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