I.  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Problem:  Human trafficking is a growing problem of global scale, violating the human rights of men women, and children around the world.  The majority of trafficking victims are women and children, who continue to be bought, sold, transported and held against their will in slave-like conditions. 

Human trafficking has become an issue of grave concern for the Republic of Armenia as well.  Based on on-going investigations since 1999, it is estimated that some 2,000 Armenian women and girls are being held against their will in the United Arab Emirates, and another 5,000 in various sites in Turkey.  A study conducted by IOM (International Organization for Migration) in 2001 indicates that 65 percent of women engaged or trafficked in the sex trade are under the age of 30. 

An ARMINFO news release (15 June 2005) states that “Armenia is primarily a source and transit country for women and girls trafficked for sexual exploitation mainly to the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and Turkey, as well as Russia, Greece, and other European countries.  Trafficking to Russia, Turkey and the U.A.E. for the purposes of labor exploitation was an increasingly significant problem, says the annual trafficking report of [the] U.S. State Department.” 

The news release also indicates that the Government of Armenia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so.  The release summarizes the anti-trafficking activities undertaken by police and Armenian non-governmental organizations (NGOs).   Failure to demonstrate significant progress by the end of 2005 could result in sanctions and loss of financial aid to the government.

II.    NEEDS ASSESSMENT

·        Need:  Recognizing the gravity of the problem, on July 29, 2005, a proposed plan of action for combating the trafficking of Armenian women and girls from Armenia was presented to His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.  The plan was based on the investigative work of Edik Bagdasarian and Ara K. Manoogian in Armenia and Dubai, as well as on subsequent research regarding human trafficking.  This resulted in the compilation of a resource manual on the subject.

His Eminence appointed a Diocesan Trafficking Task Force, which held its first two meetings under the chairmanship of Sylva Natalie Manoogian, on September 1 and 14, 2005.  The Task Force agreed that outreach, public awareness, monitoring and enforcing of legislation should be the first focus of the anti-human-trafficking initiative.  The following mission statement was drafted:

To investigate, assess and create counter-measures for the elimination and prevention of human trafficking of Armenians from the Republic of Armenia; and to insure that the Armenian government continues to implement and enforce the Anti-Trafficking National Action Plan, dated 15 January 2005.

In response to a letter sent to Southern California Armenian community organizations, on September 22, 2005, thirteen of them sent representatives to a meeting at Diocesan Headquarters and joined the Diocesan Anti-Human-Trafficking Coalition.  The following week, on September 27, 2005, the Diocesan Coalition became part of the City of Los Angeles Rescue and Restore Anti-Trafficking Campaign.  On October 14, 2005, the first of the training sessions offered through the Campaign was held.  Silva Katchiguian, Diocesan Task Force member, attended this session.

Objectives proposed in the Preliminary Diocesan Plan, presented on July 29, 2005, have been met as follows:

·        Objective 1:  Secure letter of invitation from Western Diocese Primate for Ara K. Manoogian, principal investigator and NKR representative of Shahan Natalie Manoogian Family Foundation

·        Objective 2:  Appointment of Western Diocese Coordinating Committee

·        Objective 3:  Scheduling of organizational meetings and informational workshop at Diocesan Headquarters

Project expenses of $ 4,230 were paid for by the Shahan Natalie Family Foundation, a California non-profit public benefit corporation.

Ara K. Manoogian, Diocesan Coalition representative in Armenia and Artsakh, recommended that an office be established in Yerevan to coordinate the work of the Coalition, including staffing for monitoring and supporting, where needed: all anti-human-trafficking activities in Armenia; judicial processes; repatriation and rehabilitation of victims; and public awareness and education programs.  It is on this recommendation that the following 2-year project component is based. 

III.  DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT

• Goals:  To help create counter-measures for the elimination and prevention of human trafficking of Armenians from the Republic of Armenia through the heightening of targeted public awareness to individuals and organizations with the potential for contributing and/or raising funds; and to assist the Republic of Armenia in the implementation of the Anti-Trafficking National Action Plan, adopted 15 January 2004.

• Objectives:

15 November to 31 December 2005

• Objective 1:  Identify and rent office space in or near Yerevan; acquire office furniture and equipment through donation or purchase
• Objective 2:  Recruit, interview, and hire office staff
• Objective 3: Organize previously done work and establish office files
• Objective 4:  Develop strategic planning document, describing
  •  methodology and timetable (purpose, audience; information to be secured; data collection – surveys, document review; interviews; focus groups); data analysis
  • monitoring and evaluation plans
  • other and future funding
  • capacity building to assure self-sufficiency

January to December 2006; January to December 2007

• Objective 5: Identify new sources of funding
• Objective 6: Develop new project components; write and submit new grant proposals
• Objective 7: Hold weekly staff meetings
• Objective 8: Develop detailed monitoring plan for media, economic development, educational, cultural and spiritual institutions, government offices, and NGO’s
• Objective 9: Schedule visitations to children’s homes and orphanages
• Objective 10: Schedule periodic press conferences
• Objective 11: Conduct monthly, quarterly, and annual evaluations, and modify activities accordingly