Promoting Basic Services to Survivors in Trafficking

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YPSA-BCTIP (Bangladesh Counter Trafficking-in-Persons) Program (2nd phase)

Project Title: Holistic assistance to the Survivors in Trafficking (HOST)

Background and Justification

Trafficking in human constitutes first and foremost a grave human rights violation with severe mental and physical damage inflicted upon its victims. It’s a global issue & Trafficking-in-persons (TIP) is the fastest growing criminal activity worldwide and it takes several forms, including exploitation of men, women and children into bonded or abusive labor or the commercial sex trade. Trafficking violates basic human rights, damages lives, feeds corruption, exerts an economic toll on governments and citizens, and harms society at all levels.

As per TIP report, 2014 Bangladesh is a source & Transit Country for Trafficking in Persons. Women, Man & Children are trafficked within and outside Bangladesh for commercial sexual exploitation and force labor. A significant share of Bangladesh’s trafficking victims are men recruited for work overseas with the fraudulent employment  offers who are subsequently exploited under conditions of force labor or debt bondage. Over the recent years the southeast region of the Country, has become a particularly active route for human traffickers.

The coastal areas of Cox’s Bazar & Chittagong are heavily using for maritime human Trafficking with most traffickers aiming to reach Malaysia, Thailand and others countries. Last one year approximately 1,00,00 Bangladeshi Nationals being trafficked trough this sea route channel of Cox’sbazar & Chittagong (National Consultation Meeting on Trafficking & Smuggling Through South East Region of Bangladesh by UNHCR & IOM at Dhaka. 9 December 2014) Journal. Sometimes Law & enforcement authority has rescued many labor trafficking survivors from the Bay of Bengal. But still more then thousand Bangladeshi people passing an inhuman life in different Jail of Thailand, Myanmar, India & Malaysia. On the other hand Chittagong Air Port becomes a vulnerable point for labor trafficking which are indentified from different media news also.

Trafficking occurs both inside of Bangladesh and across the border. Most of the trafficking occurs on false promise of a better life with good employment. Poverty, social exclusion or gender discrimination in access to opportunities, widespread illiteracy, inadequate employment opportunity, lack of awareness, lack of social safety net and poor governance are the key factors contributing to trafficking in persons in Bangladesh. Social and economic vulnerabilities of women and children have left them with only a few options to eke out a livelihood. Besides that lack of a strong political will, and weak law enforcement mechanisms and measures to penalize offenders, exploitation by corrupt law enforcers and officials, allows the trafficking trade to flourish.

Trafficking in Persons result in unimaginable mental and physical abuse, loss of human dignity and violation of countless human rights. They are also put in a risk of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. Besides that after rescue, sometimes some families and communities do not accept the survivors. As a result survivors isolate from their family and community and they become traumatize. Basic services to survivors for rehabilitate and reintegrate in society is limited. Besides that for engaging the survivors with income activity there has a little opportunity to link them with job market. They will not get any life skills for empowering them and participate in decision making process. Though governments and non-governmental organizations are increasingly responding to the problem of human trafficking, there is still much to be done.

Project Goal

To strengthen access of assistance to the survivors of trafficking through effective and comprehensive referral system with government and non government actors

Project Objectives:

  1. To provide rehabilitation support to targeted Trafficking victims through shelter and Community based assistance
  2. To establish strong, functional and effective referral mechanism among service providers to ensure service to the trafficking victim
  3. To strength ANIRBAN as advocate groups to work on survivor protection
  4. To enhance the capacity of CTC, service providers and community leaders for ensuring an effective reintegration process of the survivors

Project Duration: May 2015 to April 2017

Supported by: USAID & Winrock International

Geographic Location

YPSA will implement the project in Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, and Comilla. The project will implement centering Cox’s Bazar district where YPSA has been running a shelter home for survivors and YPSA will build referral networks with different organizations in other two districts like Chittagong and Comilla.

YPSA will cover the following areas

Sl no District Name of Upazilla Number/Name of Union.
1 Cox’s Bazar Cox’s Bazaar Sadar, Ramu, Ukhiya, Teknaf, Moheskhali, Pekua, Kutubdia, Chakaria Teknaf- Shamplapur, Saint martin, Sabrang, Teknaf Sadar.Cox’sbazar Sadar- Khuruskul, Eidgah.Chakaria Upazilla- Khutakhali & Sadar.Pekua: Pekua Sadar Mognama & Ujanthiya,

Moheskhali: Ghativangga & Gorrokghata.

Kutubdia: Borghop & South Dhurung

2 Chittagong Sitakund, Anowara, Banskahli,  Chittagong City Corporation Sitakund: Vatiary, SolimpurAnwara Sadar,Banskhali: Joldi, Puichari
3 Comilla Comilla sadar south & Comilla City corporation. Comilla: Bibirbazar Union

Project Activities and Implementation Strategy

Project Activities:

  1. Provide basic care and support to survivor through Shelter
  • Run a shelters home for 100 survivors in Cox’s Bazar with adequate facilities.
  • Provide psychosocial, preventive and curative Medicare and health services to 100 survivors from health services providers through maintaining referral procedure & linkage.
  • Provide 4 Life Skills training to 80 survivors at YPSA-Cox’sbazar Youth training Centre (YPSA-CYC). YPSA-BC/TIP project will provide Food, Accommodation, Materials & local Conveyance for the participants & YPSA-CYC will provide free venue and others logistic support for the Training.
  • Provide market driven skill development training for ensuring livelihood security for 40 survivors directly & 20 survivors indirectly through maintaining referral procedure & linkage with others actors.
  • Provide business startup support to skilled 20 survivors for Livelihood/IGA activities or business development directly through project activities and More 15 survivors will provide support (Job Placement & Internship) collaboration with others Govt. & Non-Govt. service providers.
  1. Networking and collaboration with different multiple sectors
  • Develop MOU with 5 selected service providing organizations to implement the responsive referrals linkage for survivors support. Among them USAID supported Smilling Sun Clinic & Hope Foundation supported Ma O Shishu Hospital, Cox’sbazar will provide health support to survivors. UCEP Bangladesh will provide Vocational Training support. BSEHRb, BLAST & District Legal Aid Committee will provide Legal support, WCPN (Women & Child Protection Network) will work community awareness & survivors reintegration collaboration with the ANIRBAN Members.
  • Develop a referral mechanism for ensuring integrated services and information for the survivors and 200 survivors will get services.
  • Organize coordination meeting with service providers like Government District Legal Aid Committee, BLAST, BSEHR, BRAC – HRSL (Human Rights & Legal Aid Services) Project and CTC.
  • Develop 2 directories on Service Providers at district level through mapping workshop.
  1. Strengthen ANIRBAN as survivors’ voice
  • Provide advance training to 20 ANIRBAN members including facilitation and leadership training, capacity development training on social mobilization/campaigning.
  • Facilitate 8 quarterly meeting of ANIRBAN & Peer Leaders for joint activities Planning & implementation.
  • Facilitate 4-campaign programs through HRD & IMD observance organized by ANIRBAN like human chain, information fair, video show, dialogue with community people etc.
  1. Reintegration of survivors
  • Provide 5 training/orientation on Survivors’ Reintegration Strategy, Role of CTC and Case Management for CBOs, CTC Members, Service Providers (Govt. & Non. Govt), ANIRBAN members & Peer leaders. (Peer Leaders of BSEHR)
  • Reintegrate 200 survivors in their family and community through CBOs, CTC, service providers, ANIRBAN members and Community leaders
  • Collaborate with conducting a Baseline Survey/Study (Situation Analysis) on Human Trafficking issue. (to be conducted by Winrock International).
  1. Project indicators and targets
  • 100 survivors will enroll and get basic care and support including accommodation, food, cloths, education and recreation facilities from the shelter home in Cox’s Bazar.
  • 200 survivors will receive necessary support from YPSA and other service providers through referral mechanism
  • Confidence, dignity, self assessment and decision making capacity will enhance among 80 survivors in shelter and out of shelter through life skills training
  • 40 survivors will well equip with knowledge and skills by getting market driven skill development trainings from YPSA and through linkage with Youth and sports department of government Agriculture department of govt., Livestock department of govt. and UCEP.
  • 20-trained survivors will get business start up support directly for implementing their IGA activities & business and 15 Survivors will get the Job Placement & Business startup support from other service providers.
  • A referral mechanism will be established for ensuring integrated service to 200 survivors by the involvement of selected service providers in Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Comilla.
  • 5 MOU will be signed with WCPN, BSEHR, HOPE Foundation Ma – O Shishu Hospital, Smiling Sun and UCEP for providing psychosocial, preventive and curative Medicare and health services, legal support, reintegration, referral and IGA training to the survivors.
  • 2 directories on service providers will be developed through organizing 2 mapping workshops in 2 districts (Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar) with the selected service providers in respective districts.
  • Community-based organizations, and other actors like CTC, service providers, ANIRBAN and Community leaders will be capable to help survivors for integrating in their family and community and follow up the reintegrate.
  • ANIRBAN & Peer leader will be more active in protecting survivor rights.
  • 200 survivors will be reintegrated through CBOs CTC, service providers, ANIRBAN and Community leaders.
  • 1 district Counter Trafficking Committee, 2 Sub- District Committee & 4 Union counter Trafficking committee will be functional.

First Phase of the project

Project title: Promoting Basic Services to Survivors in Trafficking through Integrated Approach

Donor

USAID & Winrock International

Goal

To enhance and standardize protection and care for survivors of human trafficking.

Specific Objective

1. Develop and implement standards for care and support for survivors of human trafficking

2. Improve livelihoods options through vocational and other skills training

3. Successful reintegration of survivors through an integrated community approach

Project Duration: October 2009 to June 2014

Location & Target Coverage

Area Coverage

Beneficiary/TG coverage

Name of District Name of Upazila/Thana No. of  union/Ward No. of  Village/Mahalla/Para Categories Direct   Indirect Total
Cox’sbazar, Chittagong and Feni Cox’sbazar Sadar, Ramu, Ukhiya, Teknaf, Chokoria, Moheskhali, kutubdia and Pekua,Naikkhaonchari, Lama and Banderban sadar.Chittagong City area, 114 Union 206 Village Male

 463

535

998

Female

 32

175

207

Child

138

470

608

Total

633

1180

1813

Background

Human Trafficking is a horrific Crime as well as a global issue that affects hundreds of thousands of people every year.  As per TIP report 2012 Bangladesh is a source and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to trafficking in persons. In Bangladesh Human trafficking takes several forms and has many faces. Trafficking violates the human rights of its victims, damages lives, feeds corruption, exacts an economic toll on governments and taxpayers, and harms society at all levels. Cox’sbazar & Chittagong is the one of vulnerable district for human trafficking. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in human trafficking in Bangladesh especially labour Trafficking. Responding to human trafficking is an issue of human rights. Under the Palermo Convention YPSA is implementing ACT program from 2009 by the support of USAID & Winrock International at Cox’sbazar, Chittagong and Feni District under Chittagong Division.

YPSA will take initiatives for responding to the basic Care & support of the survivors to serve through individualized and holistic case management both inside and outside of the shelter home. As well as YPSA started a Transit home at Chittagong city area from Last year.

Major Activities

  1.  Information collection through Investigation & Field visits for Rescue/identification the survivors.
  2.  Survivor enrollment in the shelter home (Cox’sbazar) & Transit Home (Chittagong) and provide Basic Care & support (Food, Cloth, Health and Education) of survivors at Shelter home.
  3. Provide psychosocial (Mental Health Counseling) support to the Survivors.
  4. Provide life Skills Training to survivors – In shelter and out of shelter.
  5. Provide  Human Rights Training for the Survivors
  6. Ensure Necessary Health Support from Govt. & Smiling Sun Clinic for of the survivors.
  7. Arrange Vocational Training for Survivors
  8. Communicate with the schools & NGOs for Education support and Establish linkage with the survivors.
  9. Meeting with GO, NGOs & Others Stakeholders of Chittagong, Cox’sbazar,  Feni & Comilla district to develop Referral & Linkage.
  10. Meeting with the CBOs likes Imam Sommity, Journalist Forum/Press Club, District Lawyers Association, Travel Agent. Anti Trafficking committee etc.
  11. Arrange on the Job Training / Internship for the Survivors & Job Placement
  12. Business Startup support to skilled survivors for income generation & safe life..
  13. Ensure Legal Support form the court or BMET for the survivors.
  14. Formation ANIRBAN (survivor voice group) and do the some awareness and advocacy work against Human Trafficking and unsafe Migration..
  15. International Human Rights & Migrants Days Observation at Cox’sbazar & Chittagong.
  16. Participate at Survivors Convention
  17. Arrange Round Table Meeting with relevant stakeholders on Human Trafficking & Unsafe Migration Issue

Target & Achievement

Target(12-13) Achievement(12-13) Cumulative Achievement from the beginning
Information collection through Investigation & Field visits for Rescue/identification the survivors and meets their Family. Total 343 Survivors has identified and enrolled with the ACT program Total 633 Survivors has identified and enrolled with the ACT program
Basic Care & support (Food, Cloth, Health and Education) to the survivors at Shelter home & Transit Home Running a shelter home for Survivors at Cox’sbazar & Transit Home at Chittagong city Area.At Shelter Home July 2012 to June 2013 total 108 survivors and at Transit Home 21 survivors received basic care and support From March 10 to June 13 total 214 survivors received basic care and support from the shelter home and 46 survivors from Transit Home.
Make a Case Management plan for Individual survivor. Total 343 Case Management Plan has completed for survivor reintegration Total 633  Case Management Plan has completed for survivor reintegration
Information based Data Bank established of the Survivors. Total 343 survivors Information Data bank has created. Total 633 survivors Information Data bank has created.
Provide psychosocial (Mental Health Counseling) support to the Survivors. Total 194 survivors received Mental Health Counseling support Total 414  survivors received Mental Health Counseling support .
Arrange awareness session on different relevant issues for the survivors. On Going Activities 15 issue
Ensure Necessary Health Support from Govt. & Smiling Sun Clinic for of the survivors. Total 245 survivors received Health support Total  383 survivors received Health support
Provide life Skills Training to survivors – In shelter & out of Shelter Total Organize 4 life Skills Training arrange in shelter and out of Shelter and total 62 survivors has participated in these training Total Organize 16 life Skills Training arrange in shelter and out of Shelter and total 227 survivors has participated in these training
Communicate with the schools & NGOs for Education support and Establish linkage with the survivors. Total 43 survivors has received the  Non –formal education support & 8 Survivors received formal education support Total 94 survivors has received the Formal & Non-education support
Contact & reintegration Meeting with the survivors Family/Authority & Community People Total 6 Meeting organized and 167 participants were present in the meeting. Total 23 Meeting organized and 723 participants were present in the meeting.
Critical Engagement Meeting with the law & Enforcement authority, and others relevant stakeholders. Total 3 Meeting organized and 104 present as participants Total 3 Meeting organized and 104 present as participants
Arrange on the Job Training / Internship for the Survivors & Job Placement Total 12 Survivors has placed in a Job and 2 survivors received internship training. Total 33 Survivors has placed in a Job and 5 survivors received internship training.
Vocational Training arrange for Survivors Total 37 survivors has received different vocational training. Total 127 survivors has received different vocational training.
Seed money support to skilled survivors for IGA activities or business Total 15 survivors received seed support and business setup support Total 77 survivors received seed support and business setup support
Ensure Legal Support for the survivors by the support of BLAST. Total 11 Case running &  Survivors are receiving Legal support from ACT program Total 10 Survivors are receiving Legal support from ACT program
Ensure Legal Support BMET Total 1 Survivor has received the BMET support Total 1 Survivor has received the BMET support. Total 28000/= taka has received from Recruiting agency as a penalty
Survivors Convention One survivors Convention was held at Dhaka. Total 20 survivors has participated at the Convention from Cox’sbazar & Chittagong area. One survivors Convention was held at Dhaka. Total 20 survivors has participated at the Convention from Cox’sbazar & Chittagong area.

Future Plan

YPSA-ACT Program wills extent survivors service activities to all district of Chittagong Division in future and hopefully with in sort time YPSA-ACT program will start a Transit home at Chittagong City area to provide more service to survivors.