US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU247

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 000247 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: Trafficking in Persons 
SUBJECT: NEPAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) 
PROJECT PROPOSALS FY2002-04 
 
REF: A) 01 STATE 219965, B) KATHMANDU 220 
 
To improve the capacity of the Government of Nepal and 
civil society organizations to fight trafficking in 
persons, Post's new program proposals include 
activities in the areas of prevention, rehabilitation 
and prosecution.  Prevention activities focus on 
increased literacy and enhanced employment 
opportunities for at-risk populations, rehabilitation 
activities focus on assisting rescued victims obtain 
alternative means of support, and prosecution 
activities focus on support for the judicial and law 
enforcement agencies who enforce Nepal's anti- 
trafficking laws. 
 
=========================== 
Prevention Through Literacy 
=========================== 
 
A. Project Title: Preventing Trafficking of Women and 
Girls Through Literacy 
 
B. Name of Organization: World Education, Center for 
Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) and/or 
Nepali NGOs 
C. Life of project: 2 years 
 
D. Objectives: 
 
--Provide out of school and at-risk adolescent girls 
the basic literacy skills they need in order to expand 
their opportunities in life; 
--Raise individual and community awareness about girl 
trafficking, child labor, and discriminatory practices 
leading to various forms of exploitation; 
--Raise girls' legal awareness regarding existing 
relevant laws. 
 
E. Justification:  Lack of education and awareness are 
major contributors to girl/child trafficking.  Social, 
cultural and economic discrimination against girls in 
Nepal is reflected by the low literacy rate of females 
in comparison to that of males: 25 percent versus 50 
percent.  Many donors have concluded that getting and 
keeping girls in school is the best preventive measure 
against trafficking.  The proposed program aims at 
increasing the literacy rate of out-of-school girls by 
enrolling them in non-formal education classes to 
provide basic reading and writing skills as well as 
information on health and social issues including 
trafficking.  The program will also work with families 
to enroll daughters into the formal education system to 
enhance their opportunities in life.  It expands on an 
ongoing program (Girl's Access to Education - GATE) 
conducted by CEDPA and World Education.  The positive 
impact to date of the GATE program merits extension to 
other trafficking-prone districts identified by Nepal's 
Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare. 
Existing materials will be reviewed and other 
appropriate sections (e.g. legal provisions) added to 
make the GATE curriculum more relevant. 
 
F. Performance Measurements: 
--Number of adolescent girls achieving literacy; 
--Number of girls who graduate from the program and 
make the transition to formal schooling; 
--Increased awareness of trafficking; 
--Better life options explored due to raised 
educational level. 
 
G. Budget breakdown: 
--Review of existing materials and development of new 
curricula: $10,000 
--Expansion of program in the targeted areas: $240,000 
--Total: $250,000 
 
H. Host government contribution:  Provide space for 
running non-formal education classes 
 
I. Contributions from Other Donors:  Twenty-five 
percent matching funds from private donors. 
 
J. Proposed Funding Mechanism:  DOL or USAID 
 
K. Embassy point of contact:  Donna Stauffer, USAID, 
Telephone: (977)(1)270-144; Fax: (977)(1)272-357. 
 
========================================== 
Employment Alternatives for Prevention and 
Rehabilitation 
========================================== 
 
A. Project Title: Improving Gainf 
ul Employment 
Opportunities for Girls at Risk of Trafficking and 
Rescued Trafficking Victims 
 
B. Name of Organization: Nepali NGOs to be identified 
 
C. Life of project:  2003-2005 
 
D. Objective:  Enable girls at risk to obtain 
meaningful employment for self-reliance and 
sustainability; provide better life options for girls. 
 
E. Justification:  Poverty and lack of economic 
alternatives are major factors behind the supply of 
trafficked women and children from Nepal.  In addition, 
the Maoist insurgency has caused an increase in poverty 
rates, particularly in the poorest rural areas, and 
forced many families to flee their homes.  Under 
situations of armed conflict women and children are the 
most vulnerable groups for many forms of exploitation. 
Without alternate sources of income, girls at risk 
either migrate, join the insurgency or are 
lured/trafficked into prostitution under the guise of 
securing other types of employment (e.g., at carpet or 
textile factories).  An estimated one-third of Maoist 
cadres are women and one-third more are children.  The 
low social status of girls and the lack of educational 
and other opportunities push women and children to take 
risks.  This program will complement the literacy 
training program, proposed above, in identifying high 
risk target groups and providing relevant job skills to 
enable them to pursue meaningful employment 
opportunities.  Organizations providing vocational and 
other employment training skills will help the target 
group obtain information as well as job placement and 
micro-enterprise funding support.  A USAID-funded study 
of best practices on gainful employment opportunities 
will inform the implementation of this program. 
 
F. Performance measurements: 
--Numbers of girls identified through the GATE program 
and through rehabilitation centers receiving skills to 
find gainful employment; 
--Enhanced job training and placement skills by Nepali 
NGOs working with at-risk groups; 
--Percent of the target audience obtaining employment. 
 
G. Budget breakdown: 
One year training course (including food, lodging and 
fees), at a rate of USD 700 per person for 500 girls; 
Total cost for training: USD 350,000 
 
H. Host government contribution:  Include high-risk 
groups in government training programs and provide job 
opportunities 
 
I. Contributions from Other Donors:  None 
 
J. Proposed funding mechanism: DOS 
 
K. Embassy point of contact:  Donna Stauffer, USAID, 
Telephone: (977)(1)270-144; Fax: (977)(1)272-357. 
 
============================== 
Prevention Through Enforcement 
============================== 
 
A. Project Title: Better Application and Enforcement of 
Anti-Trafficking Laws in Nepal 
 
B. Name of Organization: To be determined 
C. Life of Project: 18 months 
 
D. Objectives: 
--To increase understanding of Nepal's anti-trafficking 
legislation among law enforcement agencies; 
--To strengthen the police capacity to handle 
trafficking cases sensitively and efficiently; 
--To improve the functioning of district courts to 
better handle trafficking cases. 
 
E. Justification: The government of Nepal is expected 
to pass new tougher anti-trafficking legislation in the 
upcoming session of Parliament.  Yet, the mere 
existence of laws is not adequate to provide justice to 
the victims of trafficking.  In Nepal, traffickers are 
rarely prosecuted and even more rarely convicted.   A 
special court in Kathmandu established last year to 
accelerate handling of trafficking cases has not had 
the intended effect, as police and victims often lack 
the resources to travel to the capital to pursue their 
cases.  Women and children's cells have been 
established within the national police and some staff 
trained to handle trafficking cases sensitively, but 
many staff have not yet been trained and the units lack 
equipment to carry out their reporting and case 
management responsibilities.  Proper law enforcement 
and application can happen only in the pre 
sence of 
clear understanding of the law and workable procedures 
for implementing it, when police have the skills and 
equipment for carrying out their functions, and when 
the court system functions properly. 
 
F. Performance Measurements: 
--Number of trafficking cases reported, prosecuted, and 
convictions obtained; 
--The development and adoption of streamlined 
procedures for courts; 
--Police database maintained in target districts; 
--Leaflet and media program to publicize the key 
provisions of the new Anti-Trafficking Law developed 
and disseminated; 
--Training materials utilized by law enforcement 
agencies. 
 
G. Budget Breakdown: 
i. Police training for handling rescued/repatriated 
victims: USD 70,000 
ii. Improved enforcement of legislation: development of 
materials and training of law enforcement agency 
personnel in 26 districts; provision of computers to 
five regional police centers: USD 75,000 
iii. Improvement of court procedures to protect 
victims: technical assistance, training, equipment: USD 
75,000 
Total: USD 220,000 
 
H. Host government contribution: 
Provide facilities for conducting training and 
assistance for Nepal government trainers.  Government 
staff also work with technical advisors on streamlining 
procedures for courts handling trafficking cases. 
 
I Contributions from Other Donors: 
British government has helped with building police 
capacity. Exact amount not available. 
 
J. Proposed funding mechanism:  STATE/INL (REF B) 
 
K. Embassy point of contact:  Donna Stauffer, USAID, 
Telephone: (977)(1)270-144; Fax: (977)(1)272-357. 
 
MALINOWSKI