US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA2555

UNCLAS BOGOTA 002555 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/AND, WHA/PPC, G/TIP, CA/FPP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, KWMN, KJUS, KFRD, CO 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY BRIEFS GOC ON USG EFFORTS ON TRAFFICKING 
IN PERSONS 
 
 
 1. On March 11, Consul General, Fraud Unit Chief, and 
Political Officer briefed Government of Colombia (GOC) 
officials and representatives from the International 
Organization for Migration (IOM) on U.S. efforts to combat 
trafficking in persons.  This was the fourth briefing IOM has 
organized between Embassy officials from destination 
countries and the GOC.  GOC participants included 
representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Relations, 
Department of Administrative Security (DAS)/Interpol, 
Prosecutor General's Office ("Fiscalia"), Inspector General's 
Office ("Procuraduria"), and the Institute for Family Welfare 
(ICBF).  The Embassies of Spain, Italy and the Netherlands 
have previously participated. 
 
2. GOC participants were primarily interested in consular 
issues, such as the types of visas and how the Embassy works 
with other entities of the USG and foreign embassies to 
combat fraud.  Embassy and GOC representatives also discussed 
how to increase cooperation in sharing such information. 
Embassy officials concluded by responding to questions on the 
types of assistance available to trafficking victims in the 
United States, the "T" visa (special visa for trafficking 
victims), and the State Department's annual report on 
trafficking in persons. 
 
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Comment 
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3.  GOC representatives were very interested in increasing 
cooperation with the Embassy.  Embassy officials will 
maintain contact and work on ways to collaborate.  IOM also 
notified Embassy of a March 30-31 international conference 
they are sponsoring, in Bogota, on trafficking in persons.  A 
representative from the Department of Health and Human 
Services has been invited. 
WOOD