SYRIA: ESF ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS PROJECT

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000516

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA/ELA SITA SONTY,

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN KCRM PHUM ASEC ELAB SMIG SY
SUBJECT: SYRIA: ESF ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS PROJECT
PROPOSALS

REF: SECSTATE 221415 2005


1. (U) Post is submitting two projects in order of priority
for the ESF Anti-Trafficking in Persons Projects. Post
currently does not have any anti-trafficking projects and
would be able to monitor and evaluate project progress with
the assistance as described in reftel.


2. (U) First Project


A. Project Title: An Examination of Trafficking of Foreign
Women into Syria's Sex Industry: Building Syrian Capacity in
Counter-Trafficking Research.


B. Name of Recipient Organization: Iselin Consulting -- an
agency run by Brian Iselin, a former Australian law
enforcement officer who works on counter-trafficking issues
worldwide. Iselin Consulting would also seek assistance from
the Syrian organization Etana Press.


C. Duration of project: One year. This is a new project.


D. The project has three aims: to provide detailed data
about trafficking in Syria; contribute to an understanding of
the link between trafficking and the sex industry in Syria;
and provide practical guidance to agencies and governmental
bodies that support trafficked women's needs. In the course
of the project, a leading Australian expert on documenting
trafficking cases would train Syrians in research methods.
The researchers would then thoroughly document the cases of
up to 25 women trafficked to Syria for sexual exploitation.
The project's sustainability would depend on the quality of
data, which would be the subject of a final project report,
published in peer-review journals, and released in a
communications package to the media, government and UN
agencies, and partner NGOs.


E. Justification: There has been no in-depth academic
research either on sex-trafficking or its victims in Syria.
Yet, sex trafficking has become a subject of government and
civil society interest, and has been identified as a problem
of significant concern by several agencies including the SARG
Ministry of Interior. The results of this project's research
would assist in the development of more informed governmental
and nongovernmental responses to sex trafficking in Syria.


F. Performance Indicators: There are three ways to measure
the project's performance: The quality, reach and impact of
the research on trafficking of women to Syria for sexual
exploitation; the successful training of researchers/project
partners; and, the extent to which project results inform the
development of programmatic responses to sex trafficking in
Syria.


G. Evaluation plan: A Project Steering Committee and its
coordinator would oversee project implementation and
inception and report to the donor of project progress after
the first three months and at the end of the project.


H. Budget Breakout: Total USD 332,713 (Staffing - USD
198,768; Travel and Operations USD 133,945).


I. Cost-sharing: None


J. Proposed Funding Mechanism: Money would be deposited
into a designated account at Iselin Consulting's UK-based
bank and then transferred as necessary to a local bank.


K. Embassy point of Contact: Maria d.G. Olson, Political
Section; Grants Officer Chris Eccel PD.


L. Other donors: None.


3. (U) The second project is as follows:


A. Title: Capacity Building on Shelter Management for
Victims of Trafficking in Syria


B. Recipient Organization: International Organization for
Migration


C. Duration: One year with possibility of extension


D. Description: The overall objective is to help the SARG
combat irregular migration and protect the rights of
vulnerable groups such as women and children. The project
aims to support the SARG in the establishment and management
of its first shelter for temporary assistance to victims of
trafficking and to enhance networking among governmental and


nongovernmental organizations by creating a social network of
support and referrals to victims of trafficking. Activities
would include:

-- A needs assessment among Syrian NGOs working with
vulnerable groups;
-- Identification of an NGO to run a shelter for victims of
trafficking;
-- Cooperation with the SARG to identify a building
appropriate for a shelter;
-- Provision of technical assistance and advice on the
establishment of a shelter;
-- Coordination with the SARG on the appointment of a project
manager and the hiring of consultants and experts;
-- Train the staff on shelter management, psychosocial
assistance, life skills and information on return and
reintegration;
-- Monitor and follow-up on implementation.


E. Justification: There is only one small shelter for
vulnerable women in Syria, not focused strictly on trafficked
women. In September 2005, the IOM and the SARG Ministry of
Interior held a workshop on trafficking which raised
awareness among senior SARG officials about the scope of the
problem and encouraged the government to consider new
anti-trafficking measures, including the need to set up a
shelter for victims of trafficking. The SARG subsequently
set up a national committee to address counter-trafficking
and endorsed the Convention Against Organized Crime,
including the Protocol on Trafficking in Persons. This
project would serve as the next step in combating
trafficking, by increasing the knowledge and capacity of
national institutions in the establishment and management of
a shelter -- to be funded separately by the SARG -- for
victims of trafficking in Syria.


F. Performance Indicators include:

-- Number and level of SARG officials and NGO staff trained;
-- Number of victims of trafficking assisted by the shelter
per year;
-- Number of victims assisted after they depart the shelter;
-- Number of NGOs and agencies providing support to the
shelter;
-- Number of meetings held by the social assistance network;
-- Number of cases referred to the shelter by other agencies
in the network;
-- Level of participation by the Ministry of Interior and the
Ministry of Social and Labor Affairs in the shelter
activities.


G. Evaluation Plan: TBD


H. Budget Breakout: Total USD 198,497 (Staffing USD 19,744;
Office Costs: USD 12,600; Operational Costs USD 156,700; IOM
Overhead USD 9,452).


I. Host Government Contribution: The SARG's Ministry of
Interior and Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor will
provide the shelter structure, including staff, focal points,
furniture and equipment.


J. Funding Mechanism: IOM


K. Embassy Point of Contact: Maria d.G. Olson, Political
Section; Grants Officer Chris Eccel PD.


L. Other Donors: A selected NGO will second the required
staff.
SECHE