
TINT
TRSY
TERFIN
TPP
TT
TECHNOLOGY
TE
TAGS
TRAFFICKING
TJ
TN
TO
TD
TP
TREATY
TR
TA
TIO
TECH
TF
TRAD
TNDG
TWI
TPSA
TWL
TAUSCHER
TRBY
TL
TV
THPY
TSPAM
TREL
TRT
TNAR
TFIN
TWCH
THOMMA
THOMAS
TERROR
TRY
TBID
UK
UNESCO
UNSC
UNGA
UN
US
UZ
USEU
UG
UP
UNAUS
UNMIK
USTR
UY
USUN
UNEP
UNDC
UV
UNPUOS
UNSCR
USAID
UNODC
UNRCR
UNHCR
UNDP
UNCRIME
UA
UNHRC
UNRWA
UNO
UNCND
UNCHR
USAU
UNICEF
USPS
UNOMIG
UNESCOSCULPRELPHUMKPALCUIRXFVEKV
UR
UNFICYP
UNCITRAL
UNAMA
UNVIE
USTDA
USNC
UNCSD
USCC
UNEF
UNGAPL
USSC
UNMIC
UNTAC
UNCLASSIFIED
USDA
UNCTAD
USGS
UNFPA
UNSE
USOAS
UE
UAE
UNCHS
UNDESCO
UNC
UNSCS
UKXG
UNGACG
UNHR
UNBRO
UNCHC
UNFCYP
UNIDROIT
WHTI
WIPO
WTRO
WHO
WTO
WMO
WFP
WEET
WS
WE
WA
WHA
WBG
WILLIAM
WI
WSIS
WCL
WEBZ
WZ
WW
WWBG
WMD
WWT
WMN
WWARD
WITH
WTRQ
WCO
WEU
WB
WBEG
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09CARACAS212, VENEZUELA'S 2009 TIP REPORT SUBMISSION
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. #09CARACAS212.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09CARACAS212 | 2009-02-13 21:33 | 2011-08-24 01:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Caracas |
VZCZCXRO2615
PP RUEHAO
DE RUEHCV #0212/01 0442133
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 132133Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2611
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0377
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 7936
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 6098
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 1131
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 4058
RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN PRIORITY 3654
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 2945
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO PRIORITY 0604
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO PRIORITY 1242
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEAHLC/DHS WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 CARACAS 000212
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
ALSO FOR POLAD, PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
WHA/PPC FOR SMILLER, G/TIP FOR BFLECK,
DEPT FOR G/TIP, G-ACBLANK, G, INL, DRL, PRM, WHA/PCC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF SMIG ASEC ELAB KCRM KFRD KTIP KWMN
VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA'S 2009 TIP REPORT SUBMISSION
REF: REF: 2008 STATE 132759
¶1. (SBU) Per reftel, post submits the following information
for inclusion in the 2009 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report
for Venezuela. Political Officer Douglas Fisk is Embassy's
point of contact. Telephone: 58-212-907-8052; fax
58-212-907-8033; Email: FiskDA@state.gov Forty hours were
dedicated to the completion of this report.
------------------------------------
The Country's TIP Situation
------------------------------------
¶A. (SBU) Available information on trafficking in persons in
Venezuela is limited. The Government of the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) is generally reluctant to share
information regarding TIP with the USG. Post continues to
meet and request information from officials at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on trafficking in persons. MFA
officials told TIP officer and Poloff that they are working
with the Ministry of Interior and Justice (MIJ) to revamp the
Ministry's webpage to include up-to-date TIP statistics as
public information. This has not occurred to date. Post
knows of no other GBRV efforts to document the scope of human
trafficking in Venezuela. Reliable sources of information
are the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM),
and the Women's Association for Well-Being and Reciprocal
Assistance (AMBAR).
¶B. (SBU) According to international organizations (IOs),
and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Venezuela is a
source, transit, and destination country for women and
children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation
of forced labor. Women and children from Brazil, China,
Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Peru are
trafficked to and through Venezuela and subjected to
commercial and sexual exploitation or forced labor.
Venezuelans are trafficked internally, to Western Europe, and
to countries within the region. Venezuela is a transit
country for illegal migrants from other countries in the
region particularly Peru and Colombia and for Asian nations;
some of whom are believed to be trafficking victims.
According to NGO contacts, victims typically arrive in
Venezuela en route to Caribbean resort countries (Curacao and
Trinidad & Tobago) and (more recently) Mexico. Note: NGO
sources told TIP officer that many victims are transported by
small boats from the coastal areas near Falcon state and the
Paria peninsula to the Caribbean islands of Curacao and
Trinidad respectively. Sources reported that due to
Curacao,s relationship with the Netherlands, victims are
then easily moved onto Europe and more distant markets. End
Note.
There are no official statistics on the magnitude of
TIP-related problems in Venezuela. The Women's Association
for Well-Being and Reciprocal Assistance (AMBAR), a local
anti-trafficking NGO, reports assisting 26 victims of
trafficking from January - December 2008. Of these victims,
20 were minors under the age of 18. Officials at AMBAR told
TIP officer the majority of the minor victims were teenage
girls.
¶C. (SBU) Victims of trafficking are primarily from abroad
or from the interior of the country and later sold into
prostitution rings or placed into situations of forced labor.
Traffickers generally tend to transport victims to large
urban centers or to resort destinations. Prostitution is
prevalent in Venezuela, however post has no indication that
international child sex tourism is occurring. Post has no
reliable information regarding the conditions victims are
CARACAS 00000212 002 OF 007
trafficked into, however media reports indicate that
conditions are typically poor, whether victims are trafficked
internationally or internally.
¶D. (SBU) According to government officials, IOs, and NGO
contacts, women and children living in economically depressed
regions are believed to be more vulnerable to trafficking,
sexual exploitation, and forced labor than men.
¶E. (SBU) Organized crime groups are widely believed to be
involved in trafficking women and children to and through
Venezuela. Venezuelan-born victims are trafficked primarily
from the interior of the country and later sold into
prostitution rings or placed into forced labor. Children are
occasionally forced to work as beggars. Traffickers tend to
transport their victims to urban centers, including Caracas
and Maracaibo, and resort destinations, such as Margarita
Island or Anzoategui state. In many cases traffickers place
ads for models in regional newspapers and then lure
respondents under false pretense of employment. In poor
agricultural and fishing areas and in indigenous communities
heads of households are offered money to hire their daughters
or children to work in Venezuela's major cities or resort
towns. This occurred both internally as well as abroad.
These offers, however, often turn out to be false and the
victims were sold into the commercial sex trade or forced to
work as beggars in the streets. More recently, internal
trafficking appears to be on the rise in more remote
resource-rich areas in the Orinoco River Basin where poorly
monitored companies are located. In the border regions of
Tachira state, where political violence and FARC infiltration
are common, trafficking is also reported to occur.
---------------------------------------
THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-TIP EFFORTS
---------------------------------------
¶A. (SBU) The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela (GBRV) acknowledges that trafficking in persons is
a problem, but has not fully taken the necessary steps
towards eliminating TIP.
¶B. (SBU) Several government agencies are involved in
anti-trafficking efforts. Within the Ministry of Popular
Power for Interior and Justice (MPPIJ), the Crime and
Prevention Unit (CPU) has primary responsibility for
coordinating anti-TIP efforts. The Investigative and
Criminal Police Unit (CICP) also has responsibility for
trafficking cases, which it receives via a trafficking and
violence against women hotline or through other offices that
identify trafficking elements in larger cases. The National
Women's Institute (INAMUJER) serves as a liaison between
victims, anti-trafficking NGOs, and government law
enforcement agencies. The government is beginning to install
several new courts to address cases involving violence
against women, however the final scope of the new "Women's
Courts" and the extent of their involvement in anti-TIP
efforts has yet to be determined. The first of the courts
began operating in June 2008 in Caracas. Additional courts
are expected to open in Zulia, Aragua, Anzoategui, Carabobo,
Lara, Bolivar, and Trujillo states.
¶C. (SBU) The government lacked demonstrated law enforcement
efforts, victim assistance programs, and reliable data; all
of which limited the Government's ability to address TIP in
practice. The lack of a central coordinating body, such as a
national coordinator, also hampered Venezuela's ability to
keep and share statistics regarding TIP. Corruption is a
problem throughout Venezuelan society.
¶D. (SBU) Post does not have reliable information to assess
CARACAS 00000212 003 OF 007
the extent to which the government monitors its
anti-trafficking efforts. There is no indication that it
makes available, either privately or publicly, information on
its efforts to IOs or local NGOs.
--------------------------------------------- ---------
INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS
--------------------------------------------- ---------
¶A. (SBU) Article 16 of the Organic Law Against Organized
Crime, passed in 2005, makes trans-border trafficking
punishable with imprisonment for 10 to 18 years. Provisions
to the 2004 Naturalization and Immigration Law could also be
applied against transnational trafficking. It stipulated
that exploiting illegal labor, falsely promising employment
to encourage immigration to another country, or encouraging
illegal immigration or smuggling/to/through/from Venezuela is
punishable by four to eight years in prison. If immigrant
smuggling is done for profit, or is accompanied by violence
or intimidation, the sentence increases to eight to ten years
in prison. If a victim's life or health is endangered, then
the range of punishment increases an additional 50 percent.
The law also punishes any public servant who encourages,
through acts or omissions, the fraudulent entry or exit of a
person, with four to eight years in prison. Laws against
forced disappearance and kidnapping, punishable by two to six
years imprisonment, can be used to prosecute traffickers. In
the case of children, the Organic Law for the Protection of
Children and Adolescents (LOPNA), stipulates that offenders
be fined one to 10 months salary for trafficking in children.
Stipulated punishment for the prostitution or corruption of
minors is as little as three months in jail; repeat offenders
may face three to 18 months imprisonment. Laws against
trafficking-related crimes generally were not enforced and
many officials failed to distinguish the difference between
traffickers and migrant smugglers.
(SBU) In March 2007, the BRV passed the Organic Law on a
Women's Right to a Violence-Free Life designed to compliment
pre-existing legislation, although punishments under the 2007
law are more severe. Specifically, it outlines criminal
punishment for 19 forms of violence against women, including
forced prostitution, sexual slavery, smuggling and
trafficking. (Note: This law, as it is currently written,
does not apply to the trafficking of adult males or boys.
End note.) Regarding forced prostitution, Article 47 of the
law punishes offenders with 15 to 20 years in prison for the
use of physical force, the threat of violence, or
psychological coercion to force a victim to perform a sexual
act for a third person. Under Article 47, the same penalty
applies to an offender convicted of sexual slavery, although
a third party does not need to be involved. Smuggling,
facilitating the illegal entry or exit of women and young
girls through false employment, coercion, or force for
monetary benefit, it punishable by 10 to 15 years in prison.
Trafficking, the use of force, fraud, or coercion to recruit,
harbor, transport, receive, or obtain a person for the
purpose of sexual exploitation, prostitution, forced labor,
slavery, irregular adoptions, and the sale or organs, is
punishable with 15 to 20 years in prison.
¶B. / C. (SBU) The Naturalization and Migration Law does not
specifically differentiate between trafficking of persons for
sexual exploitation and for labor exploitation. The
Organized Crime Law, however, makes trafficking in persons
and smuggling for labor and sexual exploitation punishable by
a sentence of 10 to 15 years if the victim is an adult or 10
to 18 years if the victim is a child or adolescent. In
addition, the LOPNA makes trafficking children punishable by
fines of one to ten months salary. The Organic Law on a
Women's Right to a Violence Free Life has penalties ranging
CARACAS 00000212 004 OF 007
from 10-20 years in prison. (See paragraph A above for more
detailed description of penalties.)
¶D. (SBU) Under the Organic Law to Prevent Violence Against
Women and the Family, passed in 1998, forcible sexual assault
or rape is punishable by eight to 14 years in prison, while
the March 2007 Law makes it punishable by 10 to 15 years.
¶E. (SBU) The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela (GBRV) did not respond to the TIP Officer's
repeated requests for information on its efforts to
investigate, prosecute, convict, and sentence traffickers.
Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said they
had requested statistics on the government's law enforcement
efforts from the Ministry of Interior and Justice (MIJ), but
has not yet obtained or shared any new statistics with Post.
MFA officials told TIP officer and Poloff that they are
working with the Ministry of Interior and Justice (MIJ) to
update it's webpage to include up-to-date TIP statistics as
public information. This has not occurred to date. Although
the GBRV enacted the Organic Law on the Right of Women to a
Violence Free Life in March 2007, there is no reliable data
available on the number of trafficking cases, if any, that
have come forward as a result of the new law. The government
has also not provided updates on the two criminal
investigations opened against three trafficking suspects in
2007 or the 12 trafficking-related investigations that remain
open from previous years.
¶F. (SBU) In July 2008, approximately 60 government
officials attended an anti-TIP conference sponsored by the
Embassy's Narcotics Affairs Section and facilitated by
contractors from the United Nation's Office on Drugs and
Crime. Conference participants worked in the Crime
Prevention and Common Crimes Units, the Office of Fundamental
Rights, the Special Victim's Unit of the Scientific Police
(CICP), the Office of Statistics, the Human Right's
Ombudsman's Office, and the Ministry of Interior and
Justice's Family Protection Unit. Several judges and lawyers
attributed to the Attorney General's Office also
participated. International organizations and NGOs continue
to provide training to immigration, law enforcement, and
judicial officials on trafficking issues. In August and
September AMBAR conducted sexual and domestic violence
coupled with trafficking awareness workshops in the remote
Orinoco Basin city of Caicara del Orinoco. In attendance
were over 120 participants, ranging from prosecutors and
judges to members of the local national-guard and public
servants.
¶G. (SBU) Post has no reliable information regarding the
number, if any, of cooperative international investigations
involving trafficking. However, some in-country IOs state
that the GBRV cooperated with Interpol on trafficking issues.
¶H. (SBU) Post has no reliable information regarding whether
the GBRV received any request for the extradition of
traffickers. Venezuelan law prohibits the extradition of
Venezuelan nationals.
¶I. / J. (SBU) There is no indication that government
officials facilitated, were complicit in, or condoned
trafficking. However, corruption among immigration,
identification, customs, and border patrol officials is
widespread and could facilitate trafficking.
¶K. (SBU) Prostitution is legal and regulated in Venezuela.
The government issues identification cards to commercial sex
workers and they are required to undergo periodic medical
examinations. Women working as prostitutes are required to
be 18 and undergo regular health checks. Prostitutes are
CARACAS 00000212 005 OF 007
supposed to carry documents to prove they satisfy both of
these requirements.
¶L. (SBU) This section does not apply to Venezuela because
it does not contribute troops to international peace keeping
efforts.
¶M. (SBU) The government is beginning to acknowledge to a
limited degree that the prostitution of children occurs, but
post has no information to indicate that international child
sex tourism is occurring. Post has no information confirming
the countries of origin for sex tourists or the numbers of
foreign pedophiles, if any, that the government prosecutes.
There is currently no reliable information or statistics on
the scope of this problem. Prostitution does occur in large
urban cities such as Caracas, as well as in resort areas such
as Margarita Island. Local media reports indicate that when
underage children are discovered to be working in brothels,
they are typically placed into child protective custody.
---------------------------------------
Protection and Assistance to Victims
---------------------------------------
¶A. (SBU) The GBRV offers some protection for victims and
witnesses. Government-provided psychological and medical
examinations are available for trafficking victims. Both the
Ministry of Popular Power for Interior and Justice (MPPIJ)
and the Child Protection Council reportedly have trained
psychologists and physicians who provide these examinations
free of charge, however, comprehensive victim services such
as follow-up medical assistance, job training and
reintegration assistance are extremely limited.
¶B. / C. (SBU) The GBRV does not operate any shelters
dedicated solely for trafficking victims. NGOs provide the
majority of victim assistance services in Venezuela. The
Ministry of Health provided some limited funding to AMBAR to
assist with TIP prevention activities, psychological services
for victims and educational campaigns against AIDS, however,
the majority of NGOs in Venezuela receive little to no
funding for victim care facilities.
¶D. (SBU) There is no reliable information to assess whether
the government assisted foreign trafficking victims by
providing relief from deportation during the reporting
period. UNHCR, however, noted that in previous years it
worked with the GBRV to file asylum requests and relief from
deportation for victims who feared reprisals from traffickers
if they returned to their country of origin.
¶E. (SBU) Government shelters for battered women and at-risk
youth have limited space and inadequate services to meet the
needs of trafficking victims. The GBRV does not operate
shelters dedicated solely for trafficking victims.
Longer-term shelter or housing benefits specifically for
victims of TIP do not exist.
¶F. (SBU) The government operates a national hotline through
which it receives trafficking complaints, and refers victims
to NGOs for care. IO,s and NGOs state that the government
generally respected the rights of trafficking victims and
typically refer them to CICP, INAMUJER, or local
organizations for legal and psychological service.
¶G. (SBU) Post is unable to provide the total number of
trafficking victims identified during the reporting period.
The GBRV did not respond to Post's repeated requests for
information. Post was told in November by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs that the Ministry of Interior and Justice
(MIJ) would revamp its webpage to include up-to-date
CARACAS 00000212 006 OF 007
statistics as public information. This has not occurred to
date. The Women's Association for Well-Being and Reciprocal
Assistance (AMBAR), a local anti-trafficking NGO, reported
assisting 26 victims of trafficking from January - December
¶2008. Of these victims, 20 were minors under the age of 18.
Officials at AMBAR told TIP officer the majority of the minor
victims were teenage girls. The total number of trafficking
victims in Venezuela is likely much higher, however due to a
lack of statistics or an unwillingness to share them with the
USG, post is unable to assess the full scope of the problem.
¶H. (SBU) Post knows of no formal system for proactively
identifying victims of trafficking among high-risk persons.
According to anti-trafficking NGOs, the government does not
have a mechanism for screening for trafficking victims among
persons involved in the regulated commercial sex trade.
¶I. (SBU) IOs and NGOs state that the government generally
respected the rights of trafficking victims. Most are
referred to CICPC, INAMUJER, or local organizations for legal
and psychological services.
¶J. (SBU) Post does not have reliable information to assess
whether the government encourages victims to assist in the
investigation and prosecution of trafficking. The GBRV does
not share information with Post regarding any ongoing
investigations or prosecutions that may or may not be
underway. CICP officials contend that the majority of
victims prefer not to file charges because of lengthy court
delays and fears of reprisals from traffickers.
¶K. (SBU) IOs and NGOs offered training to government
officials on how to recognize potential trafficking victims.
Post is unable to access the GBRV,s anti-TIP training
programs managed through its embassies and consulates. Due
to strains in the current bi-lateral relationship, the GBRV
does not share information with post regarding training for
government officials. NGOs have reported to TIP Officer that
anti-TIP training workshops and programs offered during the
year were attended by government officials.
¶L. (SBU) Repatriated victims can make use of any services
provided by the government's mission programs. Venezuela
does not advocate restitution for victims of trafficking.
¶M. (SBU) The Women's Association for Well Being and
Reciprocal Assistance (AMBAR) provided trafficking victims
with legal assistance, psychological services, and job
training opportunities. In addition, dependent children
participated in AMBAR,s daycare and preschool program. The
shelter and resource center primarily focused its victim
assistance efforts in impoverished neighborhoods in the
capital city of Caracas. IOM worked to promote international
cooperation on migration issues. It continued to work with
government officials by providing some training opportunities
and workshops in TIP-related issues. UNHCR continued to
cooperate with the GBRV on a range of issues ranging from
refugees to trafficking in persons. The GBRV had adequate
resources, however, it only provided limited financial
assistance to select NGOs during the reporting period. NGOs
were highly complimentary of recent efforts by the Ministry
of Health to provide additional psychological services for
victims and promote an educational campaign on preventing TIP.
----------
Prevention
----------
¶A. (SBU) The GBRV continued to raise public awareness about
the dangers of human trafficking by airing public service
announcements and widely distributing posters and pamphlets
CARACAS 00000212 007 OF 007
against commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, and
child sex tourism. The government operated a 24-hour
victim's assistance hotline. In late January, 2009, the
GBRV agreed to provide some financial assistance to AMBAR to
conduct educational campaigns on the themes of preventing
trafficking in persons and stopping the sexual exploitation
of children. (Note: Sources at AMBAR informed TIP-Officer
they will be receiving 280,000 BsF (140,000 USD) in early
February, 2009. The NGO requested that we not publish the
amount of the grant in our annual report. End note.)
¶B. (SBU) Post is unable to assess the extent of the GBRV's
efforts to monitor immigration and emigration patters for
evidence of trafficking because of a lack of information
sharing. IO,s tell Post, however, that the government is
continuing to increase screening efforts at border
checkpoints, airports, and ports of entry. (Note: NGO
sources told TIP officer that many victims are transported by
small boats, thereby avoiding immigration checkpoints, from
the coastal areas near Falcon state and the Paria peninsula
to the Caribbean islands of Curacao and Trinidad
respectively. End Note.)
¶C. (SBU) GBRV officials did not share TIP-related
information with the Embassy in 2008. The Government's
relationship with IO's and local NGOs varied. IOM, for
instance, enjoys a positive working relationship with the
government stemming from training seminars they frequently
provide. The government also cooperated with UNHCR on TIP
issues when a victim files for refugee status fearing
reprisals from traffickers. Local NGOs have had mixed
success working with the government. While many NGOs express
frustration with the government lack of funding
opportunities, more recently AMBAR has had some degree of
success in this area. Coordination and communication between
various agencies within the government is ad-hoc at best.
The GBRV hosted the Second Regional Conference on State's
Efforts to Prevent, Combat, and Eliminate Violence Against
Women in July, 2008. Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro gave
opening remarks and noted the government plan to renew
efforts to create mechanism to identify, protect, and educate
vulnerable populations against potential traffickers.
Despite this conference, the lack of a central coordinating
body, such as a national coordinator, hampered Venezuela's
ability to fully address this problem.
¶D. (SBU) Although the GBRV created a working group to draft
a national plan of action to combat trafficking in persons in
2006, over two years later it has not completed the plan.
The working group is headed by the MPPIJ and includes the
CICP, DISIP (intelligence police), the Ministries of Popular
Power for Tourism, Infrastructure, and Foreign Relations, as
well as other high ranking government officials. NGOs
participated in the planning sessions and presented
proposals. NGOs representatives and members of IOs continue
to express their hope that the plan will eventually move
forward.
¶E. / F. (SBU) Prostitution in Venezuela is legal and
regulated. To Post's knowledge, during the reporting period
the government has not undertaken measures to reduce the
demand for commercial sex acts. The Government continued to
distribute widely posters and pamphlets against commercial
sexual exploitation, forced labor, and child sex tourism.
¶G. (SBU) Venezuela is not among the countries that has
contributed over 100 troops to international peacekeeping
efforts.
CAULFIELD