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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 Biswas Programme Coordinator, Tdh-Germany. (DDH/2004/089-105). AT Task force
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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 Biswas Programme Coordinator, Tdh-Germany (DDH/2004/089-105)
AT Task force Central Government Advocacy, Lobbying and Networking with the stakeholders at national and regional level Anti-trafficking UnitLocal government Level 1 Anti-Trafficking Unit Local government Level 2 Anti Trafficking Unit Local government Level 3 Anti Trafficking Unit Local government Level 3 HRD System Grass-root Level HRD System Grass-root Level Children/youth group Grass-root Level Children/youth group Grass-root Level (DDH/2004/089-105) RESULT4
Main Actions related to Result 4 • Establishment of networking with stakeholders on trafficking • Lobbying and advocacy at national and regional level on a rights-based approach in anti-trafficking initiatives. Being part of campaigns, meetings and seminars. • Promotion of a regional website on human trafficking issues in South Asia • Organization of workshops and a final regional conference (DDH/2004/089-105)
4.1. Establishment of networking with stakeholders on trafficking 76 networking NGO partners identified in 3 countries: India- 56: 25 in West Bengal, 8 in Bihar, 11 in Delhi, 12 in Orissa; Nepal- 10; Bangladesh-10 Partners are actively involved in networks as: Campaign Against Child Trafficking (CACT), Beti Bachao Andolan (BBA), Cross Border Anti Trafficking Network (CBATN), Action Against Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children (ATSEC), and other NGOs working on anti trafficking in 3 countries. Liaison with different institutional partners, like Social Welfare Department, Police Department and Women and Child Welfare Department and other local level Administrative Departments. (DDH/2004/089-105)
4.2. Lobbying and advocacy at national and regional level on a rights-based approach in anti-trafficking initiatives In Bangladesh, Tdh Italy has applied to get membership of the Go-NGO committee formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. In India, partners have been either part of different advisory committees and meetings to get in place the Anti Human Trafficking Units in India. In Nepal, Tdh-Lausanne has advocated through the SALS forum for the introduction of the curricula on rights-based approach in the universities of the region. The Indian chapter is lobbying with Bar Council of India. (DDH/2004/089-105)
4.3. Promotion of a regional website on human trafficking issues in South Asia Tdh Lausanne in Nepal has been working for the development and promotion of the digital library in the website: www.childtrafficking.com It holds 2,637 documents on trafficking. (DDH/2004/089-105)
4.3. Promotion of a regional website on human trafficking issues in South Asia The website hosts around 2000 subscribers around the world. A package of 2 CDs with 1600 documents from the digital library was made accessible and 1050 were distributed free of charge upon request from organisations. (DDH/2004/089-105)
4.4 Organization of workshops and a final regional conference Tdh- Netherland organised a Regional Workshop in Bangalore, India on 16th and 19th of April’ 07. 1 regional sharing workshop held in Kolkata from December 12th to 14th, 2007 with regional project partners. On 18th December 2007 Tdh Italy and Concern Universal jointly organised a National level Workshop on Anti Trafficking in South Asia with different NGOs and INGOs and on 17th June 2008 a National Consultation Workshop took place in collaboration with Concern Universal and IOM. (DDH/2004/089-105)
4.4 Organization of workshops and a final regional conference Seminar on Re-trafficking issues held in Kolkata on 7th and 8th August’07 and two more due in 2009 in India. National Level Consultation on “Countering Challenges in Adoption Combating Child Trafficking” held in Dehli on 10th and 11th of January’09. NGO Networking Seminar held in Kolkata on the 14th and 15th January’09. Regular workshops held with Government Officials and media persons on RBA to anti-trafficking actions. (DDH/2004/089-105)
Milestones reached All partners have reached out to leading networks in the 3 countries. The Government of the three countries now recognize human trafficking with a broader perspective than before. Partners recognized as experts to train, and advice on trafficking plans and Actions by the Government Departments as WCD, Police, CWC, etc. in India. AHTUs in the three countries are linked with the partners in many cases they are even part of the Government bodies as in Bihar and West Bengal. (DDH/2004/089-105)
Milestones reached Improved sensitivity of media while reporting on trafficking cases in the three countries. The digital library has become a popular reference site with more than 2000 subscribers. Improved relation among I-NGOs in terms of information sharing after the Regional Workshop and Conference in Dhaka. (DDH/2004/089-105)
(DDH/2004/089-105) Challenges Faced: There are several Networks functioning in the region to curb trafficking- such as BSAF, ATSEC, CACL, CACT, CBATN, etc. But without much linkage between each other. Often it was observed that the scope of networking got limited with vested interest, mistrust, negative competition amongst Partners. Again Contradictory stands are taken on common issues by different advocating networks which dilutes the seriousness of the problems, for e.g legalisation of prostitution and ITPA in India.
(DDH/2004/089-105) Challenges Faced: Advocacy initiatives often lose its importance when not supported with adequate baseline data, facts and figures and well defined agenda. It is very difficult to obtain substantiated data on trafficking cases. Lack of political will and reluctance act as a constraint in the process of lobbying of issues.
(DDH/2004/089-105) RECOMMENDATIONS :
(DDH/2004/089-105) Networking • Effective collaboration, communication and information flow mechanism between networks needs to be in place. • Networks need to move beyond a donor driven approach while advocating and lobbying issues. • There is a need to link the grass root level networks as HRDS with the larger networks while they lobby and advocate on issues of trafficking. • To promote linkage between networks a directory needs to be in place with details of each network.
(DDH/2004/089-105) Advocacy and Lobbying: • INGOs and international bodies as European Commission, World Bank, etc could facilitate to lobby issues with the NGOs and other stake holders. • Extradition treaties could be facilitated between government of India and Bangladesh to deal with trafficking and address to the needs of the survivors. To ensure this one measure could be regional cooperation at SAARC level is strengthened for the Implementation of the SAARC convention. • Coordination between external ministries of the different countries to ensure quality RRRP.
(DDH/2004/089-105) • Improve or upgrade national legal framework in accordance with international instruments and legal framework.Also incorporate human rights and trafficking in different academic curricula. • There was a suggestion that actors on the issue could compliment to the efforts initiated by UNICEF to establish Task force and get in place uniform procedure for the RRRI process in India and Bangladesh ensuring survivor’s rights. • Mechanisms needs to be in place to promote safe migration both inter country and intra country to reduce risks of trafficking. Measures like National IDENTITY card to all citizen; easy and accessible norms for migration; etc could be adopted by countries.
(DDH/2004/089-105) • There is an urgent need to lobby to bring the concerns of trafficking and like issues in the manifesto of the political parties which gives an added advantage to explain the seriousness of the problem. • Models and best practices at grass roots level which are adopted by policy makers for replication needs to be critiqued before implementation to ensure process replication. • AHTU needs to be formed right up to the grass roots level with intensified in- house training and capacity building of the concerned actors in the Anti Trafficking Units.
(DDH/2004/089-105) • Monitoring mechanisms needs to be in place to ensure effective implementation of the existing anti- trafficking laws in the different countries. • Create proper data base / Information / baseline, with clear stakeholder analysis to enable effective advocacy on an issue. • Meaningful collaboration between NGOs, INGOs, civil societies and networks can be capitalised to advocate on common concerns which would minimise conflict of ideology and reduction of seriousness of the problem. • Ensure 100% birth registration and marriage registration.
(DDH/2004/089-105) • Country specific needs should be recognised to plan advocacy strategies instead of adopting a blanket approach. Use of media as on of the strategies could be capitalised judiciously. • There is a need to advocate for a National law and Policy Framework on adoption and review existing policies as CARA guidelines in India to ensure ethical domestic adoption as preference and at the same time ensure an orphan child the right to family and a home. • Governments should work up effective policies on employment generation in disaster prone areas for joblessness and lack of livelihood is a strong push factor of trafficking.