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Technical Cooperation Project Summary

Project Title

Combating Child Trafficking for Labor and Sexual Exploitation (TICSA Phase II)

Region/Country

ASIA/Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand

Project Duration

September 30, 2002 – March 31, 2006

Fiscal Year & Funding Level

FY2002: USD 3,000,000

Problem to be Addressed

Trafficking in children is an issue of major global concern in recent years that calls for taking immediate action to end this crime.

Results

The project withdrew 367 children and prevented 10,378 children from trafficking for purposes of prostitution, domestic work, bonded labor, marriages, false adoption, sex tourism and entertainment, pornography, begging, and criminal activities.

Project Objectives

Development Objective: To contribute to the reduction in the incidence of trafficking of children for labor and sexual exploitation in South and Southeast Asia, through the following five immediate objectives:

  • At the end of the program, legal frameworks have been reviewed and revisions proposed to reflect trafficking for exploitive labor;
  • At the end of the program, the knowledge base on trafficking and effective action has been improved to enable stakeholders to plan, implement and monitor programs against trafficking of children;
  • At the end of the program, the capacity of relevant government and NGO institutions (district and central level) has been strengthened, enabling staff to plan, implement and monitor programs against trafficking;
  • At the end of the program, children and families in high-risk sending areas have been assisted to reduce children’s vulnerability to trafficking; and
  • A the end of the program, the capacity of government and NGO institutions to provide services to rescue, intercept, rehabilitate and reintegrate child and adolescent victims of trafficking have been improved.

Summary of Activities
  • Reviewed regional instruments related to trafficking; identified gaps between national legal frameworks, the SAARC Convention and relevant ILO Conventions and proposed amendments;
  • Developed child-friendly guidelines and legal procedures, and promoted integration into existing national and regional legal frameworks;
  • Established a regional research working group, collected relevant research and identified information gaps; compiled good practices report and distributed to stakeholders at the sub-regional and country level;
  • Organized workshops and meetings among non-governmental organizations, law enforcement authorities, trade unions, employers organizations, community leaders and the media in order to mobilize against the trafficking of children;
  • Developed income generation programs for families in high-risk sending and transit areas;
  • Conducted awareness-raising and campaign activities to combat child trafficking;
  • Provided non-formal education to children vulnerable to trafficking, including mainstreaming into formal school or vocational training for older students;
  • Established youth clubs to engage youth into awareness-raining and prevention activities; and
  • Trained staff in rehabilitation centers in psychosocial trauma treatment methods and case management with a focus on child participation; developed national standards and guidelines for care facilities and trained staff on national standards.

Grantee

International Labor Organization’s International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO-IPEC)

Implementing Partners

Nepal: ABC Nepal; Centre for Victims of Torture CVICT, Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Central Child Welfare Board, Maiti Nepal; Ministry of Law and Justice; Central Women’s and Children’s Cell, Nepal Police; Nepal Press Institute; National Human Rights Commission. 

Sri Lanka: Don Bosco Children and Youth Center, Ceylon Workers’ Congress (Trade Union), National Child Protection Authority Rehabilitation; Department of Probation and Child Care.

Bangladesh: Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, Center for Ethnic Children; Transport and Hotel Workers Trade Unions; INCIDIN Bangladesh; Bangladesh National Women Lawyer’s Association, Manab Kallayan Parished (MKP), Samaj Unnayan Prashikshan Kendra (SUPK), Center for Rights and Development, Nari Unnayan Shakti (NUS), Ashaash Mohila Unnayan Sangstha (AMUS), Health and Education for Less-Privileged People (HELP).
Pakistan: Sustainable Development Policy Institute (LHRLA).

Indonesia: JARAK (NGO); Indonesian Child Welfare Foundation (YKAI); State Ministry of Women Empowerment.

Thailand: Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights (CPCR); Development and Education Program for Daughters and Communities Center (DEPDC).

Contact Information

Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking (OCFT)

(202) 693-4843