Understanding Vulnerabilities and Strengthening Response: Community-based integration of anti-trafficking and human rights protections within post-earthquake recovery efforts in Sindhupalchok District, Nepal August-December 2015

Recognising the increased risk of violence, abuse and trafficking in earthquake-hit areas, Swatantrata Abhiyan, Gramin Mahila Srijanseel Parivar and Free the Slaves Nepal carried out action research following the earthquakes, with important technical and financial support from the Freedom Fund. The research aimed to understand changes in the dynamics or extent of human trafficking and other violence and abuse in the context of the disaster. The project aimed to strengthen community-based protection mechanisms and learn more about what results could be achieved through such mechanisms to prevent trafficking and violence. It explored whether frontline workers living in the area, themselves deeply affected by the disaster, could be consulted and trained during the aftermath, and what practical actions they would undertake as a result.

The research found that the participants could provide valuable information on increased vulnerability to human trafficking, and could point to causes and risk factors including inadequate relief supplies, unsafe shelters, uncertain futures, delayed processing of government recovery assistance and the lack of information on relief services. The resulting desperation combined with unrestricted access to the affected populations offered an opportunity for organised traffickers. By sharing these pieces of information with each other, they generated the training content as the workshops unfolded.

The action research results make a compelling case for a more deliberate and rapid focus by humanitarian relief agencies on consultation with and training of frontline, community-based workers – even if these fieldworkers are themselves profoundly affected by the disaster.