USAID Anti-Trafficking in Persons Program in Asia: a Synthesis
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USAID ANTI- TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS PROGRAMS IN ASIA: A SYNTHESIS November 2009 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Chemonics International Inc. USAID ANTI- TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS PROGRAMS IN ASIA: A SYNTHESIS The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. CONTENTS Acronyms Executive Summary Section I. Overview ............................................................................................................. 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 Trafficking in Asia ............................................................................................................... 2 USAID’s Response............................................................................................................... 6 Best Practices ....................................................................................................................... 9 Lessons Learned ................................................................................................................. 16 Section II. Country Profiles ............................................................................................... 20 Bangladesh ......................................................................................................................... 20 India .................................................................................................................................... 26 Nepal .................................................................................................................................. 31 South Asia Regional ........................................................................................................... 37 Cambodia ........................................................................................................................... 39 Indonesia ............................................................................................................................ 44 Philippines .......................................................................................................................... 50 Thailand .............................................................................................................................. 56 Vietnam. ............................................................................................................................. 59 Asia Regional. .................................................................................................................... 65 Annexes Annex A. Program Information ......................................................................................... 67 Annex B. List of Interviews ............................................................................................... 72 Annex C. Bibliography ...................................................................................................... 73 ACRONYMS ACILS American Center for Labor Solidarity/The Solidarity Center ACT Actions for Combating Trafficking in Persons Program (Bangladesh) ADAPT An Giang/Dong Thap Alliance to Prevent Trafficking (Vietnam) AED Academy for Educational Development ANE Africa and Near East ATP Anti-Trafficking in Persons Program (Indonesia) ATSEC Action against Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children (South Asia) BHRAP Bangladesh Human Rights Advocacy Program BMET Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (Bangladesh) BNWLA Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association CAHT Center Against International Human Trafficking (CAHT) (Thailand) CATW-AP Coalition Against Trafficking in Women—Asia Pacific CCPCR Cambodian Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights CECS Children Exploited for Commercial Sex CET Center for Educational Technology (Vietnam) CIC Community Information Center (Bangladesh) COSECAM Coalition to Address Sexual Exploitation of Children in Cambodia CRG Child Rights Goa (India) CTI Counter-Trafficking Interventions in Prevention, Protection, and Prosecution for Victims of Trafficking in Persons Project (Bangladesh) CTIP Combating Trafficking in Persons in Indonesia Program CTIP Counter-Trafficking in Persons Program (Cambodia) CTP Creating an Enabling Environment Project to Overcome Trafficking of Women and Children Program (Indonesia) CPCRC Coordination Center for Protection of Child Rights in Chiang Mai (Thailand) DAI Development Alternatives Incorporated DOS United States Department of State DDC District Development Committee DOJ Department of Justice DSWD Department of Social Welfare and Development (Philippines) ECPAT End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes GAATW Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Women HCC Healthcare Center for Children (Cambodia) IACAT Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking (Philippines) ICMC International Catholic Migration Commission IJM International Justice Mission IOM International Organization for Migration IRR Implementing Rules and Regulations ITPA The Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act (India) KPP Ministry of Women’s Empowerment (Indonesia) MEWOE Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment (Bangladesh) MOHA Ministry of Home Affairs (Bangladesh and India) MOM Ministry of Manpower (Indonesia) MOWCSW Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Welfare (Nepal) MSDHS Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (Thailand) MWE Ministry of Women’s Empowerment (Indonesia) MTV EXIT Music Television ─ Campaign to End Exploitation and Trafficking NAPOLCOM National Police Commission (Philippines) NGO Non-Governmental Organization NIMHANS National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (India) NLAA National Legal Aid Agency (Vietnam) NOMM National Office of Mass Media (Philippines) NTF National Task Force (Cambodia) POEA Philippines Overseas Employment Agency PSEP Pilot Shelter Enhancement Project (Cambodia) PVO Private Voluntary Organization RAF Regional Action Forum (South Asia) RIACAT Regional Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking (Philippines) ROLE Rule of Law Effectiveness Program (Philippines) SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SARI/Q South Asia Regional Initiative/Equity Support Program SEVA Manav Seva Sansthan (India) SIGHT Strengthening the Initiatives of Government and Others against Human Trafficking (Indonesia) SOP Standard Operating Procedure TAF The Asia Foundation TIP Trafficking in Persons TPTA Trafficking in Persons and Transportation Control Act (Nepal) TRAFCORD Task Force to Combat Trafficking of Women and Children in Northern Thailand TVPRA Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act UNIAP United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking UNIFEM United Nations Development Fund for Women UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime USAID United States Agency for International Development USG United States Government VDC Village Development Committee VFF Visayan Forum Foundation (Philippines) WHR Women for Human Rights (Nepal) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Human trafficking is one of the largest criminal activities in the world today. Every year throughout South and South East Asia, individuals fall victim to both sex and labor trafficking both within their countries and after crossing international borders. The large number of Asian migrants searching for better opportunities provides a breeding ground for traffickers and illegal labor brokers. Many individuals begin their journey safely, only to later be ensnared in trafficking. In some countries in Asia, the extent of sexual exploitation has been exacerbated by demand from foreigners in tourism sites. Child sex tourism is a serious and, according to some reports, growing problem. Labor trafficking takes place in various settings including in the garment, construction, logging, fisheries, and agricultural industries. Trafficking not only undermines the security of communities but also violates the human rights of victims, who often experience physical and emotional suffering, trauma, rape, threats, and in some cases, death. To combat this scourge, since 2000 the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has supported more than 30 anti-trafficking programs in eight countries in South and Southeast Asia: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. USAID has helped to bring human trafficking to the attention of all levels of society in South and Southeast Asia, building political will and public awareness, and helping governments, communities and local non-governmental groups take action against traffickers and assist trafficking victims. Many individuals, primarily girls and women, were able to avoid being trafficked as a result of these efforts. This report serves as a desk review of these programs. With USAID’s assistance, countries have improved anti-trafficking legislation, issued trafficking-related ordinances, included trafficking in local government budgets, and set up anti-trafficking task forces and prosecution teams. Government and non-governmental service providers have provided shelter and counseling to victims and helped them reintegrate into their communities. Countries are upgrading standards for service providers to ensure proper application of the law, sensitive treatment of victims, and quality care. Around the region,