PROJECT PROPOSALS: NGOS TAKE ON TIPS

UNCLAS CARACAS 000445

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR INL/G/TIP ETERNO, WHA/PPC MPUCCETTI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SMIG KCRM KWMN ELAB EAID VE
SUBJECT: PROJECT PROPOSALS: NGOS TAKE ON TIPS

REF: 05 STATE 221178

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (U) Per reftel instructions, Embassy is submitting a
proposal by the NGO Association for the Well-being and
Reciprocal Assistance for Women (AMBAR) for funding
consideration. A description of a backup proposal submitted
by UNICEF is included in paragraph 5 should Washington decide
not to fund AMBAR's proposal. The AMBAR proposal includes a
public awareness campaign, training modules and conferences
to enhance the ability of non-governmental organizations in
the Venezuelan States of Miranda, Anzoategui, Vargas and
Nueva Esparta to create, implement and evaluate collaborative
projects for combating sexual exploitation and trafficking of
children and adolescents in Venezuela. AMBAR has worked with
sexually exploited women and children for the past 11 years
and recently agreed to support BRV efforts to investigate the
extent of trafficking in Venezuela. End Summary.

--------------
BACKGROUND
--------------


2. (U) In June 2005, Venezuela was designated Tier 3 country
in the area of trafficking in persons (TIP) for the second
consecutive year under criteria established in the
Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003.
Although Venezuela is a source, transit, and destination
country for women, children and adolescents trafficked for
the purpose of sexual exploitation and forced labor, the BRV
did not acknowledge trafficking as a significant problem
during 2004 nor make substantial efforts to comply with the
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. While
the Ministry of Interior and Justice's (MIJ) Crime Prevention
Unit, Interpol, and local and international NGOs have
received some complaints about trafficking, no comprehensive
statistics on trafficking exist in Venezuela. The MIJ's
Crime Prevention Unit is responsible for coordinating all
government efforts to combat TIPs.


3. (U) During 2005 and early 2006, the government made some
progress in combating human trafficking. In December 2005,
the Crime Prevention Unit launched the BRV's national
anti-trafficking public awareess campaign. Four different
anti-TIP messages ir daily on television channels 2,4,8 and
10, an on Venezuela's government-owned radio stations.
nti-trafficking posters were placed in airport terinals at
Simon Bolivar International Airport andin metro stations
throughout the city. Despite series of delays, the BRV is
scheduled to host he Organization of American States' (OAS)
Trafficing meeting in Margarita Island on March 14-17.
MBAR has been working with sexually exploited wome and
child for 11 years and recently agreed to spport BRV efforts
to investigate the extent of tafficking in Venezuela .

--------------
PROPOSAL
--------------


4. (U) TITLE: Program to Prevent Child ex Tourism in
Venezuela

ORGANIZATION: Associaion for the Well-being and Reciprocal
Assistanceof Women (AMBAR)

DURATION: 12 months

DESCRIPTION: AMBAR,s project will be implemented in Miranda
(Caracas),Vargas, Anzoategui and Nueva Esparta States where
children and adolescents are believed to be particularly at
risk for sexual exploitation through the child sex tourism
industry. The project consists of four phases: a six to
eight-month training module for participating NGO managers to
strengthen the ability of non-governmental organizations to
create, implement and evaluate projects designed to prevent
the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents; three
overlapping, five-month training modules for facilitators,
members and invited guests of participating NGOs; the
creation of an NGO Protection Network designed to facilitate
collaboration on projects to combat child sex tourism; the
implementation of forums, conferences and symposiums to
facilitate informative exchanges between NGOs in the four
target states. Eighty managers from 60 NGOs in the four
target states will be selected by an eight-member project
coordination and evaluation team comprised of one
representative from each target state,s Child Protection
Council, and one representative from a well-established state
NGO working to protect the rights of children and
adolescents. AMBAR,s project proposal culminates with the
creation of a Network website and an informational campaign
designed to raise government officials, and the public,s
awareness of child sex tourism and its link to the
trafficking of children and adolescents in Venezuela. Unlike
most NGO projects, this program provides funding for three
social workers and legal, sociological and psychological
attention for victims.

JUSTIFICATION: AMBAR's proposal is a comprehensive approach
to addressing the lack of coordination among NGOs advocating
for the rights of children and adolescents, the lack of
public awareness about the child sex tourism industry in
Venezuelan and the serious dearth of training for civil
society groups seeking to combat sexual exploitation of
children and adolescents. Unlike most NGOs, the program also
provides for victim assistance by incorporating licensed
social workers, lawyers, sociologist and psychologists into
the program's design. The creation of an NGO network in
Miranda, Vargas, Anzoategui and Nueva Esparta States would be
an effective strategy for disseminating information and
preventative strategies on child sex tourism throughout
Venezuela at both the government and non-governmental
organization levels. AMBAR has experience working with both
NGO and government officials and has a buy-in from the BRV as
evidenced by the Crime Prevention Unit's request for
assistance to investigate the extent of Venezuela's
trafficking problem.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS: Greater awareness of the child sex
tourism industry among government and non-governmental
organizations; greater coordination among NGOs in target
states where child sex tourism is believed to be a grave
problem; increased interaction between governmental and
non-governmental organization to protect the rights of
children and adolescents; implementation of the Network's
radio and television public awareness campaign at the
national and state level; and the creation of an official NGO
network and website.

EVALUATION PLAN: AMBAR along with the project's eight-person
evaluation team will evaluate the project each trimester,
meeting with state project coordinators to determine the
effectiveness of training modules and progress on performance
indicators.

BUDGET BREAKOUT: In USD

Technical/
Administrative Staff 69,220

Travel 12,000
Office Furniture/Equipment 8,600
Public Awareness Campaign/Website Design 22,530
Logistics/Publicity for forums,
symposiums and conferences 11,150
Teachers for training modules/
participant materials and supplies 26,500


TOTAL 150,000

(Note: The original budget for this project was USD 205,090.
AMBAR has secured, however, USD 55,090 from outside sources
to support the project.)

PROPOSED FUNDING MECHANISM: Grant

EMBASSY POINT OF CONTACT: LaTranda Martin, Political Section.
Phone: (0212)908-8531. Fax: (0212)907-8033. Email:
martinLS@state.gov


5. (U) One additional project was submitted and selected as
a back-up should Washington decide not to fund AMBAR's
proposal. Local NGO CEM and the International Office of
Migration (IOM) submitted a proposal for consideration in
2005 but did not submit proposals for the current year.

--A Childhood and Adolescence Free from Smuggling,
Trafficking and Exploitation. Submitted by: UNICEF. Budget
$135,000.

DESCRIPTION: The goal of UNICEF,s project is to strengthen
administrative, social and judicial mechanisms to combat
child trafficking, influence public opinion so the
elimination of child trafficking becomes a priority, and
create a network with authorities along the Colombian and
Brazilian borders to facilitate information exchange and
cooperative action. The project,s objectives would be
implemented through meetings, working groups, and training
sessions with officials from national/state Ministries, Child
Protection Councils, law enforcement officials, judges,
teachers, civic leaders and local media. UNICEF would
produce and distribute advertising and educational materials
for schools and media outlets in selected states. The
project would also entail working with appropriate government
officials from the Venezuelan, Colombian and Brazilian
governments to create an action plan for joint cooperation on
the topic. The project would primarily benefit school-aged
children and their parents in the Capital District,
Anzoategui, Bolivar and Tachira State.
BROWNFIELD