US embassy cable - 05BRATISLAVA298

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000298 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
G/TIP FOR JENNIFER TOPPING 
ECA/PE/V/R/E FOR NAOMI FEIGENBAUM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, SMIG, KPAO, LO 
SUBJECT: NEW HIGH-LEVEL GROUP WILL COORDINATE ACTION ON TIP 
 
 
1. At its March 31 meeting, the Slovak Government's Council 
for the Prevention of Criminality decided to form an expert 
working group on trafficking in persons.  The Council is a 
high-level body composed of 23 representatives from 
ministries, government agencies, law enforcement bodies, and 
NGOs.  Interior Minister Vladimir Palko is its Chairperson, 
and Justice Minister Daniel Lipsic is the Vice Chair.  The 
Council meets quarterly to coordinate government policies on 
fighting crime. 
 
2.  The expert group on TIP will be led by Anna Babincova, 
Director of the Police Anti-trafficking unit.  Jana Siposova, 
director of the NGO "Victim Support Slovakia" (and a former 
International Visitor grantee on an anti-TIP program) will be 
its vice-chair.  All the relevant ministries, including 
Justice, Labor, Interior, and Education will be represented. 
The purpose of the group is to develop a national action plan 
to combat trafficking in persons and to increase coordination 
throughout the government and with NGO partners.  Its first 
meeting is set for May 2. 
 
3.  This expert group is the first government-wide high-level 
body to focus exclusively on the issue of trafficking in 
persons.  In notifying emboff April 14 of the group's 
formation, Secretary of the Council for Prevention of 
Criminality Frantisek Sinka promised to keep the embassy 
informed about the meetings.  Siposova told emboffs the same 
day that the initiative will serve to increase interest in 
TIP throughout the government.  She expects it will help the 
GOS systematically and effectively prioritize funding for TIP. 
 
4.  Comment: In a February letter to Charge, Interior 
Minister Palko promised to improve governmental coordination 
on TIP.  This step is a relection of that commitment, and the 
result of many months of aggressive Embassy lobbying for the 
GOS to appoint a high-level coordinator.  The fact that the 
top two members of the working group come from the police and 
an NGO is further proof of improved cooperation between the 
police and NGO's. 
 
THAYER 
 
 
NNNN