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Technical Cooperation Project Summary

Project Title

Combating Trafficking in Children for Labor and Sexual Exploitation in the Balkans and Ukraine

Region/Country

EUROPE/Albania, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine

Project Duration

September 30, 2003 – January 31, 2007 (revised)

Fiscal Year & Funding Level

FY 2003: USD 1,500,000

Problem to be Addressed

Trafficking in children is a problem in South Eastern Europe.  Children are trafficked for sexual exploitation, begging, petty crime, street vending, and domestic work or to work in agriculture, construction, or manufacturing.  They are trafficked across borders and also within countries, generally from rural to urban areas or from small town to small town.

Results

The project withdrew 407 and prevented 2,254 children from the worst forms of child labor (WFCL), including trafficking for labor and sexual exploitation, in selected high-risk areas.

Project Objectives

Contribute to a reduction in the incidence of trafficking in children for labor and sexual exploitation in Albania, Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine.

Intermediate objectives include:

  • Gear national policies, legislation, and judicial procedures to address the issue of trafficking in children;
  • Put in place mechanisms to reduce the vulnerability of children to trafficking and improve the quality and range of services for long-term reintegration of child victims in selected high-risk areas; and
  • Establish a sub-regional information exchange network and support and strengthen existing regional structures.

Summary of Activities
  • Created a support group on trafficking in children and developed an inter-agency referral system;
  • Supported action to ensure that a trafficking in children component is included in national legislation and strategies on trafficking, child labor, and child protection;
  • Mobilized employers and workers organizations in trafficking prevention and occupational reintegration;
  • Promoted youth employment for those of legal working age;
  • Improved existing reception centers and transit and rehabilitation facilities for child victims of trafficking;
  • Established local action committees to prevent trafficking and facilitate reintegration of victims in high-risk areas; and
  • Supported and strengthened existing regional structures in South Eastern Europe to promote sub-regional information exchange.

Grantee

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

Implementing Partners

Albania: Help for Children NGO; Vocational Training Public Center – Korca.

Moldova:  National Center for Child Abuse Prevention; International Center for Women’s Rights Protection and Promotion “La Strada”; Consulting and Credit in Agriculture NGO.

Romania: Social Alternatives Association; International Foundation for Child and Family; Labor Research Institute of Romania; Save the Children Romania; Pro Women Foundation Iasi; Confederation of Democratic Trade Unions from Romania (CSDR).

Ukraine:  State Employment Agency Training Institute; Center for Democracy Development (CDD); Women’s Consortium of Ukraine; International Center for Women’s Rights Protection and Promotion “La Strada”

Contact Information

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

(202) 693-4843