(DDH/2004/089-105) Advocacy, lobbying and networking are increased at regional and national level to promote harmonization of human rights- based domestic.

(DDH/2004/089-105)

Advocacy, lobbying and networking are increased at regional and national level

to promote harmonization of human rights-based domestic legal framework, policies and

strategies.

By: Deepanita BiswasProgramme Coordinator,

Tdh-Germany

Advocacy, Lobbying and

Networking with the stakeholders at national and regional level

RESULTRESULT 44

Anti-Trafficking UnitLocal government

Level 2

Children/youth groupGrass-root Level

HRD System Grass-root Level

Children/youth groupGrass-root Level

AT Task force

Central Government

Anti-trafficking Unit Local government

Level 1

Anti Trafficking UnitLocal government

Level 3

HRD System Grass-root Level

Anti Trafficking UnitLocal government

Level 3

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Main Actions related to Result 4Main Actions related to Result 4

Establishment of Establishment of networkingnetworking with stakeholders on with stakeholders on traffickingtrafficking

Lobbying and advocacyLobbying and advocacy at national and regional level on at national and regional level on a rights-based approach in anti-trafficking initiatives. a rights-based approach in anti-trafficking initiatives. Being part of campaigns, meetings and seminars.Being part of campaigns, meetings and seminars.

Promotion of a Promotion of a regional websiteregional website on human trafficking on human trafficking issues in South Asia issues in South Asia

Organization of Organization of workshopsworkshops and a final regional and a final regional conferenceconference

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76 networking NGO partners76 networking NGO partners identified in 3 countries: identified in 3 countries: – India- 56: 25 in West Bengal, 8 in Bihar, 11 in Delhi, 12 India- 56: 25 in West Bengal, 8 in Bihar, 11 in Delhi, 12 in in Orissa;Orissa;– Nepal- 10; Nepal- 10; – Bangladesh-10Bangladesh-10

Partners are actively involved in networks as: Partners are actively involved in networks as: – Campaign Against Child Trafficking (CACT), Campaign Against Child Trafficking (CACT), – Beti Bachao Andolan (BBA), Beti Bachao Andolan (BBA), – Cross Border Anti Trafficking Network (CBATN), Cross Border Anti Trafficking Network (CBATN), – Action Against Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Action Against Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of

Children (ATSEC), Children (ATSEC), and other NGOs working on anti trafficking in 3 countries.and other NGOs working on anti trafficking in 3 countries.

Liaison with different institutional partners, like Liaison with different institutional partners, like Social Welfare Social Welfare DepartmentDepartment, , Police DepartmentPolice Department and and Women and Child Welfare Women and Child Welfare DepartmentDepartment and other and other local level Administrative Departmentslocal level Administrative Departments..

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4.1. Establishment of 4.1. Establishment of networkingnetworking with with stakeholders on traffickingstakeholders on trafficking

4.2. Lobbying and advocacy at national and regional level on a rights-based approach in anti-

trafficking initiatives

In In BangladeshBangladesh, Tdh Italy has applied to get , Tdh Italy has applied to get membership of the Go-NGO committee formed membership of the Go-NGO committee formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In In IndiaIndia, partners have been either part of , partners have been either part of different advisory committees and meetings to different advisory committees and meetings to get in place the Anti Human Trafficking Units in get in place the Anti Human Trafficking Units in India.India.

In In NepalNepal, Tdh-Lausanne has advocated through , Tdh-Lausanne has advocated through the SALS forum for the introduction of the the SALS forum for the introduction of the curricula on rights-based approach in the curricula on rights-based approach in the universities of the region. The Indian chapter is universities of the region. The Indian chapter is lobbying with Bar Council of India.lobbying with Bar Council of India.

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4.3. Promotion of a regional website on

human trafficking issues in South Asia

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• Tdh Lausanne in Nepal has been working for the Tdh Lausanne in Nepal has been working for the development and promotion of the digital library in the development and promotion of the digital library in the website: website: www.childtrafficking.com

• It holds 2,637 documents on trafficking.It holds 2,637 documents on trafficking.

4.3. Promotion of a regional website on

human trafficking issues in South Asia

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• The website hosts around 2000 subscribers around The website hosts around 2000 subscribers around the world. the world.

• A package of 2 CDs with 1600 documents from the A package of 2 CDs with 1600 documents from the digital library was made accessible and 1050 were digital library was made accessible and 1050 were distributed free of charge upon request from distributed free of charge upon request from organisations.organisations.

2006 2007 2008

Unique Visitors 49,776 102,069 85146

Total Number of Visitors 64,697 151,976 119841

Total Hits 763, 349 1,678,905 1, 290,543

Total Pages Accessed 353,998 787,040 551,099

Total Downloads (files) 27.96 GB 49.26 GB 73.30 GB

4.4 Organization of workshops and a final regional conference

Tdh- Netherland organised a Regional Workshop in Tdh- Netherland organised a Regional Workshop in Bangalore, India on 16Bangalore, India on 16thth and 19 and 19thth of April’ 07. of April’ 07.

1 regional sharing workshop held in Kolkata from 1 regional sharing workshop held in Kolkata from December 12December 12thth to 14 to 14thth, 2007 with regional project , 2007 with regional project partners. partners.

On 18On 18thth December 2007 Tdh Italy and Concern December 2007 Tdh Italy and Concern Universal jointly organised a National level Universal jointly organised a National level Workshop on Anti Trafficking in South Asia with Workshop on Anti Trafficking in South Asia with different NGOs and INGOs and on 17different NGOs and INGOs and on 17thth June 2008 a June 2008 a National Consultation Workshop took place in National Consultation Workshop took place in collaboration with Concern Universal and IOM.collaboration with Concern Universal and IOM.

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4.4 Organization of workshops and a final regional conference

Seminar on Re-trafficking issues held in Kolkata on 7Seminar on Re-trafficking issues held in Kolkata on 7 thth and 8and 8thth August’07 and two more due in 2009 in India. August’07 and two more due in 2009 in India.

National Level Consultation on National Level Consultation on “Countering Challenges Countering Challenges in Adoption Combating Child Trafficking” held in Dehli in Adoption Combating Child Trafficking” held in Dehli on 10on 10thth and 11 and 11thth of January’09. of January’09.

NGO Networking Seminar held in Kolkata on the 14NGO Networking Seminar held in Kolkata on the 14 thth and and 1515thth January’09. January’09.

Regular workshops held with Government Officials and Regular workshops held with Government Officials and media persons on RBA to anti-trafficking actions.media persons on RBA to anti-trafficking actions.

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Milestones reached

• All partners have reached out to leading networks in the All partners have reached out to leading networks in the 3 countries.3 countries.

• The Government of the three countries now recognize The Government of the three countries now recognize human trafficking with a broader perspective than before.human trafficking with a broader perspective than before.

• Partners recognized as experts to train,Partners recognized as experts to train, and advice on trafficking plans and and advice on trafficking plans and Actions by the Government Departments Actions by the Government Departments as WCD, Police, CWC, etc. in India.as WCD, Police, CWC, etc. in India.

• AHTUs in the three countries are linked with the partners AHTUs in the three countries are linked with the partners in many cases they are even part of the Government in many cases they are even part of the Government bodies as in Bihar and West Bengal.bodies as in Bihar and West Bengal.

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Milestones reached

• Improved sensitivity of Improved sensitivity of media while reporting on media while reporting on trafficking cases in the three trafficking cases in the three countries.countries.

• The digital library has The digital library has become a popular reference become a popular reference site with more than 2000 site with more than 2000 subscribers.subscribers.

• Improved relation among I-Improved relation among I-NGOs in terms of NGOs in terms of information sharing after the information sharing after the Regional Workshop and Regional Workshop and Conference in Dhaka.Conference in Dhaka.

(DDH/2004/089-105)Challenges Faced:

• There are several Networks functioning in the region to curb There are several Networks functioning in the region to curb trafficking- such as trafficking- such as BSAF, ATSEC, CACL, CACT, CBATN, etc.BSAF, ATSEC, CACL, CACT, CBATN, etc. But without much linkage between each other.But without much linkage between each other.

• Often it was observed that the scope of networking got Often it was observed that the scope of networking got limited with vested interest, mistrust, negative competition limited with vested interest, mistrust, negative competition amongst Partners.amongst Partners.

•Again Contradictory stands are taken on common issues by Again Contradictory stands are taken on common issues by different advocating networks which dilutes the seriousness different advocating networks which dilutes the seriousness of the problems, for e.g legalisation of prostitution and ITPA of the problems, for e.g legalisation of prostitution and ITPA in India.in India.

(DDH/2004/089-105)Challenges Faced:

•Advocacy initiatives often lose its importance when not Advocacy initiatives often lose its importance when not supported with adequate baseline data, facts and figures and supported with adequate baseline data, facts and figures and well defined agenda. It is very difficult to obtain substantiated well defined agenda. It is very difficult to obtain substantiated data on trafficking cases.data on trafficking cases.

•Lack of political will and reluctance act as a constraint in the Lack of political will and reluctance act as a constraint in the process of lobbying of issues.process of lobbying of issues.

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RECOMMENDATIONS :RECOMMENDATIONS :

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NetworkingNetworking

•Effective collaboration, communication and information Effective collaboration, communication and information flow mechanism between networks needs to be in place.flow mechanism between networks needs to be in place.

•Networks need to move beyond a donor driven approach Networks need to move beyond a donor driven approach while advocating and lobbying issues.while advocating and lobbying issues.

•There is a need to link the grass root level networks as There is a need to link the grass root level networks as HRDS with the larger networks while they lobby and HRDS with the larger networks while they lobby and advocate on issues of trafficking.advocate on issues of trafficking.

•To promote linkage between networks a directory needs To promote linkage between networks a directory needs to be in place with details of each network.to be in place with details of each network.

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Advocacy and Lobbying:Advocacy and Lobbying:

•INGOs and international bodies as European Commission, INGOs and international bodies as European Commission, World Bank, etc could facilitate to lobby issues with the World Bank, etc could facilitate to lobby issues with the NGOs and other stake holders. NGOs and other stake holders.

•Extradition treaties could be facilitated between government Extradition treaties could be facilitated between government of India and Bangladesh to deal with trafficking and address of India and Bangladesh to deal with trafficking and address to the needs of the survivors. To ensure this one measure to the needs of the survivors. To ensure this one measure could be regional cooperation at SAARC level is could be regional cooperation at SAARC level is strengthened for the Implementation of the SAARC strengthened for the Implementation of the SAARC convention.convention.

•Coordination between external ministries of the different Coordination between external ministries of the different countries to ensure quality RRRP.countries to ensure quality RRRP.

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•Improve or upgrade national legal framework in Improve or upgrade national legal framework in accordance with international instruments and legal accordance with international instruments and legal framework.framework. Also incorporate human rights and trafficking Also incorporate human rights and trafficking in different academic curricula.in different academic curricula.

•There was a suggestion that actors on the issue could There was a suggestion that actors on the issue could compliment to the efforts initiated by UNICEF to establish compliment to the efforts initiated by UNICEF to establish Task force and get in place uniform procedure for the RRRI Task force and get in place uniform procedure for the RRRI process in India and Bangladesh ensuring survivor’s process in India and Bangladesh ensuring survivor’s rights.rights.

•Mechanisms needs to be in place to promote safe Mechanisms needs to be in place to promote safe migration both inter country and intra country to reduce migration both inter country and intra country to reduce risks of trafficking. Measures like National IDENTITY card risks of trafficking. Measures like National IDENTITY card to all citizen; easy and accessible norms for migration; etc to all citizen; easy and accessible norms for migration; etc could be adopted by countries.could be adopted by countries.

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•There is an urgent need to lobby to bring the concerns of There is an urgent need to lobby to bring the concerns of trafficking and like issues in the manifesto of the political trafficking and like issues in the manifesto of the political parties which gives an added advantage to explain the parties which gives an added advantage to explain the seriousness of the problem.seriousness of the problem.

•Models and best practices at grass roots level which are Models and best practices at grass roots level which are adopted by policy makers for replication needs to be adopted by policy makers for replication needs to be critiqued before implementation to ensure process critiqued before implementation to ensure process replication.replication.

•AHTU needs to be formed right up to the grass roots level AHTU needs to be formed right up to the grass roots level with intensified in- house training and capacity building of with intensified in- house training and capacity building of the concerned actors in the Anti Trafficking Units. the concerned actors in the Anti Trafficking Units.

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•Monitoring mechanisms needs to be in place to ensure Monitoring mechanisms needs to be in place to ensure effective implementation of the existing anti- trafficking effective implementation of the existing anti- trafficking laws in the different countries.laws in the different countries.

•Create proper data base / Information / baseline, with Create proper data base / Information / baseline, with clear stakeholder analysis to enable effective advocacy clear stakeholder analysis to enable effective advocacy on an issue.on an issue.

•MMeaningful collaboration between NGOs, INGOs, civil eaningful collaboration between NGOs, INGOs, civil societies and networks can be capitalised to advocate societies and networks can be capitalised to advocate on common concerns which would minimise conflict of on common concerns which would minimise conflict of ideology and reduction of seriousness of the problem.ideology and reduction of seriousness of the problem.

•Ensure 100% birth registration and marriage Ensure 100% birth registration and marriage registration.registration.

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•Country specific needs should be recognised to plan Country specific needs should be recognised to plan advocacy strategies instead of adopting a blanket advocacy strategies instead of adopting a blanket approach. Use of media as on of the strategies could be approach. Use of media as on of the strategies could be capitalised judiciously.capitalised judiciously.

•There is a need to advocate for a National law and There is a need to advocate for a National law and Policy Framework on adoption and review existing Policy Framework on adoption and review existing policies as CARA guidelines in India to ensure ethical policies as CARA guidelines in India to ensure ethical domestic adoption as preference and at the same time domestic adoption as preference and at the same time ensure an orphan child the right to family and a home.ensure an orphan child the right to family and a home.

•Governments should work up effective policies on Governments should work up effective policies on employment generation in disaster prone areas for employment generation in disaster prone areas for joblessness and lack of livelihood is a strong push joblessness and lack of livelihood is a strong push factor of trafficking.factor of trafficking.