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### Viewing cable 06PANAMA380, PANAMA 2006 TIP REPORT

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06PANAMA380 | 2006-03-01 18:03 | 2011-05-29 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Panama

`

    VZCZCXYZ0000
    RR RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHZP #0380/01 0601803
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 011803Z MAR 06
    FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7482
    INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
    RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 2189
    RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0952
    RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 0213
    RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 2915
    RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 0829
    RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 0349
    RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
    RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASH DC
    RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
    RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
    RUEAWJA/DOJ WASHDC
    RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
    RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
    RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL//J5/J2/POLADUSAID

` `

    UNCLAS PANAMA 000380

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE
    SIPDIS

    DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN GREG SCHIFFER, G/TIP RACHEL OWEN, G,
    INL, DRL, PRM, IWI, WHA/PPC
    SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB
    SUBJECT: PANAMA 2006 TIP REPORT

    REF: A. 06 STATE 03836

         ¶B. 2005 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT FOR PANAMA
         ¶C. 05 PANAMA 00608
         ¶D. 05 PANAMA 00959

    -------
     SUMMARY
     -------
    ¶1.  (SBU) During 2005 Panama continued its anti-TIP efforts
    and enforcement of Law 16, the anti-TIP legislation enacted
    in 2004.  Embassy believes trafficking in Panama is
    overwhelmingly internal to the country and limited in scale.
    Panama worked closely with the International Labor
    Organization (ILO) to reduce trafficking. ILO produced books
    and pamphlets to educate the public on sexual exploitation
    and trafficking and the criminal penalties against them in
    Panama. ILO also provided instructional pamphlets for
    Panamanian migration officials on how to recognize
    trafficking victims.  As a result of anti-TIP training
    provided by the U.S. Department of Justice for Panamanian
    judges, police, and attorneys, Panama has developed an
    Anti-TIP manual to aid their efforts against trafficking.
    The prosecutor's office responsible for TIP has asked the
    Embassy to arrange additional training.  In December 2005,
    Panama received funding through the Embassy to renovate an
    existing TIP shelter, provide training for victim's
    assistance, and construct a new shelter for TIP victims.  A
    foreign national who owns a club with female dancers was
    arrested and charged with procurement in May 2005.  Although
    free on $15,000 bail, he remains under investigation and is
    not allowed to leave Panama.  The Government of Panama (GOP)
    continues its investigation of several Panamanian National
    Police (PNP) officers arrested in March 2005 for sexual abuse
    of minors in Darien Province.  The "alternadora" visa for
    prostitutes remains legal, sometimes making TIP
    investigations difficult.  The Attorney General, Ministry of
    Social Development, and Judicial Technical Police Sex Crimes
    Unit are committed to stopping TIP but lack of funding often
    limits their efforts.  The Attorney General also has vowed to
    eliminate the "alternadora" visa.  End summary.

    ¶2.  (SBU) In accordance with Reftel A, Panama is pleased to
    submit its 2006 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report.

    (U) Is the country a country of origin, transit, or
    destination for international trafficked men, women, or
    children?  Specify numbers for each group; how they were
    trafficked, to where, and for what purpose.  Does the
    trafficking occur within the country's borders?

    (SBU) Embassy believes internal (verses international)
    trafficking is by far the most serious problem in Panama.
    The Embassy still estimates that approximately 125-375
    children (both boys and girls), 75-125 women, and 0 men are
    trafficked in Panama.  95% of these persons are trafficked
    internally.  International trafficking involves an estimated
    10-25 persons per year in Panama.  Several hundred Colombian
    women and a small number from the Dominican Republic come to
    Panama each year to work legally as prostitutes using
    "alternadora" visas.  Panamanian consular officers have also
    assisted Panamanian citizens in Jamaica, Guatemala, and
    Mexico who were victims of trafficking.

    ¶3.  (U) Does it occur in territory outside of the
    government's control (e.g. in a civil war situation)?

    (SBU) The Darien province, a remote undeveloped region of
    Panama where the government has limited presence, has a high
    incidence of commercial sexual exploitation of children.  The
    Darien province also contains semiautonomous indigenous areas
    where there are rumors of indigenous leaders offering
    indigenous girls for prostitution.

    ¶4.  (U) Are any estimates or reliable numbers available as to
    the extent or magnitude of the problem?  Please include any
    numbers of victims.  What is (are) the source(s) of available
    information on trafficking in persons or what plans are in
    place (if any) to undertake documentation of trafficking?
    How reliable are the numbers and these sources?  Are certain
    groups of persons more at risk of being trafficked (e.g.
    women and children, boys versus girls, certain ethnic groups,
    refugees, etc.)?

    (SBU) Please see paragraph two for estimated numbers of
    trafficking victims in Pamama.  GOP has provided the Embassy
    with reliable statistics on arrests and prosecutions for TIP.
     The GOP also tracks arrests and deportation of illegal
    foreign prostitutes.  As of December 2005, the GOP reported
    investigating seven cases of sexual trafficking, eleven cases
    of child pornography, and six cases of pimping.  The
    International Labor Organization (ILO) publishes an annual
    report on sexual exploitation of children in Panama that is
    also considered a reliable source of information.  The arrest
    in March 2005 of four high-ranking police officers in the
    Darien province for sexual abuse of minors was widely
    reported in the media.  Based on statistics provided by the
    GOP and ILO/IPEC reports, female children are more at risk
    for trafficking than other groups.

    ¶5.  (U) Please provide a general overview of the trafficking
    situation in the country and any changes since the last TIP
    Report (e.g. changes in direction).  Also briefly explain the
    political will to address trafficking in persons.  Other
    items to address may include:  What kind of conditions are
    the victims trafficked into?  Which populations are targeted
    by the traffickers?  Who are the traffickers?  What methods
    are used to approach victims?  (Are they offered lucrative
    jobs, sold by their families, approached by friends of
    friends, etc.?)  What methods are used to move the victims
    (e.g., are false documents being used?).

    (SBU) Probably 200-300 Panamanian women and children annually
    are trafficked into massage parlors and dancing
    establishments that also serve as brothels.  Some women work
    in the streets as prostitutes.  Children trafficked for
    sexual exploitation are trafficked primarily in Panama City.
    Some of these children come from the remote Darien province
    to Panama City.   Child domestic laborers are transported
    from the rural western provinces of Panama and work in
    households in the capital, Panama City.  ILO studies also
    show women trafficked for sexual purposes have been offered
    opportunities to work as dancers in night clubs, accompany
    tourists to other countries, work as models, or to give
    massages.   The majority of Colombian woman who work as
    prostitutes do so willingly using the alternadora visa and
    are not trafficking victims.

    (SBU) Panama has the political will to tackle the problem but
    it is an issue that has only been addressed within the last
    two years and will require more time to eradicate.  Panama
    enacted strong anti-TIP legislation in 2004 and a number of
    persons and agencies within the Government of Panama (GOP)
    are strongly committed to stopping trafficking.  More funding
    and training for police and other agencies is needed to
    effectively counter TIP in Panama.  Since the Panamanian
    court system needs on average two years to try and convict a
    case, no convictions under the 2004 Anti-Tip law have
    occurred.  In March 2006, Panama will begin the trafficking
    prosecution of the owner of a bar that employed Colombian
    prostitutes.  A conviction under the 2004 law would show a
    strong commitment to stopping TIP in Panama.  The 2004
    anti-TIP legislation called for a special tax on the rental,
    sale, and viewing of adult movies along with an airport
    departure tax to fund anti-TIP programs run by the National
    Committee for the Prevention of Sexual Crimes (CONAPREDES).
    However, the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) has
    questioned the legality of this tax and no funds have been
    collected for CONAPREDES.  The lack of funding makes it
    difficult to conduct investigations and prosecute persons
    involved in TIP.  Also, the GOP reinstated the alternadora
    visa for prostitutes in 2005 despite the Attorney General's
    opposition.  Since prostitution has been legal in Panama for
    many years there is resistance to eliminating what has become
    a source of business revenue.  ILO reports cite traditional
    beliefs in Panama and other Central American countries that
    masculinity is tied to sexual activity, especially with young
    women.  Citizens of most countries in the region - with the
    exception of Ecuador, Peru, and the Dominican Republic - do
    not require visas prior to traveling to Panama, making it
    relatively easy for the few international trafficking cases
    that the Embassy estimates to occur to enter Panama using
    normal transportation.

    ¶6.  (U) What are the limitations on the government's ability
    to address this problem in practice?  For example, is funding
    for police or other institutions inadequate?  Is overall
    corruption a problem?  Does the government lack the resources
    to aid victims?

    (SBU) The Government of Panama (GOP) has not adequately
    funded anti-TIP programs.  Two examples of this lack of
    funding include the failure to approve a tax measure to fund
    CONAPREDES and the Public Ministry's lack of a specific
    budget for anti-TIP programs.  The Judicial Technical Police
    (PTJ) Sex Crimes Unit works in a very crowded office that
    offers little privacy to interview victims.  The Sex Crimes
    Unit also lacks funding for training, cars, computers, and
    aid to victims.  Many of the anti-TIP resources are
    concentrated in or near the capital Panama City.

    ¶7.  (U) To what extent does the government systematically
    monitor its anti-trafficking efforts (on all fronts --
    prosecution, prevention and victim protection) and
    periodically make available, publicly or privately and
    directly or through regional/international organizations, its
    assessments of these anti-trafficking efforts?

    (SBU) Throughout the year, the GOP provided the Embassy with
    information on arrests and prosecutions for trafficking.  At
    the end of 2005, the GOP published a report with detailed
    statistics on arrests for sexual trafficking, pimping, sexual
    tourism, and pornography with minors.  The National
    Commission for the Prevention of Sexual Crimes (CONAPREDES)
    held bi-monthly meetings to review all trafficking cases and
    further develop policies to eliminate TIP in Panama.  The GOP
    fully cooperated with the Embassy in scheduling visits to
    officials involved in anti-TIP work during the preparation of
    the Human Rights Report, Trafficking in Persons Report, and a
    visit to Panama by G/TIP.

    ¶8. PREVENTION:

    ¶A.  (U) Does the government acknowledge that trafficking is a
    problem in that country?  If no, why not?

    (SBU) The GOP is aware of its trafficking problem and has
    enacted appropriate legislation.  Several GOP officials -
    most notably the Attorney General and the TIP prosecutors -
    are strongly committed to enforcing the legislation.  The
    lack of resources devoted to anti-TIP programs limits
    Panama,s enforcement, investigation, and prosecution
    efforts.
    ¶B.  (U) Which government agencies are involved in anti-
    trafficking efforts and which agency, if any, has the lead?

    (SBU) The Attorney General is the President of CONAPREDES
    which is responsible for Panama,s overall anti-TIP policy.
    CONAPREDES meets bimonthly to coordinate Anti-TIP policy.
    Other members of CONAPREDES include the Minister of Social
    Development (MIDES), Minister of Government and Justice
    (MOGJ), Minister of Economy and Finance (MEF), Minister of
    Health, Minister of Education, the President of the Child and
    Adolescent Courts, the Director of the Judicial Technical
    Police, the Ombudsman's Office, a representative of the
    National Network of Children and Adolescents, and a
    representative of the National Bar Association.  MOGJ
    develops policies to reduce TIP, MIDES provides victim's
    protection and services, and the PTJ investigates and arrests
    persons involved in trafficking through their Sex Crimes
    Unit.  The Public Ministry also has three prosecutors
    assigned to TIP cases.

    ¶C.  (U) Are there, or have there been, government-run anti-
    trafficking information or education campaigns?  If so,
    briefly describe the campaign(s), including their objectives
    and effectiveness.  Do these campaigns target potential
    trafficking victims and/or the demand for trafficking (e.g.
    "clients" of prostitutes or beneficiaries of forced labor).

    (SBU) CONAPREDES and the National Council of Reporters
    sponsored a campaign of radio and television commercials,
    posters, and newspaper ads dealing with commercial sexual
    exploitation of minors.  One of the television ads showed a
    man being arrested at his dinner table in front of his family
    for having paid for sexual relations with a minor.  The
    campaign has a definite shock value and was clearly targeted
    at businessmen who frequent "Gentlemen's Clubs" where
    prostitutes are readily available.  The GOP in conjunction
    with the International Labor Organization (ILO) has produced
    a series of small books and pamphlets on sexual exploitation
    and trafficking.  A public march took place on November 18,
    2005 as part of the International Day to Eliminate Violence
    against Women.  CONAPREDES also developed handouts about
    commercial sexual exploitation.  These campaigns were aimed
    at the demand for trafficking victims.

    ¶D.  (U) Does the government support other programs to prevent
    trafficking? (e.g., to promote women's participation in
    economic decision-making or efforts to keep children in
    school.)  Please explain.

    (SBU) The GOP sponsored several programs through the Ministry
    of Social development (MIDES) to reduce child labor, increase
    HIV awareness, and combat violence against women.  The GOP
    received assistance from the UNHCR in assisting refugees in
    the Darien to develop income producing projects.  Casa
    Esperanza, an NGO, operated education programs for the
    children of migrant workers to attend school.  The GOP,
    ILO/OIT, and Casa Esperanza also conducted a campaign to stop
    child labor in Panama.  UNICEF also provided Panama with maps
    showing the most common used routes used by traffickers of
    children in Panama.

    ¶F.  (U) What is the relationship between government
    officials, NGOs, other relevant organizations and other
    elements of civil society on the trafficking issue?

    (SBU) The GOP has worked closely with ILO, the International
    Organization for Migration (IOM), and the U.S. Department of
    Justice (DOJ) to provide training and education on TIP to
    government officials, members of the media, and the general
    public in Panama.  In March, DOJ provided training to a group
    of Panamanian attorneys, judges, and police on TIP.  In May,
    ILO held a workshop for 40 media representatives to educate
    them on trafficking and the importance of protecting the
    identity of victims. In July, IOM sponsored a seminar on
    trafficking in persons for representatives of the Public
    Ministry, CONAPREDES, and TIP prosecutors.  Casa Esperanza,
    an NGO that works to eliminate child labor in Panama and aid
    at-risk children, sponsors an annual gala fund-raiser
    attended by many socially prominent Panamanians

    ¶G.  (U) Does it monitor immigration and emigration patterns
    for evidence of trafficking?  Do law enforcement agencies
    screen for potential trafficking victims along borders?

    (SBU) Panama,s Immigration Directorate increased its efforts
    to stop the flow of illegal immigrants to and through Panama.
     The operations manual used by all Panamanian Public Forces
    contains instructions on identifying potential trafficking
    victims.  The Ministry of Government and Justice (MOGJ) began
    planning to reorganize a portion of the Panamanian National
    Police (PNP) into a dedicated border security force to
    further counter illegal migration.  DHS/ICE works closely
    with Panamanian Immigration on detection and investigation of
    alien smuggling and TIP.

    ¶H.  (U) Is there a mechanism for coordination and
    communication between various agencies, internal,
    international, and multilateral on trafficking-related
    matters, such as a multi- agency working group or a task
    force?  Does the government have a trafficking in persons
    working group or single point of contact?  Does the
    government have a public corruption task force?

    (SBU) Panama,s 2004 anti-TIP law (commonly referred to as
    Law 16) created the National Commission for the Prevention of
    Sex Crimes or CONAPREDES.  CONAPREDES meets bimonthly to
    coordinate national policy on combating TIP.  CONAPREDES has
    representatives from the principal government agencies in
    Panama to include the Attorney General,s office, the
    Panamanian National Police, the Ministry of Labor, the
    Ministry of Social Development, and the Ministry of Health.
    The Attorney General,s Office has an anti-corruption
    prosecutor.  The Ministry of Economics and Finance has a
    special auditing division.  The National Council for
    Transparency is headed by a Vice Minister for Anti-Corruption.

    ¶J.  (U) Does the government have a national plan of action to
    address trafficking in persons?  If so, which agencies were
    involved in developing it?  Were NGOs consulted in the
    process?  What steps has the government taken to disseminate
    the action plan?

    (SBU) Panama,s national plan of action to combat TIP is
    based on public law and operating instructions for all
    Panamanian Public Forces.  Panama,s anti-TIP law provides
    instructions for prevention and prosecution of TIP and also
    contains provisions for victim's protection.  All branches of
    the GOP to include the National Police, Ministry of Health,
    Ministry of Social development, and the Attorney General,s
    office worked to develop Law 16.  Casa Esperanza and Hogar
    Malambo (NGOs serving abused children) and churches in Panama
    were consulted during the development of this legislation.
    The GOP has developed an Anti-TIP Operations Manual for
    police, judges, and prosecutors.  The GOP distributed copies
    of this manual to all the appropriate agencies.

    ¶9.  (U) INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS:

    For questions A-D, posts should highlight in particular
    whether or not the country has enacted any new legislation
    since the last TIP report.
    ¶A.  (U) Does the country have a law specifically prohibiting
    trafficking in persons - both trafficking for sexual
    exploitation and trafficking for non-sexual purposes (e.g.
    forced labor)? If so, what is the law?  Does the law(s) cover
    both internal and external (transnational) forms of
    trafficking? If not, under what other laws can traffickers be
    prosecuted?  For example, are there laws against slavery or
    the exploitation of prostitution by means of coercion or
    fraud?  Are these other laws being used in trafficking cases?
     Are these laws, taken together, adequate to cover the full
    scope of trafficking in persons?  Please provide a full
    inventory of trafficking laws, including civil penalties,
    (e.g., civil forfeiture laws and laws against illegal debt).

    (SBU) The March 2004 anti-TIP law modified the penal code by
    adding an additional chapter (Book II, Title VI, Chapter IV,
    Sections 231-231(I)) that created the specific crimes of
    sexual trafficking, sexual tourism, and pornography with
    minors.  The March 2004 anti-TIP law also toughened Penal
    Code provisions for corruption of minors, commercial sexual
    exploitation of adults and minors, and pimping (Book II,
    Title VI, V Chapter III, Sections 226-230).

    (SBU) Sections 310 and 310-A of the Penal Code Book II, Title
    IX, Chapter III also make it a punishable crime to be part of
    an international drug or people trafficking ring or to
    smuggle people with their consent in contravention of
    immigration laws.   Section 310 also provides for penalties
    for violations of human rights under international
    conventions signed by Panama, but the Supreme Court has
    declared this provision unconstitutional.  In practice,
    sections 310 and 310-A are applied in cases of international
    human smuggling.  Article 215D of the penal code penalizes
    the use or inducement of minors for pornography or immoral,
    prohibited, dangerous, or unhealthy work.  Penal Code Book
    II, Title II, Chapter III Sections 151 and 152 criminalizes
    depriving a person of liberty.

    (SBU) These laws cover the full range of TIP crimes but the
    GOP continues its efforts to improve the anti-trafficking
    laws.  During 2006, new provisions to the Panamanian
    Migratory Law will be proposed.  These proposals include:

    -     Sanctions for those persons who facilitate or promote
    the entrance into Panama of foreigners that work in
    commercial sexual activities.

    -     Prohibiting the entrance or transit through Panama of
    traffickers or persons who have trafficked persons, as well
    as persons who have been registered for committing crimes
    related to trafficking and sexual exploitation.

    -     The abolishment of the alternadora visa for sex
    workers.

    ¶B.  (U) What are the penalties for traffickers of people for
    sexual exploitation?  For traffickers of people for labor
    exploitation?

    (SBU) Section 228 penalizes sexual exploitation with 4-6
    years of prison and 8-10 years of prison when the victim is a
    minor.  Section 231 penalizes sexual trafficking with 5-8
    years of prison and 8-10 years when the victim is a minor.
    Section 310 sets the penalty at 10-15 years of prison and
    Section 310-A sets it at 5-10 years.  Sections 151-152
    provide for 6 months to 6 years imprisonment.  Section 215D
    provides for 2-6 years imprisonment.

    ¶C.  (U) What are the penalties for rape or forcible sexual
    assault?  How do they compare to the penalty for sex
    trafficking?

    (SBU) Under Penal Code Book II, Title VI, Chapter I Sections
    216-218, rape is punishable by 3 to 10 years in prison.
    Under section 219, statutory rape with a minor age 14-18 is
    punishable by 1-6 years in prison.  The penalties for rape in
    some cases are less than those for trafficking.

    ¶D.  (U) Is prostitution legalized or decriminalized?
    Specifically, are the activities of the prostitute
    criminalized?  Are the activities of the brothel
    owner/operator, clients, pimps, and enforcers criminalized?
    Are these laws enforced?  If prostitution is legal and
    regulated, what is the legal minimum age for this activity?
    Note that in many countries with federalist systems,
    prostitution laws may be covered by state, local, and
    provincial authorities.

    (SBU) Prostitution is legalized and regulated.  The minimum
    age to work as a prostitute is 18.

    ¶E.  (U) Has the Government prosecuted any cases against
    traffickers?  If so, provide numbers of investigations,
    prosecutions, convictions, and sentences, including details
    on plea bargains and fines, if relevant and available.  Are
    the traffickers serving the time sentenced:  If no, why not?
    Please indicate whether the government can provide this
    information, and if not, why not?  (Note:  complete answers
    to this section are essential. End Note)

    (SBU) In 2005, the GOP investigated seven cases of
    trafficking and made six arrests.  As of the date of this
    report, two of the cases remain under investigation, three
    are awaiting trial, and the charges were dropped in one of
    the cases.  An owner of a massage parlor will have his
    preliminary court hearing on trafficking charges in March
    ¶2006.

    ¶F.  (U) Is there any information or reports of who is behind
    the trafficking?  For example, are the traffickers freelance
    operators, small crime groups, and/or large international
    organized crime syndicates?  Are employment, travel, and
    tourism agencies or marriage brokers fronting for traffickers
    or crime groups to traffic individuals?   Are government
    officials involved?  Are there any reports of where profits
    from trafficking in persons are being channeled?  (e.g. armed
    groups, terrorist organizations, judges, banks, etc.)

    (SBU) Independent dance clubs, massage parlor owners, brothel
    owners, and persons with ties to the drug trade are behind
    Panama's internal trafficking problem.  Most profits appear
    to go directly to traffickers.  GOP investigators report that
    taxi drivers look for customers for child sexual exploitation
    in Panama City.  The Darien prosecutor suspects an indigenous
    leader may be involved in trafficking indigenous girls.  The
    Darien prosecutor also links commercial sexual exploitation
    to drug traffickers.  There are no indications that
    employment, travel, tourism, marriage brokers, or government
    officials are involved in trafficking.

    ¶G.  (U) Does the government actively investigate cases of
    trafficking?  (Again, the focus should be on trafficking
    cases versus migrant smuggling cases.) Does the government
    use active investigative techniques in trafficking in persons
    investigations? To the extent possible under domestic law,
    are techniques such as electronic surveillance, undercover
    operations, and mitigated punishment or immunity for
    cooperating suspects used by the government?  Does the
    criminal procedure code or other laws prohibit the police
    from engaging in covert operations?

    (SBU) The government actively investigates cases of
    trafficking.  The anti-TIP law allows cases to be
    automatically investigated without a formal complaint.  The
    March 2004 anti-TIP law provides for use of wiretaps,
    monitoring of emails and internet use, and undercover
    operations in appropriate cases.  Lack of police resources
    limits the ability of the police to carry out undercover and
    wiretapping operations.  A Public Ministry official told of a
    prosecutor in a small town using his personal vehicle to try
    to investigate trafficking.  Many people in the town
    recognize the vehicle, making it impossible to do effective
    investigations.  The PTJ Sex Crimes Unit has 20 officers but
    only three are assigned to investigate TIP.

    ¶H.  (U) Does the government provide any specialized training
    for government officials in how to recognize, investigate,
    and prosecute instances of trafficking?

    (SBU) In 2005 the GOP conducted a series of training events
    for GOP Officials who deal with TIP:

          In March, the United States Department of Justice
    provided anti-TIP training to a group of Panamanian
    attorneys, judges, and police.  An outcome of this conference
    was the publishing of the first anti-TIP manual for police,
    prosecutors, and judges.

          In June, ILO/OIT sponsored a seminar &Commercial
    Sexual Exploitation against Minors: New Legislation,
    Advances, and Challenges.8

          In July, the Ministry of Government and Justice (MOGJ)
    in conjunction with IOM held a seminar on TIP for members of
    the Public Ministry, the Attorney General, and TIP
    prosecutors.

    ¶I.  (U) Does the government cooperate with other governments
    in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases?
    If possible, can post provide the number of cooperative
    international investigations on trafficking?

    (SBU) Panama is part of several regional initiatives to
    develop cooperative anti-TIP measures.  A Regional Conference
    on Migration in Central America in October 2005 developed a
    common format for the exchange of information on TIP cases
    among the seven countries in the region.  This conference
    also agreed to a weekly exchange of information on the use of
    false passports to help identify new patterns in regional
    TIP.  Panama also plans to adopt a UNICEF protocol for the
    return of minor TIP victims to their country of origin.

    ¶J.  (U) Does the government extradite persons who are charged
    with trafficking in other countries?  If so, can post provide
    the number of traffickers extradited?  Does the government
    extradite its own nationals charged with such offenses?   If
    not, is the government prohibited by law form extraditing its
    own nationals?  If so, what is the government doing to modify
    its laws to permit the extradition of its own nationals?

    (SBU) The March 2004 anti-TIP law provides for extradition in
    cases of sexual trafficking.  However, Panama,s constitution
    specifically prohibits the extradition of its own nationals.
    The GOP has no plans to amend its constitution.

    ¶K.  (U) Is there evidence of government involvement in or
    tolerance of trafficking, on a local or institutional level?
    If so, please explain in detail.

    (SBU) In March 2005, several members of the Panamanian
    National Police (PNP) in Darien Province were arrested on
    charges of sexual abuse of minors.  These cases still remain
    under investigation by the Public Ministry and PNP.  See
    reftel B C and 2005 HRR.

    ¶L.  (U) If government officials are involved in trafficking,
    what steps has the government taken to end such
    participation?  Have any government officials been prosecuted
    for involvement in trafficking or trafficking- related
    corruption?  Have any been convicted?  What actual sentence
    was imposed?  Please provide specific numbers, if available.

    (SBU) The cases of PNP members arrested in Darien Province in
    March 2005 remains under investigation.  See reftels B C,
    2005 HRR.

    ¶M.  (U) If the country has an identified child sex tourism
    problem (as source or destination), how many foreign
    pedophiles has the government prosecuted or
    deported/extradited to their country of origin?  Does the
    country's child sexual abuse laws have extraterritorial
    coverage (like the U.S. PROTECT Act)?

    (SBU) Panama does not have an identified child sex tourism
    problem.  The March 2004 anti-TIP law criminalizes child sex
    tourism. (Penal Code Book II, Title VI, Chapter IV, Section
    231-G).  In September 2005, the PTJ made an arrest for sexual
    tourism and the case remains under investigation.  Under
    Panama,s anti-TIP law, hotels are required to include a
    warning about TIP in their contracts.

    ¶N.  (U) Has the government signed, ratified, and/or taken
    steps to implement the following international instruments?

          --ILO Convention 182 concerning the prohibition and
    immediate action for the elimination of the worst forms of
    child labor.

          --ILO Convention 29 and 105 on forced or compulsory
    labor.

          --The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights
    of the Child (CRC) on the sale of children, child
    prostitution, and child pornography.

          --The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish
    Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children,
    supplementing the UN Convention Against Transnational
    Organized Crime.

    Please provide the date of signature/ratification if
    appropriate.

    (SBU) Yes, Panama has signed and ratified all pertinent
    international instruments:

    --ILO Convention 182 concerning the prohibition and immediate
    action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor:
     Ratified on June 15, 2000.  Deposited in Geneva on October
    31, 2000

          --ILO Convention 29 and 105 on forced or compulsory
    labor:  Ratified in 1930

          --The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights
    of the Child (CRC) on the sale of children, child
    prostitution, and child pornography:  Signed on October 31,
    2000 and ratified on February 9, 2001

          --The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish
    Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children,
    supplementing the UN Convention Against Transnational
    Organized Crime:  Signed on December 13, 2000 and ratified
    July 7, 2004

    ¶10.  (U) PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS:

    ¶A.  (U) Does the government assist victims, for example, by
    providing temporary to permanent residency status, relief
    from deportation, shelter and access to legal, medical and
    psychological services?  If so, please explain.  Does the
    country have victim care and victim health care facilities?
    If so, can post provide the number of victims placed in these
    care facilities?

    (SBU) The GOP provides legal, medical, and psychological
    services for TIP victims.  Funding for these programs remains
    limited.  Panama,s anti-TIP law allows CONAPREDES to collect
    a special tax on the sale and rental of adult videos to pay
    for assistance to TIP victims.  The GOP however has not
    decided on how to collect the tax.  MIDES has a shelter and
    NGO Casa Malambo provides additional shelter space and
    services.  MIDES recently received a $126,000 ESF grant to
    refurbish an existing MIDES shelter and build a new shelter
    at Casa Malambo to assist TIP victims.  MIDES also places TIP
    victims with foster families.  The Technical Judicial Police
    (PTJ) is responsible for providing protection and necessary
    attention to trafficking victims.  PTJ operates a Victim,s
    Attention Center that has an inte

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