APPLICATIONS RECEIVED FOR ANTI-TRAFFICKING GRANT

UNCLAS TASHKENT 000196 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR G/TIP SHEREEN FARAJ AND SCA/CEN FOR BRIAN RORAFF E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV EAID KWMN KCRM UZ SUBJECT: APPLICATIONS RECEIVED FOR ANTI-TRAFFICKING GRANT PROGRAM REF: A. SECSTATE 161503 ¶B. TASHKENT 99 Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Post received three submissions for the trafficking-in-persons grant application program announced in reftel A. Application packages were submitted by the February 12 deadline to Embassy Tashkent from (listed in order of receipt) the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),non governmental organization "Istiqbolli Avlod," and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Each of these entities is registered in Uzbekistan and capable of implementing an anti-trafficking-in-persons project. We also believe Save the Children submitted a regional application, including Uzbekistan, directly to G/TIP. End summary. UNODC -------------- ¶2. (SBU) (a) Applicant: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (b) Requested Funding: USD 300,000 (c) Project Title: UZB/S20 - "Strengthening Criminal Justice Response to Trafficking in Persons in Uzbekistan" (d) Project Duration: One year (e) Abstract: This is an existing project that is already 60% funded by other donor countries, and a G/TIP grant would allow the Tashkent UNODC office to implement the entire anti-trafficking project. There are several distinct components of the project, including: a "gap analysis" aimed at assisting the Government of Uzbekistan with aligning its presently insufficient legislation with international conventions; a national workshop to assist the Government of Uzbekistan with developing its national anti-human trafficking strategy; establishment of a national database on human trafficking, which entails procurement and installation of an appropriate system and related training in its use in each of the 12 provinces of Uzbekistan; conducting training for law enforcement agents and prosecutors in all 12 provinces of Uzbekistan; and strengthening cooperation with transit and destination countries by organizing meetings and encouraging the signing of bilateral agreements and mutual legal assistance. UNODC intends to involve local NGOs and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in its project activities. Istiqbolli Avlod -------------- ¶3. (SBU) (a) Applicant: "Istiqbolli Avlod" (Uzbek for "Future Generation"),a registered NGO in Uzbekistan (b) Requested Funding: USD 275,150 (c) Project Title: Assisting Uzbek Trafficking-in-Persons Victims (d) Project Duration: Two years (e) Abstract: Istiqbolli Avlod, which is affiliated with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Uzbekistan, proposes building on their existing anti-trafficking work repatriating victims and assisting them with reintegration into Uzbek society. First, due to the large number of female victims from Uzbekistan who are trafficked to the United Arab Emirates, Istiqbolli Avlod wants to assign a permanent staff member abroad to serve as an on-the-ground liaison. The UAE-based staff, preferably an Uzbek national, would actively work with prison officials and the Uzbek Consulate to identify Uzbek women in need of repatriation and facilitate their return travel. Istiqbolli Avlod notes there are no NGOs currently focusing on this in the UAE, and they noted that since the Director began making regular trips to the Emirates the organization has assisted more than 2,000 Uzbek women. The other part of Istiqbolli Avlod's proposal is to enhance the skills of staff who work at two shelters -- one each in Tashkent and Bukhara -- to allow them to offer more effective counseling and training to returned victims. The goal is to encourage them to pursue vocational skills to help build self-confidence and earn a reasonable living, and they would first conduct a study tour to see best practices in another country and then return to create and implement more extensive vocational workshops (hairdressing, dry cleaning, sewing, etc.) and counseling programs (including resume-writing and interview skills as well as psychological intervention). UNICEF -------------- ¶4. (SBU) (a) Applicant: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (b) Requested Funding: USD 314,744 (c) Project Title: "Combatting Child Trafficking in Uzbekistan" (d) Project Duration: Two years (e) Abstract: UNICEF notes that while trafficking-in-persons is being given more attention in Uzbekistan, child trafficking is not given special attention. Its proposal therefore focuses on an information campaign to at-risk children, including outreach events in schools, orphanages, parks, and discos to raise awareness. There will also be a corresponding awareness campaign in the mass media featuring popular actors and musicians to help get the message across. The proposal also includes conducting training sessions for teachers and other professionals who work closely with at-risk children, with a particular emphasis on recognizing the warning signs among children that they may be imminently trafficked. There will also be sessions focused on parliamentarians to encourage compliance with Uzbekistan's international commitments such as the 1992 Convention on Child Rights. Save the Children? -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Post met with a representative from Save the Children, which is registered in Uzbekistan, about the organization's interest in submitting a regional proposal to G/TIP focusing on Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. We understood this application may have been submitted directly to G/TIP. NORLAND