Ethiopia: Raising Awareness To Combat Child Trafficking
Since 1989, the local NGO, Forum for Street Children (FSCE), has worked to prevent the exploitation and trafficking of Ethiopia’s vulnerable population of urban children. In collaboration with international NGOs and local and regional law enforcement, FSCE helped to establish Child Protection Units (CPU) in police stations in Addis Ababa and nine other towns countrywide. each CPU educates law enforcement officials on the rights of children and provides assistance to child victims of exploitation. Since 2000, FSCE has reunified over 1,000 trafficked and exploited street children with their families. As a result of FSCE awareness programs targeting the public transportation sector, staff at the Addis Ababa Central Bus Terminal now report possible child trafficking cases to local CPUs and free public transportation is being provided to reunify victimized children with their families in rural regions.

Panama: Pilot Program Takes Comprehensive Approach To Assist Victims
The Ministry of Social Development (MIDES), in cooperation with the International Labor Organization (ILO), initiated “Direct Action,” a pilot program aimed at proactively addressing trafficking in three neighborhoods known for problems with commercial sexual exploitation. Ninety-five adolescents who were victims of trafficking or were deemed “at risk” of becoming victims of trafficking participated in the program. In addition to medical and psychological care, participants were provided with formal education or vocational training. To alleviate economic hardship and attempt to eliminate this factor in trafficking vulnerability, MIDES provided support to adolescents and their families in the form of basic equipment to cook and sell empanadas and tamales. Phase Two of the program will monitor the progress of the participants and hopes to ensure none are victimized.