US embassy cable - 04LILONGWE1022

UNCLAS LILONGWE 001022 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP (YOUSEY) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2014 
TAGS: PHUM, KCRM, KWMN, MI, HIV/AIDS, Human Trafficking, Humanitarian 
SUBJECT: TIP: NEW MALAWI GOVERNMENT WORKING TO ADDRESS ROOT 
CAUSES 
 
REF: A. LILONGWE 710 
 
     B. STATE 184081 
 
SUMMARY 
-------- 
1.  (U) Charge and poloff paid an introductory call on 
Malawi's Minister of Gender, Child Welfare, and Community 
Services, Joyce Banda on October 28.  Charge used the 
opportunity to follow up on the previously raised issue of 
trafficking in persons (TIP) (reftel A), a topic Banda was 
eager to discuss.  While she expressed some frustration with 
the USG's TIP policy, Banda said that the new Malawi 
government recognizes the seriousness of the problem and is 
taking steps to address the root causes of human trafficking. 
 END SUMMARY. 
 
 
CONTEXT, PERSPECTIVE, AND REALITY 
--------------------------------- 
2.  (U) The GOM's approach to TIP is that it is a symptom of 
a larger problem, and that the underlying causes must be 
addressed in order to reduce all forms of TIP.  Banda pointed 
out that a growing number of households in Malawi are headed 
by orphans whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS.  A struggling 
economy, oppressive poverty, soaring HIV/AIDS infection 
rates, and low access to education also limit options for 
prosperity.  Prostitution, she said, is not an organized 
activity and is usually the last resort a young woman may 
have in order to survive.  Banda said that while disagreeing 
with the data in the TIP report, the GOM could not ignore the 
existence of TIP - even if it hadn't understood the 
definition - and had to "look at the problem critically and 
move to work against it". 
 
 
THE GOM'S SHORT TERM ACCOMPLISHMENTS... 
--------------------------------------- 
3.  (SBU) Banda noted that following our previous 
conversation about trafficking, she passed a copy of the 2003 
TIP Report and her concerns about it (and the overall issue) 
along to President Mutharika.  According to Banda, the 
President then called an inter-ministerial meeting to discuss 
both the report and the problem.  Since that time, she said, 
the GOM has developed a National Gender Program to address 
cross-cutting gender issues in Malawi.  In May, the new 
administration conducted a rapid assessment of the situation 
of orphans in the country  and determined that they are at 
particular risk for various forms of exploitation. To counter 
this, the GOM has developed and will soon begin implementing 
a national action plan for orphans and vulnerable children, 
which will aim to reduce the root causes of victimization. 
The GOM, with assistance from NGOs and other donors, has paid 
the school fees for more than 600 students this year, and the 
Minister hopes to reach a target of assisting 10,000 orphans 
to return to school in the next year. 
 
 
...AND LONG TERM STRATEGY 
------------------------- 
4.  (U) The national action plan for orphans and vulnerable 
children will be launched on November 8 with initial training 
for more than 200 new child protection officers in every 
district of the country.  The plan, which is slated to last 
for five years, includes six key strategies: Capacity 
building, beginning with the initial training and placement 
of the officers in each constituency of the country; 
household and community education; protection of children in 
danger; assistance to victims; skills building, including 
vocational training and life skills; and strengthened legal 
protections for children and orphans. 
 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
5.  (SBU) Banda is new to government, having spent her entire 
career working with NGOs as an advocate for the rights of 
women and children.  She is an energetic public servant who 
has clearly placed TIP high on her agenda.  She noted that 
the new government of President Mutharika is taking the issue 
seriously and that the President has taken a personal 
interest.  Additional work is underway in other sectors of 
government to combat the problem. Charge and poloff have, in 
numerous meetings with GOM officials, raised the points in 
reftel B.  Further GOM action will be reported septel. 
GILMOUR