In partnership with Polaris Project and Vital Voices Global Partnership The Changemakers Innovation Award Competition: How to End Human Trafficking
Awards included a $5,000 cash prize for each of three winners chosen by vote of this online community
The Changemakers Innovation Awards recognize the best social change strategies that emerge from "open source" competitions hosted here every two months. Each competition cycle identifies and refines solutions to a pressing global problem.
* One of these finalist entries was disqualified from being among the top three winners because this Web site received a flood of illegitimate votes for it from people who voted more than once.
Perkins, anti-trafficking program manager of Vital Voices Global Partnership. Contestants may revise and
resubmit their entries based on insights gained from this discussion.
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Dear Members I am Mr Bala from Paris. I wish to participate in your associations to eradicate the human trafficking, children prostitution, child labor..
If you are interested of my participation, please, contact me. With regards
It is great to see fantastic initiatives being undertaken all over the world to end human trafficking.. I saw some comments on the part that youth and young people can take... Our entry is focused on the strenght of the youth in changing systems and initiating change, there are instances in SANLAAP's proposa (SAMVAV Engaging Youth To end Trafficking) where the youth themselves are fighting against this evil in the rural areas addressing the source and in the red lioght areas, the final destination of girls trafficked for forced prostitution.
It was excellent to be allow to summit an entry as an individual to the Changemakers Competition. I liked to see all entries, specially the entries of CAST, The Department of Justice, The Population Media Center, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and mine of course . It is great to see how TIP can be fight in many different ways.
The US TIP report is a great instrument. The TVPA is an invaluable piece of legislation that we have to celebrate and defend - specially in my case coming from a country where the Justice System do not work the way it should. I think the work of people like Congressman Chris Smith has to be laud highly. Sadly, this great instrument is loosing to much respect an credibility, thanks to the efforts of DOS officials that are playing to much politics with it and are not caring enough about human trafficking victims or advocating for them. They are not complying with the 3P . A great and powerful country like the US could do great things to fight TIP. I am just shock how the DOS managed trafficking issues in Argentina. Please, ask your Congress and serious NGOs working TIP to pay attention.
June 7 '05, 13:06
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Re: 2005 Trafficking in Persons Report
From: Wenchi Yu Perkins, Anti-Trafficking and Human Rights Program Manager,
Vital Voices Global Partnership
Since a lot of our entries and finalists are not US-based organizations, I would like to hear about your thoughts on the US TIP report.
Has the TIP report been helpful to your work in your country?
I see that many finalists are from India. What do you think about India this year's tier 2 watch list ranking? How does the civil society think?
Welcome comments about other countries as well.
June 5 '05, 13:06
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2005 Trafficking in Persons Report
From: Wenchi Yu Perkins, Anti-Trafficking and Human Rights Program Manager,
Vital Voices Global Partnership
Dear All,
The US State Department released this year's report on June 3. The TIP report is an assessment of government efforts to counter human trafficking. An assessment of US government efforts will be released in two weeks by the US Department of Justice. For the 2005 TIP report, please visit: http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2005/
If you have any comments, welcome to post on this board as well.
Wenchi
June 4 '05, 23:06
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Impressed!
From: Anita M. Chauhan, PANGKAT FOUNDATION, ADVISER
Dear Changemakers.net, This is the first time I visited your website after getting your email. Congratulations for doing a fine job of bringing attention to the world against this evil-HUMAN TRAFFICKING. The world will be a better place to live in if only we work for a worthy cause like what you have done. I still have to browse all of the entries but I find their topics quite intriguing and attractive to read. I'm adviser of PANGKAT FOUNDATION, a human rights foundation that was establsihed since 1986. Our Foundation is interested to regularly visit your website to keep updated of what other people in other parts of the world do to combat human trafficking.
June 2 '05, 20:06
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All comments welcome
From: Wenchi Yu Perkins, Anti-Trafficking and Human Rights Program Manager,
Vital Voices Gloval Partnership
Dear All,
I am glad to see new comments added to this discussion regarding the selection of the 16 finalists. This competition is also an innovative design and thus encourages your feedback to make it better.
I look forward to new postings regarding either the finalists or other issues. Before this comeptition officially ends, this discussion board is still open.
Again, our purpose is to encourage innovative thoughts and discussions on how to effectively combat trafficking. Your participation is a demonstration of the success of the global campaign. Please join the community!
Hello, I was just viewing all the finalists in the contest and noticed that there was not even a single entry of an individual in the list. I guess it could be that the contributions did not meet the quality of finalists, but in a way individuals who contributed [like me for instance] find it a bit discouraging. While I find the final entries very impressive, I also have a sugggestion that maybe you could have seperate categories of judging for entries sent by individuals. I feel that entries by organizations and individuals are distinct in terms of their background, operation and resources and therefore should be evaluated seperately. Sincerely, Smita
i believe the judges wee unbiased in their final decision ,however i believe contrary to others that poverty is the root cause of the trafficking considering the fact that poorer countries account for a higher percentage of traffick cases,no matter the innovative strategy set up,there will be no ipact if the peoples primary needs of hunger and shelter are not duly satisfied.i also believe that only youths can effectively affect other youths since youths are the major people being trafficked youth to youth contact will create more impact than any other strategy that appears nice on the surface the big quesion is how will theses strategies be implemented. my article also recieved a high rating showing the solidity of my points.Good luck i still hope positive change is acheived in the shortest possible time.
June 2 '05, 0:06
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Re: Letter to Derek Ellerman
From: Derek Ellerman, Polaris Project, Co-Executive Director
Dear Robert,
Thank you for your post and your thoughts. I absolutely agree that povery and inequality are important contributing factors to the existence of trafficking in persons. But I don't believe they are the primary or sole factors as some uncritically suggest, overlooking the role of demand and other factors. I apologize if my statement seemed more categorical than intended.
hello Mr chidi charles, i like your work and i want to commend you. This model is by far the most feasible especially in Africa. Pls keep the good work up. From Umoye j.
Today was the first time I'd heard of ASHOKA and the Polaris Project. All though I haven't read very far into your programs, I feel compelled to comment on your "Human Tracking: A Framework" article.
First of all, let me assure you that I believe in your efforts. I believe you and your organization represent one of the few international efforts toward this problem. But, I do believe you are wrong when you imply that the existance of poverty, the poor, inequality and exploitation, etc... are not responsible for this, at all. Your analogy, I believe explains why.
You say:
"Some people have asserted that the root cause of trafficking is poverty and inequality (because these conditions create a population that is vulnerable to crime).... An analogous argument would be to blame poppies for the heroin trade, as opposed to! those who create the demand for heroin and the drug traffickers who manufacture and distribute heroin to profit from meeting that demand."
Well, here we have to remember, the poppies exist, but heroin has to be created, just as the drug addict, the dealer, and the government that supports drug trafficing, just as poverty, inequality, and the government that supports human trafficing. Human traffic is the result of many overlapping problems that are much greater than the regions they sometimes occur in!
There are so people, meaning to do well, in many organization. We needed to combine our efforts, see the BIG PICTURE, and change the world. Please see my site at www.kushand.org.
It would appreciate it if you would consider what I have written.
I have a question for the Social Alternatives Association submission. While I agree that educating potential consumers of sex trade services about the reality of trafficking and exploitation is a good idea, I find your suggestion that potential Johns can serve as "rescuers" of sex slaves rather alarming. First, I assume that you mean that these clients would purchase the freedom of the sex workers, which does nothing to dissemble the system and in fact, perpetuates the profits of the traffickers. Second, the relationship between a John and a prostitute has all sorts of inherent unhalthy power dynamics, which the role of "rescuer" for the John would seem to actually feed. How would you prevent these clients from forming exploitative relationships with the women/ girls? How can you ensure that men so willing to patronize these places can be trusted to chaperone these women to safety?
From Madre Coraje thank you very much for giving different people and organizations from all over the world the opportunity to take part in this debate about human trafficking. We have learnt a lot from the rest of contestants. We believe that the end of human trafficking will be a hopeful reality in a near future if people carry on working in projects like the ones shown in this competition.
We would also like to tell you a bit more about our project regarding to the questions you raised a few days ago.
The sustainability of the project lies on the companies and in the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility. Companies set aside a part of their budget to finance these projects, they also encourage their staff to get involved and to take part actively in the projects. The staff is able to adopt children from welcome centers and companies help them to visit these centres "in situ" with the goal of making their employees aware of the situation of the children and enabling them to cooperate.
Companies also promote network with other companies and organizations which are working on similar projects.
One of the main points of our project is that companies have to see welcome centres as a opportunity to give young people a formation in the areas they work and need, for example, creating in the welcome centres workshops that will anable children to work for that company in the long run or to run their own business at local level. This is important because at the same time we are taking children out of the streets, avoiding to get caught by traffikers and on the other hand the local economy is being enhanced.
Thank you to all participants,
Madre Coraje
May 29 '05, 11:05
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Thank you for your entries.
From: Wenchi Yu Perkins, Anti-Trafficking and Human Rights Program Manager,
Vital Voices Global Partnership
Dear changemakers:
Thank you for your entries. We are delighted to see 68 innovative anti- trafficking projects from 21 countries. We want to commend everyone on your ideas and passion to end human trafficking, one of the most egregious violations of human rights today.
While only 3 projects will receive the final awards, all of you have contributed to the global anti-trafficking effort.
Beginning on June 1, 15 finalists will be announced and voted on. If you are selected as one of the finalists, congratulations and feel free to mobilize community support to demonstrate your on-line grassroots participation. If your entry is not selected, please also join the vote for other interesting ideas.
Again, we appreciate your participation in this on-line competition. Our goal is to mobilize the global human rights community, and we look forward to your continued efforts to combating human trafficking.
I posted a comment on involving government expenditure.
Well i need to add that once such a program is putup, we can always drive itasabill in parliament to force govenment to commit funds to the programme. Parliament has allways been very helpful in such matters.
FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE DISSUSSION MODERATOR WHO SEEKS MORE INFORMATION ON FAIR TRADE, ADVOCACY IN RESPONSE TO TAIWO OSENI'S ENTRY TITLED, "HUMAN TRAFFICKING: WESTERN WORLD'S PROMOTION OF TRADE AND ENSHRINEMENT OF POVERTY IN DEVELOPING NATIONS".
FAIR TRADE is generally about making sure poor producers get their adequate returns for what they produce. Fair trade is the extent of integrating economically with the rest of the world openness and competitiveness in the global economy.
But the reverse is the case with developing countries, they do not get adequate returns for what they produce. This is because markets are amoral: they (markets) allow people to act with their interest but they pass no moral judgement on the interest themselves. Essentially, markets are rather selfish in its features in that the right practices which back up the supply chain to the original producers of goods and services are not met by virtue of some imperialistic trade rules that do not favour developing countries. Yet the society cannot function without some distinction between right and wrong.
Developing countries are again as in the early days of UNCTAD, becoming a major focus in matters of world trade reforms vis fair. While developing countries are heavily represented in the WTO (World Trade Organisation) -accounting for about four-fifths, that is, 80 percent of its membership - there is still plenty of scope for the World Trading system to work more effectively in their (Developing countries) interests. This is not fair trade!
It is evidenced that the prospective WTO (World Trade Organisation) Millennium Round of negotiations will highlight crucial economic issues regarding the application and implementation of the WTO rules to fair and international trade in goods and services;WTO is still faced with its numerous challenges that make up for fair trade viz: state trading and state aids; regionalism; regional integration;international investment; patents; and financial services, especially to developing countries.
It is pertinent to examine some of the crucial issues that make for fair trade that the WTO is still battling in terms of challenges in its millennium Round negotiation-
REGIONALISM- Beginning in the late 1980s, regional groupings started to become very popular as a tool for commercial policy that will facilitate fair trade in the global hemisphere. The concept of regionalism is that regions benefit in the economic openness and market integration at which returns will come to producers of goods and services and there will be a commercial advantage derived in regions towards trade - goods and services. The degree of regionalism among developing countries and between developed and developing countries improve economic development prospects and economic policy.
Economic policy, with fair trade, must be grounded on an intelligent application of the limitation of theoretical constructions and the consequential impact on real human beings in society. Human beings must have positive impact of what production, return on investment(roi)and adequate financial aid to back up effective production, supply chain and distribution of their goods and services. This enhances economic developing prospect thereby eradicating poverty, the bane of human trafficking - that must be put an end to in developing countries!
STATE: STATE TRADING AND STATE AID - In the 21st century, the nation state has lost some of its insular structure in developing countries. Its decision-making power has been subjugated to the forces of political and economic liberalism -trade liberalization that is currently sweeping the global economy,
Experience suggests that trade liberalization has contributed to the remakable growth of industrialised countries in developed countries at the expense of developing countries. Trade liberalization removed the protection enjoyed by infant industries and set the developing countries back twenty years on the path to industrial development.
Trade liberalization index is measured by "real exports" and "degree of openness". Ironically,fair trade enhances openness, transparency. Wither the hullabaloo of trade liberalization by the imperialists? (G7 and Institutional frame works like IMF, the world Bank, WTO, etc) Misguided liberalization meant the collapse of industries through competition from Superior (Developing countries) and cheaper import substitutes, retrenchment of workers and creation of idle capacity.
REGIONAL INTEGRATION-
With reference to regional integration which enhances fair trade, however, for various reasons, many developing countries have not yet been able to integrate successfully into global markets and reap the growth- inducing and poverty-reducing benefits of trade - fair trade
This is because the developing countries give developing countries stiffer trade rules and policies like high tariffs, high taxes on the goods and services, currency depreciation of resource-based economies at the expense of commodity prices that the poor produces in developing countries produce not yielding them adequate or little retuns, and even unfavourable balance of payment!
A fresh perspective on balance of payments theories, including intertemporal open economy models that focus on the optimum current account in foreign exchange theories. Any non-zero balance of payments must be associated with a disequilibriumin either a commodity or an asset market. A new theory of the balance of payments associated with commodity market disequilibrium, a loanable fund theory of exchange rate and a modern foreign exchange rate that incorporates capital flows.
Human trafficking will not allow poor producers have adequate returns for what they produce (fair trade), as a result of skill shortages. Skill shortages can be a major bottleneck for economic activity and growth.
The idea behind human trafficking is that when labour surplus, advanced throughout the developed world of which children and women, who are worse hit victims of human trafficking ar transported outside their jurisdiction to go and work, especially in crop plantations like coffee, cocoa, cotton, etc., it will aid food security that the developed countries will invariably export to developing countries as food aid!
But there is a way out of human trafficking. This is via ADVOCACY. ADVOCACY is going to work in ending human trafficking in terms of me being an activist. I shall speak loudly for the fundamental cause of the poor, who do not have a voice. I shall go places via travelling - go to Legislative Houses to sponsor and pass bills against total extermination of human trafficking.
Human trafficking is not a matter of taming the shrew- let us kill it in order to safe developing nations. Let them grow in terms of ensuring that they benefit from both globalization and liberalization - these two phenomenons that have enriched and industrialized rich developed nations. Advocacy via activism - being an activist is it!
I have received two questions regarding my proposals. 1. Does it need government coordination? 2. How would I convince government to put in these resources
If I may start with the first question, definitely such a program must on the overall be coordinated by the government. Although we should know that the goal of rapid and significant expansion of such a program cannot be achieved by government alone. It requires all organizations and individuals, from communities, community, ministries, parastatals, non- governmental organizations, faith based organizations, trade union organizations and development parties to become active in the planning and implementation.
These implementing parties and coordinating bodies will need to be made responsible and accountable for achieving the desired results to which they commit themselves at local, national and regional levels. Government will be needed to strengthen mechanisms for continuous learning through performance monitoring and reporting. The key outcome indicators will be used by all implementing parties and government bodies to monitor performance, the coverage in all regions and in each sector and gaps which need to be filled. Performance will need to be reviewed every year and plans adjusted to ensure that targets are met.
We may need to formalize technical advisory committees and sectoral steering committees to promote greater focus. For example, a structure for just three top levels can be like this;
1. A national committee, being the highest policy decision making body on matters related to child affair. It would be attended by cabinet ministers to ensure that policy and resource mobilization is adequate.
2. National multi-sectoral coordinators committee, to provide leadership for multi-sectoral and regional implementation. Members could be at permanent secretary level and includes equivalent regional and civil society participants. It reviews progress and adapts annual work plans and budgets to give recommendations to the national committee.
3. National executive committee. This could provide the technical leadership and will be responsible for coordinating the detailed implementation of the multi-sectoral response. It’s membership could be that that reflects the hands on experience required to deal with implementation issues.
All these will ensure direct government involvement in the fight against trafficking. So we definitely need government in coordination.
Government is one of the best lobbying partners in case more funds are needed to run the program it can guarantee finances so definitely we need it onboard in terms of coordination.
Now about the second question,
One vital point we have to note is that any attempt to understand the effects of human trafficking must take a long term perspective and this has to be emphasized to government. I will argue that, from modest beginnings, the economic damage caused by trafficking can assume catastrophic proportions over the long run, and thereby threatening the social fabric it’s self which government so desire to maintain.
Government will have to be told that the responsibility for financing the program will be shared with all sections of society. Government will be assured that its commitments to the program will not affect national expenditure and national priorities to a great extent. This is because, a substantial proportion of the programs related expenditure will have to be financed by external grants, international sources, including bilateral sources, the United Nations system, the grant component of the world bank and international non-government organizations. All government needs to do is to define their own policies for guiding the inflow of external resources and complement them with domestically financed initiatives however small they may be.
Governments can have a financial mechanism where each ministry will have to adequately plan and budget for their contribution to the national response. Each permanent secretary as well as the accounting officer, will be responsible for ensuring that their ministry’s work plan and budget adequately finances child trafficking local responses in every constituency appropriate to that ministry’s area of function.
If government starts to incorporate or integrate their child policies, their human trafficking policies within their own budgets and everyday programs and try to raise funds within these frame works, then we will have a cheap program that government can afford and the finance minister will be happy to help.
Although simplistic, this analysis of the fiscal modalities of my suggested plan in a way suggest that the indirect fiscal effects of a comprehensive child monitoring and trafficking prevention program will contribute significantly to the program’s own financing since future generations and former victims in future will contribute to the financing and even still the country will have a bigger workforce as a result of keeping children in a safe environment that encourages education and other aspects of child development for a better future. Note that the indirect fiscal benefits are only part of the broader social and economic benefits arising out of the success of the program and this has to be emphasized to government.
All we have to do is to exercise persuasion in bringing such ideas to the attention of the government, governments are no full unaware of trafficking unless if we explain to them the program we have, and help them draft policies it’s only then that we can influence positive policy reforms and financial commitments.
Our lobby work in the Philippines and Japan on what the Philippine gov't. call the "Overseas Performing Artists," popularly known as entertainers or japayuki (Filipina women working in the clubs in Japan) whose work is mostly hostessing, dohan (afternoon dates), flying booking (the transfer of the women from one club to the other), prostitution, and trafficking started to be more effective when our different networks in the Philippines and overseas also became actively involved on the issue.
This led to the passage of the Anti-Trafficking Law in the Philippines in May 2003 after several years of lobby work. DAWN and our women members actively participated in the congressional hearings and various fora to push for the passage of the law. But inspite of the passage of this very good law, the implementation is very much lacking. The Philippine gov't. continued to send the entertainers to Japan inspite of the reported blatant violations of the rights of the women/trafficking. DAWN initiated meetings with the Government of Japan (GOJ). Last May 2004, the Asia- Pacific Regional Hearing of the Global Commission on International Migration (GCIM) was held in Manila. DAWN staff met with Mr. Shigeki Sumi, Deputy Director General of the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the situation of our Filipino women entertainers in Japan. Follow- up meetings were held in Tokyo. Various networks, i.e. Philippine Migrants Rights Watch, the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW-AP) started our active lobby work with the Japanese gov't. as well. Last June 2004, the International Labor Organization-Tokyo (ILO-Tokyo), The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and Vital Voices organized a conference on Human Trafficking in Asia in Tokyo. DAWN through its Executive Director, Ms. Carmelita G. Nuqui, presented a paper on "The Vulnerabilities of Filipino Women as Potential Trafficking Victims." Representatives of the various agencies of the Government of Japan were also invited, together with other resource persons and participants from Japan and other countries. After this conference, follow-up meetings were held, and a suggestion to visit the Philippines was made. The Inter-Agency Task Force of the Prime Minister's Office Coordination Mechanism on Trafficking in Persons, a nine-member delegation visited the Philippines last September 2004 and met with DAWN and its women members and visited the DAWN alternative livelihood programs for the women victims of trafficking, the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW) and with representatives of the different agencies of the Philippine government. Follow-up meetings with DAWN were held in Tokyo and Manila. The members of the Task-Force were impressed with the hollistic approach of DAWN in assisting trafficked women in Japan and made commitments to support DAWN's program. The Task Force also met with the officers of Vital Voices in Washington, DC. The Task-Force also visited Thailand and Colombia. As, a result, the Government of Japan came out with a Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons in December 2004. New rules on the deployment of Filipino entertainers to Japan were implemented starting March 15, 2005.
We learned that recently, the UN Optional Protocol on Trafficking in Persons Especially on Women and Children has been approved by Japan's House of Representatives. It is now awaiting approval at the House of Councilors. Continuing lobby work both local and international is necessary to put pressure on governments to immediately act on issues.
It's so nice to see you here! I think your work is fantastic!
Could you share with the readers the successful lobbying work you've doing in Japan and Philippines? I think most of us would be interested in progress and development in these two countries. Thanks.
May 18 '05, 10:05
(0 ratings / 0.0 average
Response to questions about Safe Space
From: Florrie Burke, Safe Horizon, Senior Director of International Programs, Anti-Trafficking and SOLACE Program for Survivors of Torture
Safe Space is designed for individuals who are ready to meet together in a group and avail themselves of self-empowering activities. Through our Anti-Trafficking Program, we will screen individuals to make sure they feel ready for this experience. Moving from victim to survivor is a process. People need to recognize what has happened to them with all the complexities that involves. A client-centered approach is always foremost in our planning and we want to be sure that our clients make their own choices for what services they want to participate in. The idea of Safe Space is to create a place where clients feel "safe" enough to face both strengths and vulnerabilities. It is not meant to be the kind of safety situation one goes to immediately after leaving a trafficking situation
May 18 '05, 8:05
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Re: Welcome Center
From: Wenchi Yu Perkins, Anti-Trafficking and Human Rights Program Manager,
Vital Voices Global Partnership
Dear Madre Coraje,
I think connecting the welcome center with companies who want to carry out their corporate citizen responsibilities is a great idea!
Besides possible donations to the welcome center, how do companies support the welcome center? Do you have programs that would allow company employees to spend some time with the children? Or for adoption?
If so, what kind of policy is in place to ensure the safety of the children to avoid false adoption?
It's so nice to see Safe Horizon's post here! I'm sure you guys will bring a lot of experience and ideas to this forum.
You mentioned that this "safe space" is for "survivors" of trafficking. Could you let the readers know how you assess whether a person is a survirvor or still a victim. And why not bring them (survivors and victims) all to the safe space? Anything we should be careful about?
I'm sure the "child registration and monitoring system" would be very effective. However, it sounds like a gigantic project that requires enormous resources and manpower.
Does it need government coordination? If so, how would you convince your government to put in these resources?
The rate of human trafficking is growing everyday, with the Third World Countries mostly affected. This is very bad but there seems nothing that can be done to curb this. Millions of dollars have been spent, and really the West doesn't seem much interested again because they somehow see the futility in spending on the Third World Countries: It never generates results. I feel this is because the Third World countries, so-called, have not dimmed it fit to see themselves in a new light. There is over-dependence on Western modes of thinking, on western ideas, western ideologies, western everything. It will do well if we begin to look into ourselves and see why we must love ourselves, and why we must study our things, our environments, our people. This is rigidly attached to us, this racial feeling. Even African-American still feel part of themselves attached to Africa; we who live in Africa actually have all of ourselves attached to it. By neglecting what we are, and striving to absorb some kind of western feeling, which of course will estrange us and make us look down on our kind who haven't gotten this western attachment will make us feel superior unnecessarily and then proceed to use them in enriching ourselves. Let me say here that human trafficking,corruption,etc. are what we can kick out of our system, but improper identification with ourselves split us from our own realities.
STABILITY AND SUITABLE ECONOMY Slave trade began when the africans knew nothing about wat they had in possession. It's richly blessed wit mineral resources and good weather for plantung. But due to greed and selfishness, the kings sold out people in exchange for perfumes and other pleasantries.
The world has changed. It's assumed thet the old days there were no system of economy so we cannot really tell if the economy was good. But it is assumed to be good because everything was easy and sufficient. Politics was then introduced into the world and then most countries began developin and in so doin it has really affect the african communities as a whole. It's difficult for african countries to attain a stable economy or suitable econeomy because most countries are still undeveloped or developing. If we can attain and maintain a good economy,the continent as a whole would grow and become rich thereby making life suitable and bearable by citizens and individuals. If life is not suitable for people they would look forward to leave the country and in so doing they would look for the easiest way and cheaper way which is through human trafficking.
DEEP INVESTIGATIONS ON TRAVELLERS Most investigations are not deep or thorough so that's why it's difficult to curb traffickers. For example,a man travellin out of the country carries like twenty people that are not his family members or relatives along with him. The interpol are suppose to go for thorough investigationas and know the type of business the person is handling and now his bank account,try to know whether it's possible for him to generate such an amount from a job. It's not because he has excess money,they should even search them well because it's the big people that are always involved in such things.
CREATION OF LAWS AND SUPERVISON FROM SUPERIOR COUNTRIES
If laws are created and well administered,it would really help in the curbing of human trafficking.U sing my country as an example, when Queen Victoria of England{R.I.P} in 1851 sent a message to king Kosoko of lagos to stop the slave trading he refused and then She sent troops and there was a little war. The king was dethroned and he's son took over.Then the queen sent the same message and the present king obeyed and the human trafficking was almost dead before the king died and another king took over. The only reason why the human traffickin almost ended was that because king Kosoko's son obeyed and complied wit the law created. In so doing he led by eaxample
ERADICATING CORRUPTION
Corruption is a difficult problem to solve. When it's eaten by country it's difficult to chew swallow ,digest,or even vommit.I t's mostly common in most developing or under developin countries and continents because the citizens and individuals are always wantin to get richer and richer,thereby tryin every means to get money.I n a country where corruption is high, it's difficult to curb or eradicate corruption because it's the top people supporting it and they aren't leading by example.If at all a country wants to eradicate human trafficking it should eradicate corruption and they should start from the rich ones and not the poor ones and the same law mus be applicable to everyone and in so doin no one should be above the law...
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
I am so intrigued by your post. You touched on many issues and I read that in your view, poverty elimination through fair trade is your proposed solution to end human trafficking.
Indeed, while we seek grassroots efforts, we also need strategists to think big.
I would like to pick your brain on the fair/ethical trade issue. It is said that in West Africa, child labor and forced labor is used to support coffee and cocoa production. Consumers often are no aware of all these issues and I tend to believe that most consumers would not want to support slave labor, if they are informed of the production process.
In your view, can any advocacy work be done in this area? And how would you do it? Looking forward to your response.
May 16 '05, 9:05
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Re: Guerilla Design to End the Slave Trade
From: Wenchi Yu Perkins, Anti-Trafficking and Human Rights Program Manager,
Vital Voices Global Partnership
Dear Carolyn,
Thanks for your entry. New York certainly needs a group like this when the city has most resources yet many hidden abuses.
You mentioned that "The tone of the project will be energetic, fun, and purposeful," could you say more or give some examples? I think it'll be very effective if we could package Human Trafficking, the very dark issue, to appeal to the general public who sometimes might prefer a hopeful tone.
How about the meet up group you are organizing in New York? Want to share with the readers?
"HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Western World's Promotion of Trade and Enshrined Poverty Enrichment to Developing Countries" By TAIWO OSENI. HUMAN TRAFFICKING is a facet of poverty problem that touches the rich and the poor. Ours is a world of deeply-enriched global inequalities where developing countries invest $600billion a year on defence, and $300billion in agricultural subsidies, but provide just $56 billion in a year in aid to developing countries.
Within a quarter century, the population of rich countries will grow by 50million people and the population of poor countries will swell by a staggering one and a half billion! Many people will experience poverty and unemployment. Some will leave their families to depart on harzadous journey to rich countries in search of work. This again, is another angle of human trafficking.
Human Trafficking is promotion of trade and enshrined poverty enrichment by the Western World (Developed Countries - G7s) to developing countries.
Trade means food on the table, clothes for the children and roof over your head. So, decisions about how we trade or buy are not only decisions about how we want to live our lives but how other people live their lives too! Trade can make a lot of people a lot of money. It can be the difference between a life of poverty and one of opportunity. It doesn't need to be simply a way for those who are rich to become even richer, it takes place within a just global system,trade has the potential to end human trafficking. Did I hear you ask how?
If Africa could increase its share of world trade by just one percent, it would generate five times more income than the continent currently receives in aid and debt relief.
We see that ending human trafficking, as market opens up, new opportunities emerge for the poor as well as the rich. If fair international trade rules are in place to manage this trade, then prosperity for developing countries can follow. Unfortunately, contemporary worldwide trade, at the heart of globalization, cuts both ways. See how human trafficking is Poverty enrichment for Developing countries.
But it is high time we ended human trafficking via good measures - World trade has the potential to enable governments of developing countries to improve living standards, health care and education. The World Bank estimates that eliminating all barriers of trade in goods will generate between $250billion and $620billion extra global income, up to half of which would go to developing countries in terms of poverty reduction - a facet of human trafficking. This could lift 300million people out of poverty by 2015 thus bringing an end to human trafficking of which poverty is its main cause.
But while the rules that govern International trade favour the strongest and most vociferous countries, the current unfair global trade environment deepens poverty and human trafficking so that it does not simply lead to the survival of the biggest and most powerful.
Also, in ending human trafficking, as far as trading is concerned, Fair trade as well as Ethical Trade is it, globally. Fair Trade is generally about making sure poor producers get adequate returns for what they produce. Ethical trade is more about making sure Labour Standards are respected throughout big global supply chain. Ethical sourcing, for instance, involves a Company taking responsibility for the Labour and Human Rights practices back down for the supply chain to the original producers.
But with Human trafficking, it is an unfair trade. Unfair trade rule means that families don't have enough to eat, can't afford to send their children to school and don't enjoy basic employment rights.
In the globalized world of the 21st century,trade is one of the strongest ties that bind us. If we don't make trade fair, human trafficking and poverty will lead to building of resentment that affect us all.
In ending Human Trafficking, the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) by 2015, the United Nation, (U.N.) Member States have pledged amongst to:
(1) ERADICATE EXTREME POVERTY AND HUNGER - Reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar ($) a day and those who suffer hunger.
(2)DEVELOP A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT - Includes developing an open and fair trading system, boosting freedom justice and democracy, helping countries improve their exports, providing more debt relief aid and making vital drugs more easily available, etc.
We see that achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 is a tremendous challenge facing the International Community and there is a widespread agreement that additional external aid is required to meet it.
New money should go to new performers not just those who are experiencing debt distress.
Financing proposal to achieve the MDGs should be discussed from Central Bankers' perspective. The best solution include sufficient increase in rich countries' foreign aid allocations and more ambitious trade liberalisation.
But such policies seem politically untenable in the short term, even though - according to World Bank estimation, an appropriate conclusion of the current trade round under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation, (WTO), could contribute $350billion a year to developing countries by 2015! Is this not enough to ending human trafficking in developing countries rather than the G7s of this world enriching poverty via human trfficking?
Three ways to secure additional financing for development aid or debt relief: (a) higher taxes; (b) increased indebtedness (that is, higher taxes for future generations); and (c) and/or monetary expansion.
One proposal calls for taxing national and international financial transactions, others call for allocating Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), or for usingt the IMF's gold resources. But none appears desirable
To be effective,any tax on financial transactions would have to be implemented on a global scale, which currently does not seem realistic! Moreover, taxation would increase cost (passed on to the borrowers) and reduce the volum of transactions, thereby fuelling market volatility amid decreasing liquidity.
Allocating new SDRs also is inappropriate. SDRs represents liquidity and can be allocated only if and when there is a "global need", which would currently be difficult to prove given high liquid and "easy" international capital-market conditions.
In any case, new SDR allocation require the support of 85 percent of votes within the IMF's Board, which appears unachievable in the foreseeable future, as major shareholders are opposed! See what I mean, human trafficking will persist because of the imperialists - IMF, World Bank and Western Countries (G7s)
So how can we put an end to human trafficking?
ADVOCACY.
Advocacy is central to the process of international development - it is about trying to become a voice for the people whose voice is not heard, which usually means poor people.
Advocacy is priceless - it is about refusing to forget that so many people in our world live lives that should be so much better. And that we have a responsibility to bring that change about. It is more about raising awareness than raising funds - an awareness that can change ttitudes and in due course, the structures that reinforce poverty enrichment in human trafficking.
Political advocacy is it in ending human trafficking via political engagement - engaging the political process - even going eyeball-to- eyeball with the politicians, decision-makers to represent the views of people who will never get to meet them. It might be:
(i) Signing an e-mail petition : Organised by an aid agency or an individual, lobbyists, etc.
(ii) Campaigning for the rights of poor people: Agreeing to send regular cards to politicians, writing letters to business leaders, calling for improved working conditions for their staff in developing countries, all these go a long way at ending human trafficking.
Let's put a smile on poor people whom the Western World use as unfair trade in promoting trade and enshrining poverty enrichment in developing countries. We all have a right to fair trade in this era of globalization and trade liberalization. A market economy that is not a one-size-fits-all solution ends poverty, the enrichment of its cadet in developing country.
The challenge that has to be put to a naive confidence in free trade to deliver a flourishing environment is a challenge to play the part it wants and needs to play in the global economy.
Free trade doctrine upheld by Western governments as leading to greater over all prosperity, can not serve as a "universal" cure-all for diverse countries.
Let us put an end to human trafficking NOW!
May 13 '05, 19:05
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Re: STAR Network in Bosnia and Croatia
From: Wenchi Yu Perkins, Anti-Trafficking and Human Rights Program Manager,
Vital Voices Global Partnership
Hi Jill and Chris,
It's great to see you and STAR Network here! One of the things I like most about this network program is its focuses on building civil society capacity and women's empowerment, i.e. prevention and root causes.
Perhaps you could introduce to the readers some specific projects and their impact to prevent Balkan women from being trafficked.
Also, I'm curious to learn how you connect these women, especially when 10 years ago, they did not live in peace. I think this is a remarkable achievement for you, and for these women, to overcome historical burdens and work together to combat trafficking.
I look forward to your response.
May 13 '05, 12:05
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extremely urgent
From: Sanu Babu SilwalCentral PresidentSociety of Environmental Journalists-Nepal (SEJ-Nepal) and Editor of Environment News National Weekly
Dear dear Wenchi, Thanks for your response. Yes, you are right that we are looking funders for supporting on our media activities on human trafficking. We are indeed expecting your outstanding cooperation for launching the mentioned media programs in Nepal.
Please suggest that whether you need the proposal for looking the funders or not. If so, please suggest us the scale and confinement of proposal.
We are looking your pivotal role for providing the opportunity for launching the programs on human trafficking in Nepal.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
Warm regards, Sanu Babu Silwal Central President Society of Environmental Journalists-Nepal (SEJ-Nepal) and Editor of Environment News National Weekly Central Office PoBox-13167 Anamnagar, Kathmandu, Nepal www.sej.org.np Phone/fax-0097714257706
May 13 '05, 15:05
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Croatia AND Bosnia
From: Chris Saenger, STAR Network of World Learning
Hello!
We (STAR Network of World Learning) have just posted our entry (Local Initiatives in Trafficking Prevention in Bosnia and Croatia: "Sister Community" Networks) for the trafficking grant. We wanted to be sure that you all know that our project works in Bosnia and Croatia. It says "Croatia" for the country because that is our mailing address.
Thanks for reading and for any feedback you might offer!
May 13 '05, 9:05
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Re: preventing child trafficking in SEE
From: Wenchi Yu Perkins, Anti-Trafficking and Human Rights Program Manager,
Vital Voices Global Partnership
Dear Annalisa,
Is the study currently underway or already completed? It sounds like it is being planned, right?
I agree that more studies are needed, and not only for the purpose of understanding the scope of trafficking, but also for better strategies.
Have you done a literature review of trafficking in SEE? In fact, I happen to know that SEE is one of the most studied regions in terms of the trafficking trends, thanks to the OSCE's earlier Stability Pact Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings and its current Anti-Trafficking Assistance Unit. Recently, the UNICEF and OSCE also jointly issued a study on traffcking in SEE-2004. It's available at http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/media_1566.html
In your view, what is lacking amongst all the studies and reports? I believe if you could identify a few key areas for further research, it would be a very interesting project.
May 13 '05, 9:05
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Re: Nepal
From: Wenchi Yu Perkins, Anti-Trafficking and Human Rights Program Manager,
Vital Voices Global Partnership
Dear Sanu,
Are you looking for joint-work possibilities? Or funding sources? I think it'll be more helfpul if you could specify your questions. If you already have a proposal, I could possibly direct you to some potential funders.
Thank you for your attention.
May 13 '05, 1:05
(0 ratings / 0.0 average
extremely urgent
From: Sanu Babu Silwal, Society of Environmental Journalists-Nepal(SEJ-Nepal)and
Central President
Dear Wenchi,
We shall be eagerly waiting your response. We are eager to collabrate on human trafficking in Nepal. warm regards Sanu Babu Silwal
Central President
Society of Environmental Journalists-Nepal (SEJ-Nepal)
and Editor of Environment News National Weekly
Central Office
PoBox-13167
Anamnagar, Kathmandu, Nepal
www.sej.org.np Phone/fax-0097714257706
May 12 '05, 19:05
(0 ratings / 0.0 average
Re: all forms of trafficking
From: Wenchi Yu Perkins, Anti-Trafficking and Human Rights Program Manager,
Vital Voices Global Partnership
Dear Reinhard:
Thank you for bringing up the point of addressing all forms of trafficking. While sex trafficking appears to be the focused topic, we should certainly pay attention to trafficking for forced labor.
In fact, you probably already knew about this since you collect studies. The International Labor Organization (ILO) just released a new report yesterday, A global alliance against forced labor. The report estimates that a minimum of 2.4 million people are victims of human trafficking worldwide.
The ILO report is the first one to show that trafficking in human beings generates an estimated 32 billion US dollars in profits ı exceeding the Gross Domestic Product of over 100 countries. Nearly half these profits are made in the worldıs wealthiest countries. And by far the highest sums are made from forced commercial sexual exploitation.
A copy of this report can be found on the ILO website: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/pr/2005/22.htm
I think this report is of significance and encourage everyone to read it.
