US embassy cable - 02ABUJA2437

UNCLAS ABUJA 002437 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR G/TIP, INL AND AF/RA 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM, KWMN, PHUM, NI, ECOWAS 
SUBJECT: ENGAGING ECOWAS ON REGIONAL TIP ACTIVITIES 
 
 
1. In recent meetings with officials ofthe ECOWAS 
Secretariat's Legal Affairs Department, RNLEO presented the 
 
SIPDIS 
framework of a G/TIP-funded project to strengthen the 
Secretariat's capacity to implement the new ECOWAS Plan of 
 
SIPDIS 
Action Against Trafficking in Persons (TIP).  This project, 
funded with $350,000 (FY02), will be implemented through the 
UN Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UNODCCP). 
 
 
2. Director of Legal Affairs Roger Laloupo and his deputy, 
Henrietta Didigu, responded enthusiastically to the news of 
prospective USG funding for the nascent ECOWAS regional 
initiative.  Laloupo noted the fortuitous timing of the 
offer, as the Secretariat feels under pressure to show 
tangible progress in implementing the Plan of Action prior to 
the December 2002 ECOWAS Summit, when Executive Secretary 
Chambas will be required to present a report on the Plan's 
execution. 
 
 
3. Laloupo and Didigu noted their desire to first address the 
legal and policy demands of the ECOWAS Plan of Action.  These 
are contained in the "Legal Framework and Policy Development" 
section of the Plan, and include the setting up fo permanent 
implementation committees or task forces in each member-state 
as well as the creation of an anti-TIP desk or unit within 
the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja.  A full-time anti-TIP 
officer at the Secretariat could coordinate member-states' 
efforts to set up national task forces and harmonize laws and 
policies in line with both the ECOWAS Plan of Action and the 
UN Transnational Organized Crime Convention's Protocol to 
Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, 
Especiall Women and Children. 
 
 
4. The Secretariat also hopes to establish a fund to cover 
the costs of short-term protection and the repatriation of 
rescued trafficking victims within the ECOWAS region. 
Requests for use of these funds would come from 
member-states' national anti-TIP task forces or committees 
and would be coordinated by the new ECOWAS Secretariat 
Coordination Unit.  Didigu stated that the Secretariat looks 
to the international donor community to assit in setting up 
this fund. 
 
 
5. RNLEO noted that it might be best to let an international 
NGO or organization like UNICEF or IOM set up and oversee 
such a fund on behalf of ECOWAS, given the extremely limited 
capacity at the Secretariat to manage effectively programs 
such as this.  RNLEO further suggested that USAID's regional 
programs might be considered as a possible source of 
assistance to help ECOWAS build capacity in this regional 
repatriation effort. 
 
 
6. Didigu and Laloupo disclosed that the Secretariat plans to 
organize, and together with UNODCCP, host a regional seminar 
in October on coordinating implementation of the Plan of 
Action.  This two-day seminar would be held back-to-back with 
a two-day conference ECOWAS intends to have with 
representatives of the Economic Community of Central African 
States (ECCAS) to help ECCAS adopt a regional Plan of Action 
similar to the one developed by ECOWAS.  No venue has yet 
been selected for the two events, but Accra is favored. 
 
 
7. Action for G/TIP:  Please provide funding data for this 
project and guidance on grant modalities for an agreement 
with UNODCCP as soon as possible. 
 
 
 
 
JETER