Annual Report: Combating Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) Program, October 1, 2012– September 30, 2013

The program worked closely with the Ministry and the National Committee to develop and support the Government of Nepal's efforts to combat trafficking in persons through specific programmatic interventions. During the third year, the CTIP program supported the Ministry and the National Committee to develop and publish a first-ever report on the Government of Nepal's efforts to combat human trafficking in Nepal, covering the period of April 2012 to March 2013. The report captured different government-led initiatives to counter trafficking, presented consolidated data on prevention, protection, and prosecution acquired from relevant government agencies and line-ministries. The CTIP program also supported the National Committee/MoWCSW to hold five regional level workshops in Biratnagar, Hetauda, Pokhara, Nepalgunj, and Dhangadi, covering eastern, central, western, mid-western, and far western regions of Nepal. These workshops aimed at disseminating key policy documents developed to combat human trafficking in Nepal, including the National Plan of Action (NPA) against Trafficking in Persons, the National Minimum Standards (NMS) for Victim Care and Protection, and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Rehabilitation Centers. Under the protection component, The Asia Foundation worked with Dr. Achal Bhagat, a leading psychiatrist and a psychotherapist working with survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence (GBV), to develop and strengthen a person-centered prevention and reintegration process under the CTIP program in Nepal. Dr. Bhagat and his colleagues from Saarthak conducted a capacity building training for Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO) and community-level health workers to help them understand and apply the concepts of non-discriminatory access to resources, empathic response, building trust with individuals and community, and responding to group dynamics by understanding power equations within the community. The training also focused on building micro skills related to counseling. TPO in turn trained 152 health professionals and oriented 572 community people covering 10 Village Development Committees (VDCs) on the importance of psychosocial wellbeing for TIP survivors and for those facing other forms of gender-based violence (GBV). They also provided basic information and skills to the community groups on ways to cope with psychosocial problems, and the role of the community in creating an enabling and protective environment. In addition, the CTIP program supported the Legal Aid Consultancy Center (LACC) in collaboration with World Education Inc. (WEI) to conduct two levels of 18 Training of Trainers (ToTs) for Safe Migration Networks (SMN). The first level of ToTs focused on effective communication and advocacy skills, while the second level focused on developing skills to provide counseling and support to migrant workers. The training aimed to build the capacity of Safe Migration Networks to provide effective support and services to migrant workers. The CTIP program also supported the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the rehabilitation centers, which aimed to provide a framework for the provision of services to victims of trafficking. The SOPs outlined the procedures for intake, assessment, and provision of services, including counseling, medical care, and vocational training. Overall, the CTIP program in Nepal made significant progress in enhancing coordination of anti-trafficking efforts, building the capacity of Safe Migration Networks, and promoting behavioral aspects of community development. The program's efforts aimed to create an enabling and protective environment for victims of trafficking and to prevent further trafficking in persons.