Cablegate: Tip Action Plan Demarche Delivered

VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKI #1013 3200807
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 160807Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0303

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001013

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIP PHUM PREL KWMN CG

SUBJECT: TIP Action Plan Demarche Delivered

REF: SECSTATE 104673

1. (SBU) DCM and PolOff delivered reftel talking points on October
30 to Upio Kakura Wapol, Minister of Human Rights (MHR) and Sulubika
Asha, lawyer and assistant in the MHR. PolCouns delivered reftel
talking points on October 16 to Xavier Mirindi, Secretary General in
the Ministry of Interior, and PolCouns and PolOff delivered the
points October 23 to Monique Yande, Chief of Staff for the Minister
of Gender Affairs, and October 30 to Ambassador Kalenga Ka Ngoy,
Legal and Political Counselor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

2. (SBU) Overall, response from most parties was positive. Kalenga
and Yande expressed appreciation for the concern and assistance of
the USG in recognizing this serious issue. Yande proposed the
development of a national strategy to combat the problem of
trafficking. The process would be modeled on the one used for the
national strategy on SGBV already in place. Kalenga suggested an
inter-ministerial working group to engage all sectors. He added
that it was essential to partner with the Minister of Media on a
public relations sensitization campaign.

3. (SBU) Kakura agreed that a national law defining TIP is needed.
He wants to develop a strategy for implementing the action plan
recommendations. He recognized that USG contributions have now left
"the ball in our court." It was recommended for Poloff and Asha to
work together on developing the working group agenda.

4. (SBU) Mirindi was somewhat defensive, saying that the DRC lacked
the means to fight TIP effectively and "not everyone could operate
at the same rhythm as the U.S." PolCouns pushed back, noting that
even the DRC could make a greater effort in a number of anti-TIP
areas.

5. (SBU) Comment: We were encouraged by the GDRC's apparent
willingness to work on concrete actions, such as setting up an
inter-ministerial working group and stepping up engagement with the
international community. However, ultimately, the GDRC's success in
fighting TIP will be demonstrated through actions, not ideas. End
comment.

Garvelink

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