ANTI-TRAFFICKING WORLDWIDE ACTIVITIES
Indonesia Territory
This new project has been written in cooperation with the Indonesia Territory. We hope to implement it as soon as funding is secured. This project is a partnership of SAWSO, World Relief and World Hope which make up FAAST (Faith Alliance Against Sexual Trafficking). The in-country partners are TSA Indonesia and local evangelical churches working with World Relief and World Hope. It will be implemented in: 1) North Sumatra, particularly the Medan area which is known for sending, receipt, and transit of victims for domestic and sexual service; 2) Central Java, primarily known as a source location; 3) West Java; and 4) Jakarta/Banten.
The overall goal of this program is to reduce trafficking in persons in Indonesia by expanding and strengthening necessary interventions and responses at both government and grassroots levels. FAAST will strive to achieve this goal through two primary objectives: 1) Strengthening the institutional capacity of the government of Indonesia (GOI) to develop and implement policies and procedures to fight trafficking in persons; and 2) supporting the active involvement of community-based and faith-based organizations in both the prevention of trafficking and the protection of trafficking victims.
Victim support:
Establish a referral mechanism to identify existing services; Give service providers a list of available programs and services so that they can offer comprehensive services and care for victims of trafficking. The target is to provide support to 100 victims per division per year.
Education:
Conduct general public awareness campaigns utilizing and expanding on previously developed materials. The target is to reach 10,000 individuals per division per year.
Conduct Educational Round Tables on trafficking and related issues for community leaders, service providers, religious leaders, educators, provincial government and other stakeholders. The target is to include 500 people per division per year.
Advocacy:
Develop an inter-disciplinary Advisory Committee that will produce briefs on trafficking and related topics, such as debt bondage and gender bias, and track the progress of anti-trafficking and related legislation and regulations;
Provide information and advice to Parliament and Government of Indonesia (GOI) stakeholders to enable them to make informed decisions;
Inform the public about anti-trafficking legislative efforts and related issues through public awareness and public hearings (listed above);
Link community anti-trafficking groups (community councils) with local GOI and law enforcement units;
Provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment; and
Assist the GOI in developing an efficient and coordinated data collection and reporting system.
Fund-raising:
US State Department, USAID, private foundation and US Churches. A 10% match is provided by TSA Indonesia and in-country churches.
Responsible person:
To be determined (contact person at SAWSO is Bram Bailey)
Other information:
There is no additional information at this time.
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Ecuador Division, South America West Territory
The general project objective is to protect and enhance the human rights of persons who have been, or are in danger of becoming, enslaved through human trafficking in six (6) communities in Ecuador. For the purpose of this program, “human rights” specifically means that individuals are not subjected to coercion, violence, and deception as methods to create an enslaved condition.
This general objective consists of three parts: 1) Promote general public awareness of human trafficking as a human rights concern within the six (6) participating communities as a means of prevention and protection; 2) Create functioning, sustainable community management structures that can produce a meaningful and sustained reduction in human trafficking in the communities served; and 3) Provide, through the participating communities, basic care and support for human trafficking victims.
Six corps in the Ecuador Division took part in this project. As a result of the awareness raising activities, the corps and their communities now understand the complex issue of trafficking and how it affects their community. This understanding has moved them to focus on developing care and prevention programs.
Victim support:
The Ecuador Division is currently developing programs to address the victims’ needs. One of the main barriers they face is securing funding for future development of the program.
Education:
The project recently completed the following activities:
- In each of the six (6) communities, one hundred (100) children and adolescents participated in prevention and protection activities. This is a total of 600 children and adolescents in the 6 participating communities;
- In each of the six (6) communities, one hundred (100) parents or caregivers (grandparents, foster parents) participated in prevention and protection activities. This is a total of 600 parents or caregivers in the 6 participating communities;
- In each of the six (6) communities, one hundred (100) people from all walks of life attended community meetings and increased their awareness of the human trafficking issue. This is a total of 600 community participants in the 6 communities;
- In each of the six (6) communities, fifty (50) people representing various constituencies, professions, and community sectors actively and regularly participate in program-sponsored activities such as a Task Force, Leadership Group and Specialized Work Groups that are carrying the work of the program forward. There are 300 such community participants in the 6 communities; and
- In each of the six (6) communities, all children identified as victims of human trafficking are receiving the social, emotional, physical, and spiritual care needed to facilitate healing and to prevent further abuse.
Overall, the proposed program has the potential to reach more than 2,100 children and adults directly.
Fund-raising:
This project was funded by SAWSO through a grant from Geneva Global.
Responsible person:
Divisional Commander for the Ecuador Command; Noelia Pintos, Projects Secretary for the South America West Territory; and Bram Bailey at SAWSO.
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Kunming, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan Command
The general project objective is to protect and enhance the human rights of persons who have been, or are in danger of becoming, enslaved through human trafficking in eight (8) communities in China. For the purpose of this program, “human rights” specifically means that individuals are not subjected to coercion, violence, and deception as methods to create an enslaved condition.
This general objective consists of three parts: 1) Promote general public awareness of human trafficking as a human rights concern within the eight (8) participating communities as a means of prevention and protection; 2) Create functioning, sustainable community management structures that can produce a meaningful and sustained reduction in human trafficking in the communities served; and 3) Provide, through the participating communities, basic care and support for human trafficking victims.
We envision communities where children, adolescents and young adults are safer from the possibility of sexual and/or labor enslavement. These communities will have a high degree of awareness that the problem exists. Parents, young adults and children will be aware of the reality of human trafficking, its impact on their lives, and how to reduce the risk of being enslaved. The community as a whole, including government, business, and civil society, will work together, in a coordinated way, to make their communities safer for children and adolescents. When children and adolescents are subjected to trafficking, the communities will be able to provide the social, emotional, physical, and spiritual care needed to facilitate healing and to prevent further abuse.
The project is focused on 8 remote rural communities close to the border of Myanmar and is a partnership between SAWSO, UKT, the China Development office (Hong Kong and Taiwan Command) and the Women's Federation of China. The project is approximately half-way through its awareness raising process.
Victim support:
The focus of the project is to generate awareness and understanding that will lead to the development of programs to deal with the concerns of victims. It is, therefore, anticipated that programs or services will emerge as understanding increases. The exact nature of the programs and services is to be developed.
Education:
The focus of the project is to generate awareness that will lead to action.
- In each of the eight communities, one hundred children and adolescents will participate in prevention and protection activities. This will be a total of eight hundred people in the eight participating communities.
- In each of the eight communities, one hundred parents or caregivers (grandparents, foster parents) will participate in prevention and protection activities. This will be a total of eight hundred people in the eight participating communities.
- In each of the eight communities, one hundred people from all walks of life will attend community meetings and increase their awareness of the human trafficking issue. This will be a total of eight hundred community participants in the eight communities;
- In each of the eight communities, fifty people representing various constituencies, professions, and community sectors will actively and regularly participate in program-sponsored activities such as a Task Force, Leadership Group and Specialized Work Groups that will carry the work of the program forward. There will be a total of four hundred such community participants from the eight communities;
- In each of the eight communities, all children identified as victims of human trafficking will receive the social, emotional, physical, and spiritual care needed to facilitate healing and to prevent further abuse.
Overall, the proposed program has the potential to reach more than three thousand five hundred (2,800) children and adults directly.
Advocacy:
Because of the sensitive nature of the political environment in China, advocacy is limited to working with the community leaders in the eight target communities.
Fund-raising:
SAWSO (through a grant from Geneva Global) and UKT Development Office are funding this project.
Responsible person:
Puisi Chan of the China Development Office and her staff in Kunming; Bram Bailey at SAWSO; and Duncan Parker at UKT International Development Office.
Other information:
China is the world's fourth largest country, with a population exceeding one billion two hundred and ninety million (1,290,000,000) and an average life expectancy of approximately seventy-two (72) years. Urban unemployment is estimated at ten percent (10%) and substantial unemployment and underemployment exists in rural areas. The poverty rate is ten percent (10%). The World Fact Book. CIA. 7/20/2004. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/ [Citation for all facts in paragraph]
Human trafficking is an acute problem in China - a problem which has been and will continue to be exacerbated by the country’s one-child policy. “Slavery, Prostitution Effect of China’s One-Child Policy.” LifeSiteNews.com. 3/10/04. http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/mar/04030908.html The common cultural preference of families for boy children has led to a thriving practice of selective abortion of female babies. The result is serious gender disproportion which has left millions of men without potential spouses. To illustrate, approximately one hundred seventeen (117) boys were born for every one hundred (100) girls in 2000, compared with one hundred eight and one-half (108.5) in 1982. In the southern provinces of Hainan and Guangdong, the ratio was one hundred thirty to one hundred (130:100). A natural ratio would be one hundred four to one hundred seven, compared to one hundred (104 to 107:100). “Facing the future with 40 million bachelors.” Herald. 3/10/2004. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/09/1078594367697.html?from=storyrhs&oneclick=true Thus, the effort to find wives had led to a flourishing traffic in women and girls, internally and from countries such as Burma, North Korea, Laos and Vietnam. “Human Trafficking - Regional Profile 2003-03-11.” U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime. http://www.unodc.un.or.th/material/document/RegionalProfile.pdf Police are said to have freed forty-two thousand two hundred and fifteen (42,215) kidnapped women and children in the past two years. “Facing the future with 40 million bachelors.” Herald. 3/10/2004. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/09/1078594367697.html?from=storyrhs&oneclick=true
In March 2004, Li Weixiong, vice-chairman of a committee studying population issues, told a government advisory body that a “dramatic rise” in levels of prostitution and the buying and selling of women was “by no means a sensational prediction.” He stated that if the situation continues, by 2020 there could be thirty (30) to forty (40) million men who would stay single all their lives. Ibid. This will create an unprecedented and overwhelming demand for women. In addition to trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation and brides, there is also trafficking of male babies for adoption. “Human Trafficking - Regional Profile 2003-03-11.” U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime. http://www.unodc.un.or.th/material/document/RegionalProfile.pdf
The U.S. Department of State’s 2004 Trafficking in Persons Report noted, “Chinese women are trafficked to Australia, Burma, Canada, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Europe, and the United States” for purposes of prostitution. Trafficking in Persons Report, June 2004. U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2004/ China is given a Tier 2 ranking in the report, indicating that its government does not comply with the minimum standards of the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 but that it is making significant efforts to come into compliance. Trafficking in Persons Report, June 2004. U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2004/
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Sri Lanka Territory
The anti-trafficking program in Sri Lanka is a partnership between SAWSO, UK Territory International Development Office and the Sri Lanka Territory.
The goal of the program is: to heighten awareness about the issues of human trafficking and engage communities in the fight against human trafficking; to equip the Sri Lanka Territory’s officers, personnel and soldiers with information, materials and training in order to assist them in developing and then integrating strategies for combating human trafficking into their ongoing ministry and work; and to see lives changed.
The overall strategy is to build awareness and understanding about the anti-trafficking issue and to help TSA personnel develop anti-trafficking programs specific to their own communities.
Education:
Increase awareness among leadership in the Sri Lanka Territory and then equip them to pass on education/information about human trafficking to officers, personnel, and soldiers in their respective areas. Conduct one awareness raising training for 150 officers, soldiers and TSA personnel from three areas (Colombo, Anuradhapura and Hikkaduwa). One outcome of this awareness raising training will be to identify a total of 10 individuals from each of the three areas (for a total of 30) who will go back and work with the corps in their areas to build awareness on the issue of trafficking.
Increase awareness among field officers, personnel and soldiers about the issues of human trafficking by providing education and information; then equip them to integrate strategies in their community ministries. The three teams of 10 individuals will be trained to conduct awareness raising activities throughout their area. The goal is to have 10 corps in each area that develop anti-trafficking programs and raise the awareness of at least 30,000 individuals in the three geographic areas
By the end of the project, the Territory will have a comprehensive strategy for combating human trafficking with specific emphasis on Colombo, Anuradhapura (Kandy District) and Hikkaduwa (Southern Section) led by a Territorial Facilitation Team which will be available to train trainers in each division, district and section.
Develop a specific plan to improve the services provided by the two children's homes in the Colombo area. This will include an analysis of both capitol and program needs.
Advocacy:
Partner with other organizations and churches in Sri Lanka working to provide information on the trafficking issue to Parliament and Government of Sri Lanka stakeholders to enable them to make more informed decisions.
Fund-raising:
The project is privately funded by TSA US and TSA UK.
Responsible person:
Swarna Da Silva is in-country person responsible for the project; Bram Bailey at SAWSO; and Howard Dalziel -UKT International Development Office.
Other information:
Background information on the two predominant types of human trafficking, which this project will address, is as follows:
Sexual exploitation: The Sri Lanka government estimates there are 2,000 prostituted children in the country. According to UNICEF and ILO statistics, however, there are nearly 40,000 prostituted children in Sri Lanka. Of these nearly 40,000 children, 80% are boys who are used by Western pedophile sex tourists and are trafficked around the country to serve these tourists. (2003) Other reports included figures indicating 30,000 – 40,000 children in Sri Lanka are sexually abused children, out of which 8,000 are prostituted. While still another report stated nearly 10,000 to 12,000 children from rural areas are trafficked and prostituted to pedophiles by organized crime groups. (1997)
Labor exploitation & child labor exploitation: An official survey conducted by the ILO, showed that nearly 35,000 children are now employed mainly at shops and small factories but a recent newspaper headline registered shock that 1 million Sri Lankan children are labor slaves in their own land. One of the most destructive forms of child labor in Sri Lanka prevails in the fishing industry. Children are recruited in fishing “vaadiyas” most of which are situated in remote areas and children are kept in conditions of virtual slavery. In 1999, a child activity survey conducted by the Sri Lankan Department of Census and Statistics, in cooperation with ILO-IPEC, estimated that 15% of children between the ages of 5 and 14 were working. According to the survey, the majority of working children appear in the agricultural sector. Children are also found working in the manufacturing and hotel industries, and working as craft workers, street peddlers, and domestic servants. In many cases, Sri Lankan women reportedly go to the Middle East in search of work, only to be put into situations of coerced labor, slave-like conditions, or sexual exploitation.
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W. Bramwell Bailey, Program Coordinator
The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO)
615 Slaters Lane, PO Box 269
Alexandria, Virginia 22313
(703) 684-5528
Fax: (703) 684-5536