Dhaka Ahsania Mission as an active partner of the civil society in Bangladesh, recognizes the role it can play in undertaking various measures against trafficking in women and children and accordingly in September 1997, Dam initiated the Child and women Trafficking Prevention (CWTP in short) program for the reduction of trafficking as well as for the repatriation, reintegration and rehabilitation of the survivors of trafficking and the programs have been implemented in six vulnerable border bet districts at Southwestern part of the country since then. Goal of CWTP is to empowering the community to promote a safe living environment for the poor women and children and thus ensure the human rights. DAM has almost two decades of experience in working in the field of trafficking prevention programs and DAM’s overall activities can be divided in three categories which are: Prevention, Protection (Support to the survivor’s for rehabilitation)  and Repatriation.

Currently two anti trafficking projects entitled “Action for Combating Trafficking in Persons (ACT)” &Enhancing Community Capacity to Reduce Vulnerability to Human Trafficking are being implemented by DAM. ACT started in October, 2008. The project will significantly contribute to reduce the rate of trafficking in persons and unsafe migration, standardize the care and support of the trafficking survivors. In addition to that the project will also help to build the capacity of the GOB to prosecute traffickers related crimes. DAM is working on Survivors support component of ACT program. Which significantly supports the survivors for rehabilitating in the society through empowering them and sensitize the community to support the survivors as well. The duration of the project is from October 2008 to June 2012 with possible extension of another two more years. The project targeted and given priorities to the survivors of trafficking that include both male and female survivors.
Goal and Objective:
Project Goal: (Survivor Support Component)

To enhance and standardize protection & care for survivors of human trafficking.

Objectives :

• To enhance customized service for the survivors of human trafficking.
• To empower the survivors through building the capacity.
• Promote enabling environment for reduce trafficking & unsafe labor migration.

Overall Project Activities:

survivors identified, outreached & repatriated, Survivor’s provided basic services( food, cloth, accommodation and recreation) through the shelter home/transit home, Survivors provided and linked with NFE and formal education, Survivors provided and referred for health support, Development/review of a standard & scientific guideline for counseling services, Survivors provided legal counseling and assistance, Identify and prepare an inventory for external possible service providers, Act partner’s  resource and expertise inventory prepare, Workshop/referral meeting with the identified with external services providers, Need assessment of shelter home, Capacity development of shelter home/transit home, Adoption and implementation of standard guideline on shelter management By GO and NGO run shelter homes/transit homes, Exposure visit for the staffs in outside country (in some shelter homes)to see the best practices ,Conduct needs assessment of the survivors, Developed customized training package, Provide vocational & entrepreneurship training. Provide job &internship opportunity, Provide individual and collective business support, Facilitate linkage building with financial and resource intuition, Conduct life skills need assessment, Provide life skills training for the survivors, Provide leadership , networking, community mobilization and communication training for the survivors, Organize theatre workshop for the survivors, Developed guideline for operation & institutionalization of  survivors voice group, Conduct various Training for the SV group, Organize peer to peer visit for the survivors’ voice group, Develop IEC (service options) materials, Publish documents on good practices and integration, Video documentation on successful integration , Conduct assessment study of the integrated survivors, Activation of CTC, Capacity builds up of Partner NGOs, Print/reprint of popular version (handbook) on new law, Orientation/dissemination seminar on new anti-trafficking law and NPA.

Outputs:

• Standard Customized services available at the institution level-
• Referral mechanism/network for the specialize services established.
• Management & institutional capacity of the service providing center’s improved.
• Increased livelihood opportunity and improved living condition.
• Increased self-esteem& social communication capacity.
• Capacity of Survivors Voice group capacitated and independently functional.
• Positive engagement of community in terms of supporting of the survivors.
• Informed community and other stakeholders about the trafficking prevention act and laws.

Result:

• Survivor’s access in need based services ensured and minimum standard of services maintained.
• Specialized services (trauma Counseling, special health support) received through the other services providers and network partners.
• Staffs of the institutions (SH and Transit Home) are capable to serve the target group as per the need successfully.
• Survivor’s skills in coping with situation and decision making increased.
• ANIRBAN (Survivor voice group) initiative’s in supporting the survivors and raising their voices increased to great extent.
• Community’s attitude towards the survivors has been changed and contribution of community in supporting the survivors increased.

Outcomes:

• Minimum standard for survivor support adopted.
• Range of service options identified and referral mechanism functioned well.
• Institutional capacities increased to provide standardize and customize services to the survivors.
• ANIRBAN (survivor Voice group) recognized as an advocacy forum for the survivors.
• Enabling environment created in the community for the survivors and stigma reduced.

Project Duration: October 2008 to June 2014

Start date: October 2008

Financial partner (Donor): USAID through Winrock International

Project Location/s and number of Field offices: Jessore & Jamalpur( Field Offices),

Jessore, Shatkira, Jamalpur, Narail, Khulna, Jinidha( Project areas)

Budget with annual breakup :  98,29,300.00

Number of project staffs and volunteers : 15

Contact Person  : Depak Sarkar, Project Coordinator, ACT

Email                     : dk.sarkar@ahsaniamission.org.bd, uma120dipak5@gmail.com