VZCZCXRO3860
OO RUEHCI
DE RUEHKT #0122/01 0291201
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 291201Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7912
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 6284
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 6611
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 1874
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 4636
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 5867
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2189
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 4000

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000122 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR THE OFFICE TO MONITOR AND COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 
(G/TIP) AND SCA/INS, SCA/RA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KCRM KWMN EAID IN NP
SUBJECT: G/TIP INCLE AND ESF FUNDING PROPOSAL FOR NEPAL 
 
REF: SECSTATE 161503 
 
SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION 
------------------------ 
 
¶1. Embassy Kathmandu is pleased to propose the following 
three projects, in rank order, for consideration for INCLE 
and ESF funding (Reftel).  Post will forward via email the 
full proposals for the projects listed in the cable to GTIP 
Funding Opportunities@state.gov.  END SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION 
 
BEGIN PROJECTS 
-------------- 
 
Project 1 
--------- 
 
Name of the Applicant: The Asia Foundation 
 
Total Requested Funding: $190,044.00 
 
Project Title: Increasing Convictions of Traffickers Under 
the "Human Trafficking and Transportation Control Act of 
2007." 
 
Project Duration: 1 year 
 
Proposal Abstract: The Asia Foundation (TAF) requests 
$190,044 for a one-year project to increase convictions of 
traffickers in Nepal under the "Human Trafficking and 
Transportation Control Act of 2007," (TIP Act) through 
increased witness and victim testimony in trafficking 
prosecutions and enhanced capacity of police and public 
prosecutors to conduct effective prosecutions.  With the 
passage of the TIP Act, the Government of Nepal (GON) laid a 
strong legal foundation for increased trafficking 
prosecutions and convictions.  In order to promote the 
effective implementation of this law, TAF will work in close 
cooperation with two trusted partners, Legal Aid and 
Consultancy Center (LACC) and the Kathmandu School of Law 
(KSL), to implement a series of mutually-reinforcing 
activities in 31 GON-identified high-risk trafficking 
districts across Nepal. 
 
The proposed project will support the development and 
implementation of a targeted multimedia campaign and 
community outreach initiative that will raise public 
awareness of the TIP Act's victim protection provisions in 
order to increase the number of victims who are willing to 
testify against their traffickers.  At the same time, to 
ensure the police and prosecutors are able to carry out their 
respective responsibilities as outlined in the Act -- 
especially with regard to the treatment of and obligations to 
victims and witnesses - project partners will also develop a 
TIP Law Enforcement Protocol and nationwide computerized 
system to monitor and track trafficking cases.  These tools 
will be used to train leading prosecutors and police 
investigators in the 31 targeted districts.  Anticipated 
project results include: more victims and witnesses of 
trafficking report incidents of trafficking to the police; 
more victims and witnesses testify against traffickers; 
police are better equipped to effectively and sensitively 
deal with trafficking victims, witnesses, and offenders; and 
improved coordination and information sharing among police 
and prosecutors result in more effective prosecution of 
traffickers. 
 
Project 2 
--------- 
 
Name of Applicant: World Education Inc. 
 
Total Requested Funding: $449,331.00 
 
Project Title: Stepping Stones - Addressing Services for 
Trafficking Victims in Nepal 
 
Project Duration: 3 years 
 
Proposal Abstract:  Nepal has seen a rapid expansion of 
trafficking to supply a growing sex trade.  There are an 
estimated 10,000 children in sexually exploitative work 
within Nepal, the majority of whom are from Dalit communities 
 
KATHMANDU 00000122  002 OF 002 
 
 
and ethnic minorities.  Girls are lured from neighboring 
districts with deceptive promises of good jobs but end up 
working in massage parlors, dance bars and restaurants where 
they are expected to be available for commercial sex.  Once 
in exploitative situations, the girls become enmeshed and 
need help to leave and reestablish their lives in the 
community.  While there is some support for rehabilitation of 
trafficking victims brought back form other countries, 
efforts to assist internally trafficked girls are extremely 
limited.  The government, police and political and civil 
society leaders have been preoccupied with development of a 
new constitution and reconstruction of the country after 
years of neglect caused by war.  The proposed project will 
provide rehabilitation and reintegration services to 1,500 
trafficking victims and 3,500 at-risk girls through an 
outreach program, psychosocial counseling, emergency shelter 
and non-formal and vocational education and an additional 
8,000 youth with safe migration activities.  The project will 
build on the success of the initial GTIP-funded project while 
engaging more stakeholders from the government sector (such 
as the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, Child Welfare 
Boards, District Trafficking Task Forces and the Nepal 
Police) as well as other NGOs to pilot mechanisms for 
referral and support of trafficking victims under the 
country's new trafficking legislation.  The project will also 
focus on building the capacity of organizations providing 
support and community-based reintegration series for internal 
trafficking victims.  In the most trafficking prone 
districts, the project will work with both those at risk as 
well as trafficking survivors in order to gain access while 
respecting confidentiality as survivors often need to have 
their identity protected. 
 
Project 3 
--------- 
 
Name of Applicant: The Esther Benjamin Trust Art Center for 
Trafficking Victims 
 
Total Requested Funding: $299,334.00 
 
Project Title: Art Center for Trafficking Victims 
 
Project Duration: 3 years 
 
Proposal Abstract:  The Esther Benjamin Trust (EBT) has been 
rescuing trafficked Nepalese children and teenage girls from 
Indian circuses since January 2004.  The organization 
provides scholarships to returnees of school age to allow 
them re-enter education.  However, older returnees remain 
vulnerable to being re-trafficked as they have no education 
or training, and girls in particular are seen as being an 
economic liability to familes who trafficked them in the 
first place.  Currently available training in Nepal does not 
guarantee jobs, and survivors - who almost invariably suffer 
some degree of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) -- 
struggle to complete such courses or remain subsequently in 
gainful employment. 
 
To address this problem, EBT has been providing training in 
the arts - mosaic, ceramics and sculpture - since 2006 to 
offer artistic therapy for disturbed minds while developing 
confidence, self-esteem and skills that are new to Nepal. 
Trained girls now enter employment in a newly-registered 
Nepalese not-for-profit company, "Himalayan Mosaics," that 
was established by the Trust's Director in December of 2007. 
 
Through this grant EBT proposes to provided training through 
three 4-month-long courses for 50 girls at a time. 
Professional art tutors will be recruited from abroad 
importing techniques and teaching designs that have a market 
internationally.  At project end, 150 trained girls will have 
entered contracted employment with Himalayan Mosaics.  The 
grant will cover revenue costs for three years and some 
modest start-up costs.  In due course sustainability will be 
enhanced by Himalayan Mosaics' profits being offset against 
long-term training costs.  The vision is to extend the 
program to trafficking victims recommened to EBT by any 
organization, having built the capacity for EBT to manage 
such rehabilitation. 
 
END PROJECTS 
POWELL