Building capacity among NGOs in China

UNIAP and World Vision work together to provide capacity building for NGOs to assist victims of human trafficking

The United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP) partnered with World Vision in Tianjin to provide at “Human Trafficking Social Services Network Training’ to Non-government Organisations (NGOs). The seminars were held from the 29 May until 1 June, and aimed to enhance the capacity of NGOs who work in the social services with victims of human trafficking. 

The objective of the training was to build the knowledge base of NGOs on human trafficking, develop relationships and networks between the NGO participants, and share experiences and challenges in counter trafficking. 

The training brought together many different sectors for the seminar to not only for training, but also to create a network of NGOs for future collaboration in anti-trafficking activities. Altogether 25 participants attended from a range of areas who work with victims such as legal aid, research centres, psycho-social counselling, shelter, drop-in and refuge services providers, disability support, migrant workers groups, medical centres and general services.

Each day the training focused on a different area, beginning with fundamentals of human trafficking, interventions to victim protection, responding to needs of victims and coordinating service providers. Seminars included capacity building in areas such as ethics, national and international laws and definitions, victim identification and indicators, partnership with service providers, collaboration and referrals, reintegration, repatriation and empowerment. Sharing of experiences and case studies were particularly interesting, as were discussions on challenges surrounding victim protection and coordination.

The training was highly interactive with many participatory sessions such as role plays, energisers, victim identification exercises, service provider mapping, group presentations, reintegration problem solving activities, multi-sector coordination exercises, and case study analyses.

Since 2011, UNIAP has worked in conjunction with various Chinese government departments to develop targeted tools and activities to assist victim protection. Since then, UNIAP has supported a number of capacity building activities for both government shelters and non-government organisations enable them to assist victims more effectively. Another objective of the trainings sessions was to encourage partnerships, referral systems, networks and collaboration among relevant organisation and service providers.

The recent NGO capacity building was highly enjoyable and successful. The participants not only enhanced their technical knowledge and shared pertinent experience from the field, but the networks they formed during the training have evolved into a long term sustainable Network of Anti-Trafficking Service Providers. As one participant stated, “we are so happy because now we are not alone in our plight to help victims, we will work together and assist them in all areas of their life.”

The training was supported by UNIAP, World Vision and the China University of Political Science and Law against Human Trafficking International Cooperation and Protection Centre.

During the week, participants developed many networks, relationships, and areas for collaboration. The formal Network of Anti-Trafficking Service Providers that was created will be used to as a formal means for partnership and support in the future, as well as informal support engine for those working in the field.  They have already organised a reunion and distributed their contact lists, concreting their new relationship and next steps forward.