Hi Wenchi, apologies for the late response to the discussion board. I have been travelling due to a new assignment and only now find my way to a computer.
To answer your initial question, no the project is not being implemented as I have developed it. Community work is indeed being done by NGOs, often supported by IOs. However, most of the work being done is in a post- trafficking context aiming at preventing re-trafficking. If we exclude awareness campaigns - which often do not have the right preventative focus or clear audience-tailored messages - little is being done at a pre- trafficking level within communities. I believe that the large part of anti-trafficking work in SEE is at the government level. Such work has to be applauded and encouraged to continue because such top level policy changes are fundamental for any future improvements. Yet, I believe that - in parallel - individuals have to be reached on a more personal level through emotional and psychoeducational approaches. This is what the project aims to do. Similarly, from the literature review that I have come across during my research, lots of attention is devoted to making standard recommendations to government agencies or large international organizations for top-down change and improvement. This type of research has been tremendously useful thus far in attaining results in the region. However, I feel that psychosocial studies about behavior, attitudes and interpretation have to be undertaken. What drives a health practitioner to help traffickers victimize women and children? Is it only monetary compensation and power? What are other undelying push factors in individuals that drive them to tolerate, accept and aid traffickers? What about the parents and the children? I believe that answers to these cognitive-behavioral questions would assist policy-makers and IOs when designing new policies to combat trafficking. Unfortunately, most of the SEE trafficking literature I encountered did not go deep into the individual's psyche. Such an approach should be countered by psychological studies of individuals on the demand side which is a big part of the trafficking problem.
I hope I have been able to answer your question. I should have regular computer access from now and promise to reply promptly to future posts. All the best, Annalisa
Assistant Programme Funding Officer, UNICEF
Return to Home Page