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The Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley
Successful Executives Serving the World
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Officers Chris Gerl Mary Knight Deb Allen Liz Reeves JulieBowder
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The Bosnia-Herzegovina Anti-Trafficking Community Mobilization ProjectZonta International/STAR Network of World LearningINTERNATIONAL SERVICE PROJECT REPORT,
2002-2004 Funding by Zonta International Foundation: US$320,000 I BackgroundOn October 15, 2002, the STAR Network of World Learning launched the Bosnia-Herzegovina Anti-Trafficking Community Mobilization Project (BATCOM), the first locally led anti-trafficking program in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project combines technical assistance with small grant support for local groups that address local prevention, through public education directed at young people, families, and schools, and policy advocacy for the education of public officials (local and international police, military, the judiciary, and health workers) in designing enforceable laws that stop trafficking and respond compassionately to victims. II Needs Assessments and ResearchIn the first months of the project, the BATCOM staff met with non-governmental organizations (NGO) and individuals working in the anti-trafficking field to identify their needs, investigate possibilities for partnerships, and collect information regarding trafficking that originates in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During these meetings, NGOs reported the following common problems in their work:
q
A lack of communication and coordination between NGOs working
in the field of anti-trafficking, at the local level and state level.
q
Confrontations and problems with traffickers and corrupt
officials. Police often fail to take action against alleged traffickers,
even when specific problems are brought to their attention.
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Despite the potential for confrontation, the report noted that
local citizens do try to help trafficking victims when possible. For example,
in the town of Bihać close to the Croatian border, villagers are aware that many
women who are being trafficked are often asked to cross the border of Bosnia and
Herzegovina by foot through the wilderness. Knowing this, villagers will walk
the known trafficking routes trying to find women and offer help, if possible. q Lack of cooperation with local media. According to BATCOM staff, due to the difficult economic situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the media are oriented exclusively towards advertisement, as it is the only way in which they can survive. As a result, it is difficult for human right’s organizations to draw attention to their cause. q Lack of local support, initiatives and funding to meet needs, particularly when trafficking is observed as originating in the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Oftentimes, the state expects NGOs working to combat trafficking to be supported by foreign donor organizations and does not invest the state’s own money. The STAR Network noted that the typical response to combating trafficking is “the foreigners are taking care of it.” When organizations note that women are being trafficked within Bosnia and Herzegovina’s own borders, the response turns to, “can’t trafficking be voluntary?” and “why bother with some hookers?” q Lack of activities to raise awareness and promote the prevention of trafficking among the local population. Many NGOs and people working in the field do not view internal trafficking as a problem and often deny that prostitution exists in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Because there is denial that women from Bosnia and Herzegovina can be trafficked, there is little incentive to raise awareness and promote the prevention of trafficking among local populations. q Very few NGO activists actually work on internal trafficking and prostitution. During the field assessments, women active in NGOs stated that they have only been working with victims of trafficking who come from other countries. III Setting the Agenda and Plan of Action
q Training seminars for journalists from small towns, police cadets, students of criminology, junior staff from embassies and grantees of the BATCOM project q Technical assistance related to anti-trafficking law reform IV Activities ImplementedMedia SeminarIn March 2003, the BATCOM project organized a seminar for journalists from small towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Media representatives from 15 towns took part in the seminar.
§ The presentation of the BATCOM project § The legal framework for the fight against trafficking in human beings (national and international legal documents) § The social dimensions of trafficking § Sensitization of media and journalists about trafficking in human beings § The role of investigative journalists in the prevention of trafficking in human beings
Advocacy and AwarenessThe BATCOM staff is working to get the BATCOM Project of the STAR Network of World Learning officially included in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s National Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings. BATCOM hopes to develop the section on prevention of trafficking and to fully participate in the National Working Group to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings. To date, the staff has presented the BATCOM project and established communication with the following key players in the anti-trafficking field: § Local NGOs working directly in the field § The International Organization for Migration § UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights § Kvinna till Kvinna § International Human Rights Law Group § Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees at the State Level § Various members and representatives of the local police departments § Swiss Embassy – Office of the Development Cooperation § OSCE – Department for Security and Cooperation Involvement with Zonta InternationalIn March 2003, the BATCOM project coordinator Selma Hadzihalilovic was nominated by the Zonta International UN Chairman to attend the United Nations Commission on the Advancement of Women in New York. Ms. Hadzihalilovic met with the President Margit Webjörn who facilitated a short briefing between her and the Swedish Deputy Prime Minister. Also in March 2003, the Zonta Club in Alessandria, Italy invited Ms. Hadzihalilovic to address the Zonta club members and local officials on the issue of trafficking. Ms. Hadzihalilovic, together with Luisella Realini, District Chairman of the Committee on the Status of Women, addressed the local authorities of Alessandria on the need for communication and cooperation to improve the status of women worldwide. Future Activitiesq Seminars The BATCOM staff is currently focused on the preparation of the seminars for training seminars for journalists from small towns, police cadets, students of criminology, junior staff from embassies and grantees of the BATCOM project. The BATCOM Project staff was also contacted by a media center from Sarajevo to support the organization of a seminar with the International Center for Journalists on the topic of “Trafficking of Women in the Region” with selected participants from the BATCOM’s Basic Media Seminar. q Small grants The grant selection process will take place between June and September 2003. |
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Zonta of Quaboag Valley ~
Zonta
International ~ District I ~ Area II
~ Charter 1317 Updated: 04/27/08
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