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Technical Cooperation Project Summary

Project Title

South Asia Sub-regional Program to Combat the Trafficking of Children for Exploitative Employment in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka (TICSA Phase I)

Region/Country

ASIA/Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka

Project Duration

June 15, 2000 – December 31, 2002 (completed)

Fiscal Year & Funding Level

FY 1999: USD 1,430,185 (revised)

Problem to be Addressed

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

Results

The project withdrew 354 children and prevented 2,513 children from being trafficked in three countries for purposes of prostitution, domestic work, bonded labor, marriages, false adoption, sex tourism and entertainment, pornography, begging, and criminal activities.

Project Objectives

Contribute to the effective abolition of one of the worst forms of child labor, in particular, the trafficking of children for exploitative employment.   

Intermediate objectives include:

  • At the end of the program, the capacity of governmental and non-governmental organizations in selected countries to address child trafficking within countries and across borders will have been strengthened;
  • At the end of the program, direct action programs aimed at the prevention and rehabilitation of child victims of trafficking in participating countries will have been established and at least 1,700 children will have been rescued and rehabilitated; further approximately 6,000 will have been prevented from falling prey to the trade; and
  • At the end of the program, sub-regional level cooperation and joint action between and among South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries will have been improved.

Summary of Activities
  • Supported the formation and strengthening of national taskforces and national consultations for developing plans of action, networking and training programs;
  • Conducted research on trafficking and promoted the use of available research materials among partners;
  • Identified and strengthened non-governmental and community-based organization centers to provide services in the field of legal, social and economic assistance to victims of child trafficking, and provide educational opportunities;
  • Offered programs for social workers on trauma treatment and psychosocial counseling services to be provided to child victims of trafficking;
  • Organized workshops and meetings among non-governmental organizations, law enforcement authorities and community leaders in order to strengthen the enforcement of law and facilitate the rescue and rehabilitation of victims; and
  • Provided inputs and recommendations to national delegations to the SAARC regarding the adoption and implementation of the regional conventions on trafficking.

Grantee

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

Implementing Partners

Various government and nongovernmental organizations in each participating country, including:

Nepal: Maiti Nepal; ABC Nepal; Centre for Victims of Torture CVICT; Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare.

Sri Lanka: National Child Protection Authority Rehabilitation; Don Bosco Children and Youth Center; ETC Lanka; Centre for Policy Alternatives; Axis Lanka; Be Positive; Ceylon Workers’ Congress.

Bangladesh: Center for Ethnic Children, INCIDIN Bangladesh, Bangladesh National Women Lawyer’s Association, Manab Kallayan Parished, Samaj Unnayan Prashikshan Kendra, Center for Rights and Development.

Contact Information

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

(202) 693-4843