"Mock Trials" - Helping Victims to Become Strong Witnesses against Perpetrators

The "Mock Trial" experience helps the victim of violence/trafficking to understand her legal situation and eventually provide effective testimony against perpetrators in court. >>

 "Child to Child" Campaign Against Trafficking

Supported by SARI/Equity, the Indian Community Welfare Organization (ICWO) convened a Children's Parliament as part of the CANDLE project on May 5, 2006 in Chennai >>

 Madhya Pradesh Consultation on Care and Protection of Victims of Trafficking and Other Forms of Violence
24 May 2006>>

 Chattisgarh Consultation on Care and Protection of Victims of Trafficking and Other Forms of Violence
5 - 6 May 2006>>

 "Regionally Agreed Elements of a Policy for Ensuring Safe Labor Migration
Within and Beyond South Asia"

National Consultations in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Dhaka, Bangladesh
27 April and 7 May 2006>>

 Care and Protection of Survivors/Victims of Trafficking and Violence - Mysore Consultation

With support from SARI/Equity, ODANADI convened a multi-stakeholder consultation in Mysore from 5 to 6 May 2006>>

 Care and Protection of Survivors/Victims of Trafficking and Violence
Chennai Consultation

The Consultation was convened by ODANADI, with the support of SARI/Equity, on 28 and 29 April 2006>>

 Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat Consultations on the Regional Victim/Witness Protection Protocol and the Minimum Standards of Care and Support for Victims of Trafficking

Prerana's Anti Trafficking Centre, on behalf of SARI/Equity, carried out the two consultations as part of a number of National Consultations covering 19 Indian States>>

 Hyderabad: Valedictory Function for over 300 "Graduates" of the CAP-SARI/Equity Skills Program

Leading to a road of self-confidence and respect with gainful employment>>

 Raising Awareness on Pedophilia through Street Plays

Last February, Children's Rights in Goa organized over 20 street plays with the active participation of National Service Scheme (NSS).>>

 The Application of Victim-Friendly Measures Facilitating Rehabilitation and Reintegration
A Series of National Consultations in the Region

During a National Consultation held in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 9 March 2006 a comprehensive set of "victim friendly" tools was presented by the Nepali members of the Regional Action Forum on Law and Care of Victims/Survivors of Trafficking and other Forms of Violence.>>

 "Paralegal Training of Vulnerable Girls"

Shakti Shalini, a Delhi-based NGO supported by SARI/Equity, has commenced the paralegal training of 35 girls from slums and migrant communities in and around New Delhi. >>

 "A Film on Safe Migration - How not to Fall into the Trap of Traffickers"

Inspired by the debate and actions within the "Regional Action Forum on Fostering Safe Migration", the Sri Lankan Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLFBE) - under the guidance of RAF member and SLFBE employee Mangala Randeniya - developed a 30-minute film ("Subha Gaman") emphasizing the importance of certain steps related to the "pre-decision making stage of migration" if "bad experiences" are to be minimized for later on. The film will be used in "safe migration" related training programs at all the district and village level training centres run by SLBFE. The RAF process and SARI/Equity's continuous support had sparked and provided momentum to SLFBE's work on "safe migration"..

The film was shown at the SARI/Equity supported third meeting of the Regional Action Forum on Fostering Safe Migration in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 25 January 2006.

 Excerpts based on a Press Release issued by the Centre for Women and Children Studies, Dhaka, Bangladesh
30 November 2005

The South Asia Network against Trafficking in Persons (SANAT) organized a daylong consultation in Dhaka on 30-11-05 to work out a road map for implementation of the SAARC Convention on Trafficking in Women and Children. Representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNICEF, UNDP, IOM, ILO participated along with fifty active organizations from Grass root level and National level bodies. Speaking on the occasion Secretary of Foreign Affaires of Bangladesh Mr. Hemayet Uddin emphasized the role of NGOs and CSO in implementing the SAARC Convention, which has come into force on 15th November 2005.

In her inaugural welcome speech Dr. Ranjana Kumari, Director of the Centre for Social Research New Delhi, India, asked for the setting up of a task force by the SAARC secretariat with immediate effect to monitor implementation of the Convention. She emphasized the need for including a member of civil society in the SAARC task force.Professor Ishrat Shamim, President of the Centre for Women and Children Studies, gave the key note address.Helga Klein, Chief of Party, South Asia Regional Initiative/Equity Support Program, New Delhi, shared information regarding two protocols - the Regional Victim/Witness Protocol to Combat Trafficking and the Minimum Standards of Care and Support for the Victims of Trafficking - prepared within the Regional Action Forum (RAFs) process in which experts from government, civil society , the judiciary and academia took part. Mr. Mohammad Mohsin, Additional Sectary Ministry of Home Affairs, GOB, extensively explained the policy of the Bangladesh Government to Combat Trafficking.

At the end of the conference a lobbying document was prepared and the road map for implementation of the SAARC Anti Trafficking Convention was announced. Some of the issues for lobbying by SANAT were identified as: 1. A task force to be setup with NGO representation at the SAARC and National Level. 2. Institutionalize an annual SAARC conference on trafficking in persons. 3. Adopt the protocols prepared by civil society organizations (RAFs) across the region. 4. An Annual Status report should be prepared on implementation and progresses made. 5. An active engagement and role of the media should be sought in implementation. 6. Data collection and mapping of high prevalence areas by the national census. 7. Allocation of adequate resources at SAARC and national government level.

The Consultation was jointly organized by the Centre for Women and Children Studies, Dhaka and Centre for Social Research, India and supported by SARIQ program of AED.

 Implementation of the SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution
National Stakeholder Consultation held in Kathmandu on 22 November 2005

This was the first in a series of Stakeholder Consultations supported by the SARI/Equity Program under its regional (network) grant award to the Centre for Social Research (CSR) in an effort to actively encourage the establishment of action plans and of mechanisms for the application of the SAARC Convention in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and to support awareness raising initiatives on the Convention's implementation in Pakistan. The Convention entered into force on 15 November 2005 - 15 days after the deposit of the last instrument of ratification - by Nepal. All SAARC member states are parties to the Convention.

The key objectives of the Kathmandu Consultation jointly organized by CSR with the Women Awareness Center Nepal (WACN) were to:

1. develop a comprehensive national agenda for the effective implementation of the SAARC Convention

2. develop a "process" road map for the successful implementation of the action plan and

3. identify the priority areas at the national level in respect of the implementation of the SAARC Convention.

The Consultation was opened by Ms. Durga Shrestha, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare who stated her country's commitment to effectively address the issues of trafficking and noted with concern the growing rate of trafficking in Nepal. The Director of the lead Department for the implementation of the SAARC Convention at the SAARC Secretariat, Mr. Mohammad Naseer, in his address stressed the need for coordinated action among member states towards an effective implementation of the Convention. The Convention - its title and the definition of trafficking - may need to be broadened to cover the different forms of trafficking in persons. The text should be widely distributed and translated into all national and local languages. Mr. Naseer also emphasized the importance of training law enforcement agencies and members of the judiciary in all member states. The Women's Groups present at the workshop demanded immediate implementation of the Convention and highlighted the need to amend and strengthen national laws in conformity with the Convention. The Consultation was attended by some 60 representatives of NGOs, political leaders, anti-trafficking activists, government officials, representatives of the police and the media.

'Shuvojatra' Documentary-drama: Shuvojatra is a documentary-drama in Bangla, produced by the Welfare Association of Repatriated Bangladeshi Employees (WARBE) with support from SARI/Equity under its regional grants program. This 12 minute docu-drama targets potential migrants, providing them information on "safe migration". For a preview of the docu-drama click the 'play' button. For a copy of the docu-drama, WARBE can be contacted at: warbe@bangla.net

click on the box to view the clip

 Regional Action Forum on Improving the Implementation of Laws Protecting Women and Children
The Third Meeting of the SARI/Equity supported 'Regional Action Forum on Improving the Implementation of Laws Protecting Women and Children' was convened in Kathmandu from 12 to 15 July 2005, and was devoted to implementation strategies for one of its 'final products', and reviewing of its still 'unfinished products'- Landmark Judgment Database on Violence against Women and Training Guidelines for Judges and the Police on the same issue. Part I of the meeting - Implementing Policy Change, provided space to choose the tools and methodologies for an effective regional and national adoption/implementation plan for the Protocol; and Part II on Reviewing the 'Products' settled unresolved issues regarding the two unfinished products.
(Click here for details)

 Regional Conference - 'Revisiting the Migration and Trafficking Nexus'
With globalization and increasing urbanization, the mobility of individuals - women in particular, across national and international borders has increased considerably in South Asia. Given the need to explore and address inherent linkages between migration and trafficking issues, SARI/Equity, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) jointly organized a regional conference on 'Revisiting the Migration and Trafficking Nexus' on April 4-6, 2005 at Hotel Asia Pacific Blossom, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
(Click here for details)