The trafficking of young people for forced labor and prostitution is a serious global problem. The United Nations estimated that 1.2 million adolescents fall victim to human trafficking annually. IOFA sought to continue its leadership role in preventing youth trafficking through education and support to young people who are at risk for human trafficking in both source and destination countries.

THE MODEL

Goal: To prevent the trafficking of adolescents in a given country

Objectives:

  • To increase awareness of human trafficking and forced labor among adolescents aged 14-25
  • To increase the awareness of human trafficking and forced labor among adolescent sex workers aged 25 or younger
  • Develop a curriculum to prevent youth trafficking (e.g. Smooth Flight)
  • To increase the capacity of NGOs and government officials to prevent human trafficking and forced labor.

Activities:

  • Create a nationwide education and information campaign targeting adolescents and adolescent sex workers
  • Develop and implement an educational module on human trafficking into existing youth health centers
  • Hold career workshops for youth planning to go abroad for work, their parents, and community members
  • Increase the capacity of NGOs to prevent trafficking through comprehensive training on trafficking and forced labor, materials development, and networking to establish linkages with other NGOs and local, regional, and national government officials.

PPAT Latvia (2001-2002)

The project was initiated following a survey of over 3,000 Latvian and Russian youth and in-depth interviews to assess young peoples’ awareness of human trafficking and forced labor. A youth trafficking prevention tool kit was developed and the educational module was piloted at 11 youth health centers to 1,800 young people. Pre-travel consultations were administered for over 1,500 youth, along with 367 career workshops. The project included a nationwide anti-trafficking campaign targeted at young people that was evaluated as effective in increasing the likelihood of young people to take precautions before going abroad to work. Sustainable outcomes of the project include the creation of a cadre of over 30 anti-trafficking experts in Latvia, the formation of an anti-trafficking working group–including cooperation between Russian and Latvian NGOs, international recognition for partners, and successful police investigations into trafficking rings in Latvia.

PPAT Estonia (2002-2003)

Baseline data for the project was collected from 750 young people and more than 200 young people were trained using the module developed in Latvia. Pre-travel consultations were provided to more than 75 youth and career workshops were held in several regions. All project materials were translated into Estonian.

PPAT Tanzania (2006-2007)

This project aimed to increase the capacity of NGOs in the lake region of Tanzania to work with the government to ensure effective implementation of laws dealing with the protection of female victimes of violence and human trafficking.

Past Projects

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