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Technical Cooperation Project Summary

Project Title

Combating Trafficking and Other Worst Forms of Child Labor in Central and Eastern Europe (Phase II)

Region/Country

EUROPE/Albania, Bulgaria, UN Administered Province of Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine

Project Duration

September 30, 2006 – December 31, 2009

Fiscal Year & Funding Level

FY 2006: USD 3,500,000

Problem to be Addressed

Albania, Bulgaria, UN Administered Province of Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine are among the countries in Central and Eastern Europe most seriously affected by the worst forms of child labor (WFCL), including the sexual and labor exploitation of children, either through a trafficking process or at the child’s place of origin.  The prevalence in these countries of WFCL has disastrous consequences on the safety, health, and well-being of children.

Targets

The project targets 1,350 children for withdrawal and 3,150 children for prevention from WFCL, including trafficking for labor and sexual exploitation, in selected high-risk areas.

Project Objectives

Contribute to the reduction and elimination of trafficking and other WFCL in Albania, Bulgaria, UN Administered Province of Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine.

Intermediate objectives include:

  • Provide direct services to withdraw or prevent child victims and children at risk of trafficking and other WFCL in key sectors (sexual exploitation, street work, illicit activities, agriculture);
  • Finalize, upscale, and institutionalize models of intervention tested under Phase I so that they are implemented on a countrywide basis with resources allocated by governments (in line with adopted policies), employers, and donor organizations;
  • Mainstream child labor issues into national policies and legislation; and
  • Strengthen the knowledge management component of Phase I on sub-regional and national levels.

Summary of Activities
  • Identify and provide rehabilitation and support services to children withdrawn from WFCL with the assistance of established local action committees;
  • Provide non-formal education and recreational activities to prevent children from trafficking and exploitive labor situations and maintain children within the formal education system;
  • Empower children through the support of youth centers and peer to peer education to prevent trafficking and other WFCL;
  • Promote youth employment for withdrawn and at-risk children of legal working age through job counseling and referral to vocational/skills training, and provide links for children and their families to employment opportunities;
  • Work collaboratively with governments, employers, trade unions, and other social partners to raise the awareness of parents and vulnerable populations about the hazards of child labor in key sectors;
  • Mobilize employers organizations to prevent exploitive child labor through the adoption of codes of conduct;
  • Conduct research to identify the weaknesses of juvenile justice systems, advocate for legal reforms, and provide technical training to officials and child advocates; and
  • Support and strengthen existing structures in Central and Eastern Europe to provide sub-regional information exchange.
  • As of February 28, 2009, 2,466 children have been withdrawn or prevented from exploitive child labor as a result of this project.

Grantee

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

Implementing Partners

Albania: To be determined

Bulgaria: International Social Services Bulgaria-ISS; Institute for Social Activities and Practices-SAPI.

Kosovo: Center for Protection of Victims and Prevention of Trafficking in Human Beings; Institute for Social Policies-MLSW.

Moldova: National Center for Child Abuse Prevention.

Romania: Save the Children Romania; Alternative Social Association.

Ukraine: Charity fund “Intellectual’na Prespectyva”; Donetsk Youth Debate Center; NGO “Upspishna Zhynka”.

Contact Information

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

(202) 693-4843