Georgia’s anti-trafficking programme three years on stays focused on youth
The need to improve the country’s identification and referral process for victims of trafficking saw World Vision establish a Social Assistance to Trafficked Persons (SATP) project through a Human Rights programme three years ago.
The SATP project has netted a number of successes – many tangible, but perhaps many more that are not.
Some 30 social workers and office staff have been trained in human trafficking, social assistance, and the identification/referral process. Medical personnel, government workers and health providers also received training on trafficking, migration and the health risks that ensue. And, teachers and children in institutions also participated in training to raise awareness on the risks of trafficking.
...this Human Rights day is a reminder not just to count the successes but also to focus on the youth at risk – as individuals, not just numbers, and the need to continue investing in people and processes to prevent trafficking World Vision set up a trafficking hotline (100 229) that the Georgian government has since taken over and a social work curriculum for an undergraduate level class on human trafficking and social assistance was developed for Tbilisi State University [TSU].
The Better Chances for Georgian Youth (BCGY) project has conducted information campaigns on trafficking and safe migration in universities, schools and youth centres. Children and students were provided with training on trafficking using five types of age specific targeted information materials. Furthermore, more than 200 youth/returnees received vocational training, among them 212 were employed and two received micro business loans.
But this Human Rights day is a reminder not just to count the successes but also to focus on the youth at risk – as individuals, not just numbers, and the need to continue investing in people and processes to prevent trafficking.
Looking ahead World Vision plans to train 100 public health workers, 200 institutionalised youth, 100 teachers, and State-funded personnel. It will start teaching social work and human trafficking courses at Tbilisi State University for Masters’ degree students. Among the many other future activities, the organisation plans to enable trafficking survivors to improve their life-skills for future employment opportunities.
World Vision Georgia’s Human Rights programme works in close cooperation with the Anti-Trafficking Action Coalition [ATAC] which is an initiative of the World Vision regional Advocacy team to build regional capacity to address trafficking in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Region. From four original ATAC members and four small pilots, the network has expanded to eight World Vision National Offices implementing multiple community and national-level initiatives to combat trafficking through prevention, protection, reintegration, and governmental systemic reform.
ATAC spans Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Pakistan, Romania, Armenia, Russian Federation and Lebanon and is supported by World Vision offices in Switzerland, Austria, Canada, Taiwan and Australia.
Other World Vision Georgia Anti-Trafficking programme outcomes include:
For more information on World Vision\'s Anti-Trafficking work in Georgia please contact Teona Kupunia, World Vision Human Rights Programme Manager at teona_kupunia@wvi.org
The SATP project has netted a number of successes – many tangible, but perhaps many more that are not.
Some 30 social workers and office staff have been trained in human trafficking, social assistance, and the identification/referral process. Medical personnel, government workers and health providers also received training on trafficking, migration and the health risks that ensue. And, teachers and children in institutions also participated in training to raise awareness on the risks of trafficking.
...this Human Rights day is a reminder not just to count the successes but also to focus on the youth at risk – as individuals, not just numbers, and the need to continue investing in people and processes to prevent trafficking World Vision set up a trafficking hotline (100 229) that the Georgian government has since taken over and a social work curriculum for an undergraduate level class on human trafficking and social assistance was developed for Tbilisi State University [TSU].
The Better Chances for Georgian Youth (BCGY) project has conducted information campaigns on trafficking and safe migration in universities, schools and youth centres. Children and students were provided with training on trafficking using five types of age specific targeted information materials. Furthermore, more than 200 youth/returnees received vocational training, among them 212 were employed and two received micro business loans.
But this Human Rights day is a reminder not just to count the successes but also to focus on the youth at risk – as individuals, not just numbers, and the need to continue investing in people and processes to prevent trafficking.
Looking ahead World Vision plans to train 100 public health workers, 200 institutionalised youth, 100 teachers, and State-funded personnel. It will start teaching social work and human trafficking courses at Tbilisi State University for Masters’ degree students. Among the many other future activities, the organisation plans to enable trafficking survivors to improve their life-skills for future employment opportunities.
World Vision Georgia’s Human Rights programme works in close cooperation with the Anti-Trafficking Action Coalition [ATAC] which is an initiative of the World Vision regional Advocacy team to build regional capacity to address trafficking in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Region. From four original ATAC members and four small pilots, the network has expanded to eight World Vision National Offices implementing multiple community and national-level initiatives to combat trafficking through prevention, protection, reintegration, and governmental systemic reform.
ATAC spans Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Pakistan, Romania, Armenia, Russian Federation and Lebanon and is supported by World Vision offices in Switzerland, Austria, Canada, Taiwan and Australia.
Other World Vision Georgia Anti-Trafficking programme outcomes include:
- 15 officers from the Special Operations Department (SoD) of Ministry of Interior of Georgia trained by World Vision in September 2009
- Youth against Transnational Organised Crime (YTOC) project funded by Council of Europe conducted training on corruption, drug trafficking and human trafficking for 100 students and 14 journalists in Imereti region
- A 130-page manual about trafficking was published and provided to Kutaisi University library for student reference
- “Trafficking Prevention Capacity and Action” [TPCA] Project launched to contribute to Georgian National Action Plan against trafficking through the reduction of risks of trafficking among street children, at-risk youth/children, children with disabilities, single mothers and returned migrants
- Training for World Vision staff and partner organisations on trafficking in Georgia; how to address trafficking within communities, ways of preventing trafficking in persons, etc.
- “Capacity building for Georgian Journalists on social issues and advocacy” [TPCA] creates special study/training tools for the faculty of journalism in universities
For more information on World Vision\'s Anti-Trafficking work in Georgia please contact Teona Kupunia, World Vision Human Rights Programme Manager at teona_kupunia@wvi.org
Share