(Re)Integration

Perspectives of Victim Service Agencies on Successes & Challenges in Trafficking Victim (Re)Integration in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region

April 2012

It is clear that many victims of human trafficking require assistance to regain their autonomy, recover from the effects of trafficking and rebuild their lives.

To help government and non-government responders in the anti-human trafficking community gain a better understanding of the common challenges facing victims and service providers in the process of (re)integrating trafficked persons, the United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP) and World Vision International have jointly published (Re)Integration - Perspectives of Victim Service Agencies on Successes Challenges in Trafficking Victim (Re)Integration in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region.

This publication is an analysis of the outcomes from a series of national-level forums in each of the GMS countries, bringing together hundreds of victim service practitioners as part of the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiate Against Trafficking (COMMIT) Region-wide (Re)Integration Initiative. The analysis uncovered seven underlying themes, or  key issues, that practitioners see victims facing during and after the process of (re)integration back into home communities, or to new locations. The publication covers each issue in detail, including: 

• Issue 1 - Victims are not being identified
• Issue 2 - There is a lack of clarity regarding the definition of ‘successful (re)integration’
• Issue 3 - Services to male victims of trafficking are lacking
• Issue 4 - Economic assistance being provided, including vocational training, is often not related to the actual economic environment into which victims are being repatriated
• Issue 5 - Psychosocial support, especially to address trauma, needs to be strengthened
• Issue 6 - Standard operating procedures (SOPs) are needed to strengthen practitioner capacity to provide effective (re)integration assistance
• Issue 7 - Cooperation between government agencies, governments and NGOs, as well as between NGOs needs to be strengthened, especially for (re)integration of cross-border cases

The publication also outlines examples successful cases and current (re)integration practices being undertaken in the COMMIT countries, which includes Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Government and non-government organisations play a key role in assisting victims in their successful recovery and (re)integration, having to be responsive to each victim’s individual and unique needs, including changes over time and in response to on-going life challenges. The National Practitioner Forums allowed all stakeholders to actively discuss successes and obstacles, and work toward possible solutions.

The forums were sponsored by the relevant social welfare ministries of the COMMIT countries.  Financial and technical support for the forums and this publication was provided by the United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP), as Secretariat to the COMMIT Process, and World Vision, as well as Save the Children, IOM, NEXUS Institute, UNICEF, and local NGO partners. 

 

To download a copy of (Re)Integration click here