Multi-sectoral referral system for victims of trafficking, sexual exploitation and those in vulnerable situation in Satkhira district
The multi-sectoral referral system project was initiated from January 2014 and is ongoing with CWCS’s own contribution with the aim to address the issue of trafficking in a holistic way by providing healthcare, counselling, shelter, food, access to justice, integration with family members, and identifying victims/survivors for life skill training in Satkhira district
Specialized hotline services
We have 2 specialized hotline numbers for victims, survivors and their families. About 2,288 mobile calls received and attended from victims, victims’ family members, former victims, school students, police and BGB officials, Counter Trafficking Committee (CTC) members, health service providers, Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) card holders, community people, NGOs, District Women Affairs Officer and Social Services Officer, Satkhira. Similarly 2,457 were outgoing calls from the Information Health Booth (IHB) and the Transit Shelter Homes of CWCS.
Distribution of IEC materials
More than 1,030 IEC materials such as hotline cards, brochure and posters have been distributed among 890 community people throughout Satkhira district whenever we go to receive rescued victims and do follow-up on the survivors who have returned back to their families.
Healthcare with Counselling Services for victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation at the Niramoy Information Health Booth (IHB)
During 2020, about 23 victims were provided free healthcare and counselling services at the Information Health Booth (IHB) and CWCS Counselling Room at Satkhira Sadar Hospital from January-December 2020. Survivors were referred to the Information Health Booth (IHB) by various stakeholders namely, police officials, Satkhira Sadar Hospital, Social Service Office, court, NGOs, journalists, etc.
Counselling Services
About 23 victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation were provided psychosocial counselling services and recovered from mental health problems.
Liaison with police stations at Satkhira district
police officials are maintained on a regular basis in all 8 police stations of Satkhira district to keep the law enforcing agencies updated about the newly arrived victims, their protection needs and well-being of survivors staying at the shelter home. Moreover, when victims are referred by police officials, a General Diary (GD) is being registered in the respective police stations and also during reintegration with their families, the handover procedure is done in the presence of police officials.
Recently completed projects
Ashshash: For Men and Women Who Have Escaped Trafficking
The project is being initiated during November 2019 – November 2022 with the financial assistance of Winrock International, Bangladesh aimed to improve socio-economic well-being of men and women who have escaped trafficking by providing services for reintegration. The geographic location of this project is Satkhira district of Bangladesh.
Given below the performance status of the project for July 2021 – November 2022:
Well-being of survivors of trafficking
- 431 survivors of trafficking had been identified and enrolled.
- 430 needs assessment of identified survivors had been undertaken.
- 573 survivors had received individual psychosocial counselling support.
- 1,381 family members from 635 families of survivors had received psychosocial counselling support.
- 554 survivors got ready-to-go certificates after successful completion of counselling.
- 374 people of the survivors’ community had got counselling support through 12 community counselling sessions.
- 3 survivors were referred for legal support.
- 65 survivors received support from PRAN-RFL as a kind of contribution in survivors support.
- 696 survivors were provided Skills Development Training, Entrepreneurship Development Training.
- 224 survivors received life-skills training.
- 312 survivors were provided wage employment and 185 survivors were self-employed.
- 19 survivors received Emergency Business Support.
- 762 survivors had been followed up after the supports provided.
Activities being implemented during July 2021 – November 2022
Men and women who have escaped trafficking improve their social and economic well-being by using services for reintegration by the following activities:
Community Counselling sessions
About 12 Community Counselling Sessions were organized being attended by 283 women and 91 men. Main message was that no one should backbite trafficking survivors instead help them mentally and socially. Community people freely shared their problems and received data about trafficking and other services from the District DEMO office. They have decided that they will contact government officials in the future when they want to go abroad.
Workshop on district-level service directory update
Two workshops were jointly organized by CWCS and Agrogoti Sangstha on district-level service directory updating with service providers’ organizations at PTRC-Satkhira being attended by government officers and NGO officials.
Meetings with service providers
Three meetings were jointly organized by CWCS and Agrogoti Sangstha with service providers’ organizations at PTRC-Satkhira. The main discussion issue in the meetings were the conception of providing various employment opportunities to the helpless survivors. The meetings were attended by 80 participants from government departments and NGOs.
Main discussion of the meetings:
- Providing various employment opportunities to the helpless survivors.
- Providing low-interest loans from the GO-NGO office.
- Ensure receiving government grants or providing service for survivors returning from abroad.
- Employ in various workplaces to train survivors of the Ashshash project as skilled workers.
Providing Life-skills Training
About 224 survivors were provided Life-skills Training to increase the mental confidence of the survivors to take the primary decisions regarding their employment.
Institutions are made more accountable and effective in providing services beneficial to men and women who have escaped trafficking by undertaking the following activities:
Bi-monthly coordination meetings
Four Bi-monthly Coordination Meetings were organized with Counter Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) Activists at Kalaroa upazila being participated by 64 participants including CTIP committee Chairman, Secretary and members, journalist, and school teacher. The Committee re-arrangement, Covid-19 vaccination, Role Play of Mid-Term Evaluation, Develop the reporting process are the main discussion points in the meeting.
CTIP Convention at district level
Three district level CTIP Convention were organized at being attended by 37 participants including Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Principal of TTC, Deputy Director of DEMO, CTIP committee Chairman, Secretary and members and journalists.
CTIP Refresher Training
Three CTIP Refresher Training were organized with 56 CTIP Activists where issues such as concept of human trafficking, legal provisions related to trafficking, safe migration, networking and advocacy strategies to be followed, facilitation skills development, leadership, communication skill development etc.
UP/CTC Dialogue Meetings
About 11 UP/CTC Dialogue Meetings were organized at Jugikhali, Koyla, Deara, Joynagar and Jalalabad unions under Kalaroa upazila being attended by 284 participants namely Union Parishad Chairman and members, and Counter Trafficking Committee (CTC) members.
Organized school/madrasah/college sessions (TIE/TFD)
One day-long awareness session was organized with school/madrasah/college students from Jugikhali, Koyla, Deara, Joynagar, and Jalalabad unions at Kalaroa upazila. Awareness was created among 1649 students and people who attended the session. Upazila Parishad Chairman, Head Teacher, and Officer In-charge of Police Sub-Station and elite persons also attended the program.
Community Awareness Session (pot/puppet shows)
About 20 Community Awareness Sessions through pot/puppet shows were organized in Jugikhali, Koyla, Deara, Joynagar, and Jalalabad unions under Kalaroa upazila. About 5,863 people attended the awareness sessions at the community level. These day-long activities were also attended by Women Affairs Officer, Upazila Parishad Chairman, Officer In-charge (OC) of Police Sub-Station and elite persons.
Interactive sessions organized with youths and CBOs
About 7 Interactive sessions were organized with youths and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in Jugikhali, Koyla, Deara, Joynagar and Jalalabad Union Parishads. These sessions were attended by 277 participants including Union Parishad Chairmen and members, journalists and youths.
District Level Consultation with CTC
Two district level consultation meetings were organized with CTC members on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and safe migration issues which were attended by 58 participants.
Meeting with Law Enforcing Agencies and Media personals
Three meetings with Law enforcing Agencies and media personals were organized on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and safe migration issues which were attended by 65 participants.
CTIP refresher training
Three CTIP refresher trainings were organized with CTIP activists which were attended by 56 participants.
Awareness-raising events at the educational institute on TIP and safe migration issues
Ten awareness-raising events were organized at the educational institutes on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and safe migration issues at the school level. About 1,187 people attended these awareness-raising events including UP Chairman, Head teacher and elite persons.
SPP and TSP Coordination meetings
Twelve Social Protection Partner (SPP) and Technical Service Provider (TSP) Coordination meetings were attended by CWCS. They discussed on needs assessment process, sharing the database list, and the required arrangements.
Celebration of International Days
International Women’s Day observation
On 8 March, 2022, the International Women’s Day was observed with officials of Upazila Women Affairs and chairman, members and others of Deara Union Parishad. Awareness was created among 352 people through discussion sessions, tea stall visits, door-to-door visits and miking. The day-long activity was attended by Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Upazila Women Affairs Officer, Chairman of Union Parishad, Officer-in-Charge of Police Station and journalists.
Celebration of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
On 30 July 2021 and 2022, World Day against Trafficking in Persons were celebrated. About 511 community people participated in these celebrations. Awareness had been created against human trafficking and on safe migration.
International Migrants Day observation
On 18 December 2021, the International Migrants Day was jointly organized by Agrogoti Sangstha and CWCS. The day-long program was organized with the DEMO office Satkhira district and about 119 community people participated in a rally and discussion sessions. It was also attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Officer-in-Charge of police station and journalists.
Lessons learnt
- Liaison with various stakeholders should be continued on regular basis to continue the sustainable outcomes of the project.
- Government and NGOs who are members of the CTCs should promote their work at the village level as well as in the human trafficking issue.
- In the Community Based Organization (CBO) meeting, the members of the Community CBOs should have discussed more and regularly on human trafficking issues in their monthly meetings.
- CTIP committee members can assist in the work of survivors’ identification by following source mapping in their respective areas.
- More imams, village police, youth clubs in the community should include with the project activities then there will be more benefits in identifying survivors and all-over counselling.
- Survivors’ counselling should must be meet with the standard counselling measures and no compromises should be addressed with it.
- Beneficiaries should be supported as the need assessment that was done.
- Follow-up of the survivors/beneficiaries should be done to avoid the dropouts and be informed about their present status, that’s why their sustainable reintegration can be ensured.
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