WORKSHOP
on
Implementing Policy Change in South Asia
(July 12-14, 2005)
The Regional Action Forum on the Implementation of Laws developed a Regional Victim/Witness Protection Protocol to combat trafficking, commercial exploitation and sexual abuse of women and children in South Asia. Neither India, Bangladesh, Nepal or Sri Lanka have a distinct law, policy, guidelines or programs to protect women and children/victim witnesses who have been trafficked for sexual exploitation. Thus the need for a rights-based and regionally applicable protocol - as identified and finalized by the RAF. The IPC workshop was organized by SARI/Equity to support RAF members in developing modalities and action plans for implementation and adoption of the RVWPP. The workshop was facilitated by MSI whose experience and involvement in "Policy Change" stretches over more than a decade having supported policy change in 40 countries around the world. The workshop provided a "space" for RAF members to assess their role and active involvement in the policy change process.
- Focus on adoption and implementation of the RVWPP
- Use models and comparative experiences conducive to advancing the process
- Focus on both individual countries and the regional level action
- Devise a plan to "translate" the commitment of RAF members to implementation into short-term (one-year) actions
The workshop was attended by 17 members of the RAF on "Improving the Implementation of Laws Protecting Women and Children" and other experts/policy makers from the four SARI/Equity countries (see annex 2 for the list of participants).
The approach used consisted of a mixture of theory and practice. The theoretical aspects of the IPC were illustrated in a power point presentation - followed by a brainstorming session and practical country specific discussions in small groups. (See annex 1 for the agenda)
Session I: Opening Session
The CoP, AED-SARI/Equity, welcomed the participants and briefly stated the purpose of organizing the workshop. Participants and the facilitators introduced themselves.
Expectations of the participants were largely related to advocacy for the effective application and implementation of the RVWPP at various levels ranging from grassroots to national and regional levels. The facilitator proposed to address five issues to arrive at the expected results:
- Regional vs. National Adoption/Implementation
- Priority Issues from an operational point of view
- Stakeholders - how to broaden participation and involvement
- Identifying institutions
- Developing action plans
Session II: Status of Implementation Actions
- The RAF Sub-Group in Mumbai, India (February 2005), had agreed on a short-term action schedule in the four countries broadly related to sensitization and dissemination efforts for the RVWPP. Progress on executing those actions was reported during the workshop.
Determining Priorities
By way of a matrix, the facilitator explored with participants their emphasis and priority setting vis-à-vis the adoption and implementation of the RVWPP - both at the regional and the national levels. Ideally the entire Protocol should be adopted as a regional legal document; however other feasible options needed to be explored both by way of rules, directives or guidelines at national and regional level. The facilitator emphasized that each country may not follow the same strategy primarily because of differences in the circumstances in each country; and that the IPC workshop would focus on implementation of the overall protocol at both - national and regional level.
Session III: Introduction to the Task Framework of IPC
The facilitator introduced the policy change process by way of a policy checklist that would assist in ascertaining which polices may be difficult or easier to implement. The IPC Task Model was a means to better understanding and managing policy change processes and presented six key tasks and eight tools.
- Policy Legitimation: .getting the issue on the agenda or making the issue visible.
- Constituency Building: building bridges or coalitions and identifying and mobilizing stakeholders and resources.
- Realigning and Mobilizing Resources: identifying external sources for financing
- Modifying Organizational Structures: Fitting new missions into established organizations and institutions or creating new organizations and networks.
- Mobilizing Action: Developing concrete plans, establishing performance expectations and accountability.
- Policy Monitoring: Positioning monitoring in the policy and political arenas and establishing realistic accountability standards and performance milestones.
Group Work
The participants assembled in country groups to choose/discuss any two tasks from the checklist in respect of the RVWPP and to defined key steps to accomplish these tasks in their respective countries. Subsequently, the presentations of the tasks and respective key steps identified were made in plenary. The tasks identified by each country varied depending on their specific needs and priorities with respect to the RVWPP.
Session IV: IPC Tools: Increasing Access Points and Broadening the Constituency
The facilitator continued with a presentation on Policy Implementation Tools, particularly Political Mapping and Stakeholder Analysis.
Group work: Stakeholder Analysis
Participants separated into small groups to develop a stakeholder analysis for their respective countries. Broadly, the stakeholders identified in the groups were categorized as:
- Government:
- Ministries and Departments
- Law Enforcement Agencies
- Autonomous Institutions and Commissions
- Civil Society
- Networks, coalitions and pressure groups
Strategies for disseminating and advocating for the RVWPP with each stakeholder identified were also outlined in the small groups.
Session V: Regional Strategies for the Adoption and Implementation of the RVWPP
Issues that facilitate or deter from implementation of the protocol at the regional level, key stakeholders and modalities for the adoption and implementation of the protocol in the region were discussed in plenary. The Key Stakeholders identified were:
- SAARC Secretary General and relevant Directors
- SAARC Desk Officers in respective countries
- Respective Foreign Ministers
- Ministers of other related ministries, particularly those responsible for women and children's issues
Session VI: Action Plans - Key Steps and Timelines
The last session focused on developing action plans at national levels to ensure adoption and implementation of the protocol. The plans developed incorporated the advocacy initiatives and tasks identified by the country groups.
The workshop's objectives and design were formulated based on the achievements of the RAF thus far and the practical challenges members confronted at both national and regional levels. The workshop recognized the different circumstances of each country and that a uniform strategy and action plan may not be feasible. However, uniformity in processes and tasks was ensured in order to achieve the objective - common to all - of effective implementation of the protocol in the region. The workshop was successful in demonstrating that "IPC" tools are effective in helping organizations to become active participants in the policy change process.
Click here to get the complete agenda.
Click here to get a complete list of participants.
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