VZCZCXRO6333
PP RUEHCI
DE RUEHKT #0844/01 1151236
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251236Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5736
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 5662
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 5959
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 1179
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 3981
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 5282
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1353
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 3409

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KATHMANDU 000844 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC ELAB KCRM PHUM PREL SMIG NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: G/TIP INCLE AND ESF FUNDING PROPOSAL 
 
REF: STATE 28150 
 
Summary and Introduction 
------------------------ 
 
¶1. Embassy Kathmandu is pleased to propose the following five 
projects, in rank order, for consideration for INCLE and ESF 
funding (reftel).   Post emailed the full text of the 
proposals to G/TIP. 
 
Begin Projects 
-------------- 
 
Project 1 
--------- 
 
Name of the Applicant: The Asia Foundation 
 
Requested Funding:  USD 235,769.00 
 
Project Title:  Strengthening Victim and Witness Protection 
for the Successful Prosecution of Traffickers 
 
Project Duration: Two Years 
 
Proposal Abstract: 
 
The goal of the proposed project is to strengthen 
prosecutions and increase convictions of traffickers in Nepal 
through improved and better-integrated protection measures 
for victims and witnesses.  Comprehensive protection for 
trafficking victims and witnesses is an urgent need in Nepal. 
 Without adequate protection, victims are often unwilling to 
file a case or to testify because they fear reprisals either 
against themselves or their families.  Currently in Nepal, 
there is no specific law that provides full protection for 
witnesses and trafficking victims.  Law enforcement officials 
are not adequately trained on how to identify or deal with 
trafficking victims and witnesses.  Nepali diplomats in 
destination countries, who are frequently the victims' first 
point of contact abroad, often have had little or no training 
in identifying victims or ensuring their safety, yet they 
have a critical role to play in protecting victims during the 
repatriation process.  In addition, lawyers and public 
prosecutors are not sensitive to the psycho-social needs of 
trafficking victims.  This can further traumatize victims and 
make them less willing and capable of providing testimony 
against their traffickers.  Convictions then become more 
difficult to achieve, as victim testimony is often the most 
crucial piece of evidence against a perpetrator.  Successful 
prosecutions leading to more convictions of traffickers 
require stronger legal protections for victims - with extra 
security guaranteed for those willing to testify. 
 
The Asia Foundation proposes to build on its extensive 
experience and institutional capabilities in combating 
trafficking in Nepal and across the Asia-Pacific region, as 
well as its strong relationship with leading Nepali NGO 
partners, to build a comprehensive and robust protection 
system for trafficking victims and witnesses.  This will 
include:  developing a draft bill on victim and witness 
protection that provides greater security and incentives for 
victims to testify against their traffickers; building a 
protective network of law enforcement officials and Nepali 
diplomats; and ensuring the provision of high quality legal 
and psycho-social support for victims and witnesses.  Project 
results will include a stronger legal framework for victim 
and witness protection, greater victim protection provided 
during the repatriation and reintegration process with the 
active support of Nepali embassies, more victims and 
witnesses testifying in court, and increased trafficking 
prosecutions and convictions. 
 
Project 2 
--------- 
 
Name of the Applicant: Shakti Samuha 
 
Requested Funding:  USD 70,325.00 
 
Project Title:  Reducing Trafficking and Enhancing Support to 
the Survivors of Trafficking 
 
Project Duration: Two Years 
 
Proposal Abstract: 
 
KATHMANDU 00000844  002 OF 004 
 
 
 
The goal of the proposed project is to substantially reduce 
trafficking and enhance support to survivors of trafficking 
in the districts of Makwanpur, Rautahat, Bara, Sindupalchowk, 
Nuwakot, Bardia and Surkhet (these districts are located in 
the Central and Midwestern regions of Nepal).  The project 
will adopt a community-based approach towards building 
awareness and preventing trafficking.  The cooperative 
structure is the most sustainable form of community 
enterprise.  It gives a collective voice to vulnerable women 
through which they can seek their rights. 
 
Proposed project activities include organizing awareness 
workshops, rallies, seminars and street theaters.  The 
cooperative will also help to foster a sustainable livelihood 
for trafficking victims.  A set of strategic training 
programs will be conducted in each of the targeted 
communities to identify possible income generating activities 
for women in the community.  The project will also introduce 
community-based surveillance to help prevent trafficking and 
support the prosecution of traffickers.  Victim assistance 
will also be provided, including counseling, education, 
employment services and legal support. 
 
The project is designed to achieve all of the following: 1. 
Foster awareness of human rights within the community; 2. 
Encourage greater community participation in the prevention 
of trafficking, the promotion of women's rights and 
education; 3. Reduce migration and increase income generating 
activities available to women; 4. Develop community-based 
surveillance and interception methodologies that will enable 
the community to assist in trafficking cases; 5. Empower 
trafficking survivors to participate as effective witnesses 
in cases brought against their traffickers; 6. Advocate for 
the adoption of stringent laws and policies to prevent 
trafficking and prosecute traffickers. 
 
Project 3 
--------- 
 
Name of the Applicant: Pourakhi (An Organization of Returned 
Women Migrants) 
 
Requested Funding:  USD 98,357.00 
 
Project Title:  Proposal for Victim Assistance 
 
Project Duration: Two Years 
 
Proposal Abstract: 
 
Pourakhi is an organization of returned migrant workers which 
assists outgoing and returned migrant workers. Pourakhi 
proposes to expand its current services to serve the ever 
increasing number of Nepali migrants.  Pourakhi plans to 
increase its public outreach activities by providing 
information and support services in passport offices, 
recruiting agencies, bus parks, the international airport in 
Kathmandu and through Nepal's embassies abroad.  Currently, 
Pourakhi has a hot line and information desk in Kathmandu 
that provides information and counseling to migrant workers. 
Hotline services will be extended to Pokhara and Dharan. 
Radio outreach has been a major component of the 
organization's program and has proven to be the most 
effective way to reach potential or returned migrants.  More 
than 1,200 returned migrant groups have been formed that 
listen regularly to the organization's programming.  Through 
this project Pourakhi will expand its radio outreach by 
increasing the number of national and regional radio stations 
which broadcast its programming.  In addition, 60 returned 
migrant leaders will be trained to engage in pre-departure, 
safe migration efforts and education at the community level. 
New initiatives in collaboration with World Education (WE) 
and the Nepal Institute for Development Studies will enhance 
the organization's capacity to provide rehabilitation 
services and engage in action research for advocacy and 
policy reform. 
 
 
Project 4 
--------- 
 
Name of the Applicant: The Esther Benjamins Trust-Nepal 
 
Requested Funding:  USD 498,340.00 
 
 
KATHMANDU 00000844  003 OF 004 
 
 
Project Title:  The Circus Children Project 
 
Project Duration: Two Years 
 
Proposal Abstract: 
 
The Esther Benjamins Trust - Nepal (EBT-N) and its NGO 
project partners Nepal Child Welfare Foundation (NCWF) and 
Esther Benjamins Memorial Foundation (EBMF) have been 
successfully rescuing trafficked Nepalese children from 
Indian circuses since the start of 2004.  After the children 
are returned to Nepal there is a huge need for victim 
assistance to rehabilitate and reintegrate the returnees 
within society.  The victims' primary needs are for secure 
temporary and semi-permanent accommodation, psychological 
support, education and training and employment.  Without such 
services, rescued children will be returned into a situation 
where they have no prospects and little hope for a brighter 
future.  Moreover, if psychological needs are not addressed 
and the returnees do no feel secure, all education, training 
and employment initiatives will ultimately fail.  Worst of 
all, rescued children and girls remain vulnerable and at high 
risk of being re-trafficked. 
 
The aim of the Circus Children Project is to provide a 
sustainable and secure living, educational, artistic and 
working environment that meets the psychological needs and 
career aspirations of the most vulnerable trafficked children 
and teenage girls (who have been rescued from the Indian 
circuses) and that reintegrates them within society.  The 
goal will be achieved as follows. Returnees will be provided 
a stable and secure home environment where basic needs are 
met.  School-age children will be re-integrated into their 
peer groups and given the support needed to ensure they are 
making normal educational progress.  Older girls who have no 
educational background or academic interest will be trained 
for gainful employment that leads to independent living. 
Residential facilities will not become permanent homes for 
any returnees, young or old, and will provide bed spaces for 
a flow of new arrivals.  Psychological support will be 
provided through art to help returnees rebuild their lives 
and cope with day-to-day life.  The program's accommodation 
and education/training programs will become self-sustaining 
by the end of the project. 
 
The proposed project activities include the construction of 
secure temporary and semi-permanent accommodations.  The 
EBT-N plans to build seven accommodation units in Kathmandu 
with a total capacity of 126.  The accommodations will be 
integrated within the community and will be eco-friendly. 
The units will provide a place for the older girls to live 
and work and serve as a "half-way" home into independent 
life.  The funds requested through this project will support 
the construction of two of these buildings beginning in 2008, 
based upon a prototype constructed in 2007/2008.  The project 
also includes psychological support, education and training. 
An arts center that can provide art therapy and education for 
returnees of all ages will be established.  Older returnees 
with little or no education, but who wish to join a fast 
track into the school system at a level appropriate to their 
age, will be offered three-year-long residential courses. 
Training in jobs in the arts and crafts sector will be 
offered to returnees who have no interest in education or who 
cannot cope with the residential fast track course.  This 
training will lead to the guarantee of jobs in two associated 
independent businesses - Hatti Trading and Himalayan Mosaics 
- that offer girls proper wages and fair trade working 
conditions. 
 
Project 5 
--------- 
 
Name of the Applicant: Peace Rehabilitation Center 
 
Requested Funding:  USD 178,087.00 
 
Project Title:  Prevention of Woman and Child Trafficking 
 
Project Duration: Two Years 
 
Proposal Abstract: 
 
Peace Rehabilitation Center (PRC) is requesting a grant to 
strengthen and expand its existing programs to prevent the 
trafficking of women and children and to increase the 
protection, rescue and rehabilitation services available to 
 
KATHMANDU 00000844  004 OF 004 
 
 
Nepali victims of trafficking.  PRC's five main initiatives 
for this project include: public awareness, victim rescue and 
rehabilitation, income generation, a Nepal/India border 
patrol, and a victim follow-up program.  PRC proposes to 
build community awareness, lead lobbying initiatives to 
influence government programs and policies, support 
marginalized women with economic empowerment initiatives, and 
encourage networking and coordination among NGOs and others 
fighting trafficking. In response to the needs of trafficking 
victims, PRC plans to expand awareness through community 
trainings, district-level rallies, and school orientation 
programs.  PRC will expand its income generation activities 
by training victims of sex trafficking and vulnerable women 
and girls in candle making, sewing, knitting, spice 
production, driving, computing and animal husbandry (pig, 
goat and cow keeping).  PRC will encourage networking and 
coordination by hosting regional police coordination and 
training events.  These community training events will 
promote collaboration and partnership among the government 
and NGOs.  In addition, the existing capacity and 
infrastructure of PRC will be strengthened through additional 
staff training programs for the organization's rehabilitation 
center, border checkpoints, and childcare program. 
MORIARTY