Retired Civil Servants Support Community

Albert Einstein said, “the only source of knowledge is experience.” Former civil servants in Tachileik are putting their past professional experience into practice to combat trafficking in persons (TIP). With grant funding from the Promoting the Rule of Law Project, Mawk Kon Local Development Organization (MKLDO) partnered with the Tachileik Retired Civil Servants Association to capitalize on their knowledge in TIP prevention activities. The Association is comprised of retired senior officials from various government sectors including the judiciary, immigration, land registration, general administration, police force, national planning, rural development, education, and others. Four executive committee members of the Tachileik Association completed a training of trainers (TOT) on Human Trafficking and Migration delivered by MKLDO. After completing the TOT, they Coordination meeting between members of Tachileik Retired Civil Servants Association and conducted trafficking awareness sessions in their communities. local CSOs. Given their experience and standing in the community, they can provide relevant examples during these sessions that help Photo: MKLDO convince participants to seek safe migration and be aware of the pitfalls of TIP in the region. MKLDO’s trafficking project offers prevention services directed toward children, youth, and women in Kengtung and Tachileik Township in Eastern Shan State. Their activities include raising awareness of the human trafficking law; training and workshops; information, education, and communication (IEC) development; and public campaigns in urban and rural areas. MKLDO conducted a local situational analysis on migration and trafficking trends before providing TOT sessions. They used the analysis to tailor their training to community needs and build a coordinated With this Association’s support, approach with key stakeholders to effectively combat TIP. we now have more participation Recently, MKLDO organized a coordination meeting that built a by government stakeholders in bridge between some small rural CSOs and the Tachileik Retired our human trafficking project Civil Servants Association. The Association now allows these CSOs to use their office space for meetings/workshops and activities. supports them with their skills, knowledge, and network. Since Local CSO comment many members of the Association are retired senior government officials, they have the respect and cooperation of government departments, and the community as well. With their support and experience, the Association is strengthening coordination and cooperation between local CSOs and government institutions to address TIP and protect human rights.

This success story was achieved by the Tt DPK USAID funded Promoting the Rule of Law in Myanmar. April 2018 For more information please contact [email protected]