Young Lawyers, Gov’t Team Up to Aid Trafficking Victims
In April 2006, President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili signed the new Law on Fight against Human Trafficking, which introduced new approaches on trafficking in persons (TIP) victim assistance and established rules to guarantee better protection for TIP victims. The law also called for the creation of a new legal entity – the Fund to Support Trafficking Victims – to support social programs for TIP victims, which will be funded through a special line item that will be incorporated into the 2007 state budget.
Late last year, USAID entered into a three year, $600,000 cooperative agreement with the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), a Georgian NGO, to implement the “No to TIP” Program. The program’s aim is to combat human trafficking in Georgia by improving legislation and policy on trafficking; providing TIP victim protection and legal aid; developing trainings on trafficking-related issues for judges, legal aid bureaus, the Ombudsman’s Office, and NGOs; raising public awareness of TIP; and establishing Georgia’s first shelter for TIP victims.
In early April of 2006, USAID funds were used to begin renovating the new shelter. The shelter, which opened on July 20, 2006, serves up to ten trafficking victims at a time.
“What has been accomplished here in such a brief time is truly remarkable,” said Brock Bierman, USAID Bureau for Europe & Eurasia Chief of Staff, following a recent site visit of the renovated shelter. “It demonstrates not only the commitment that the Georgian people have in addressing this egregious problem, but also establishes anti-trafficking as a national priority.”
The operational expenses of the shelter will be fully funded by the “No to TIP” program for the first year. The government of Georgia, through its Fund to Support Trafficking Victims, has committed to begin funding the shelter’s operational costs in 2007, with gradual increases in subsequent years. It is anticipated that by the end of the “No to TIP” program (in 2008) the shelter will be fully funded by the state. NGOs will remain involved in the administration of the shelter.
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| USAID funded the renovation of Georgia’s first shelter for trafficking victims |
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