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