GTIP PROGRAMMING IN NEPAL

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000993 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KTIP USAID KOCI KWMN SOCI PHUM KCRM ELAB PGOV NP SUBJECT: GTIP PROGRAMMING IN NEPAL REF: A. LAGON/POWELL EMAIL OF AUGUST 28 ¶B. 2008 ¶C. KATHMANDU 649 In response to Ref A regarding GTIP programming in Nepal, Post provides the following information. Current Program -------------- ¶1. In 2006, GTIP, through USAID, approved a grant to World Education. GTIP approved the grant based on the proposal submitted by World Education. As part of the monitoring of the activity, GTIP conducted a national assessment of activities in Nepal and visited the World Education program in February 2007. On March 4, 2008 the Ambassador visited the World Education program and several of the project sites. The Ambassador considers that the overall program is having a positive impact in helping victims of trafficking in Nepal and is consistent with the original proposal. The project has benefited victims who were intercepted and reunited with their families, who attend non-formal education classes, who manage to leave exploitative work and are able to start life over. The grant will end on September 30, 2008. Future Programs -------------- ¶2. In 2008 Post forwarded three proposals for funding to GTIP. One of the proposals focused on rescuing trafficked children and providing rehabilitation and education services to victims. The second proposal focused on providing rehabilitation services, reintegration support, psycho-social counseling, emergency shelter and non-formal and vocational education to trafficking victims. GTIP has declined to fund either of these projects. Post believes that GTIP has earmarked future funds for projects focused on increasing the capacity of law enforcement officials to successfully prosecute trafficking cases. Comment -------------- ¶3. In the last two years Nepal has seen a rapid expansion in domestic trafficking in tandem with a breakdown in the security sector. The police are often complicit, easily bribed and when they do conduct raids they arrest and fine the victims not the traffickers. (Ref B) Existing service providers are overwhelmed and under-funded. Efforts to assist victims of internal trafficking are extremely limited. Most of the donors who previously funded anti-trafficking programs have over the last few years redirected their funds to support the election, the peace process and now the Constituent Assembly. As the USAID/GTIP program finishes, there will be very little available funding for outreach, education, interception and shelter support. Nepal's trafficking victims cannot break free from their traffickers without support. In order to provide victim centered services capable of accomplishing humane raids, rescues and recovery services both the concerned government offices and the besieged non-governmental organizations will have to be better funded. POWELL