HumanTrafficking.org | Burma International Organization: Save the Children (UK)

A web resource for combating human trafficking

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Burma

Save the Children (UK)

Address

Save the Children
21 A/B, Kanyeiktha Lane
Kaba Aye Pagoda Road
Mayangone (10) Township
Yangon
Burma

Contact Information

If calling from Burma:

Tel: 01 662 137
Fax: 01 666 155

If calling from overseas:

Tel: +95 1 662 137
Fax: +95 1 666 155

Website

http://www.savethechildren.org.uk

Email

supporter.care@savethechildren.org.uk

Activities

Save the Children raises awareness about the dangers of child trafficking on the borders of China and Thailand, where more than a million young people have been lured by traffickers promising a better life. Save the Children tries to find children alternatives to exploitative labor by providing vocational training and information.

Save the Children is working to address the problem of child trafficking in Burma, China, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Their activities include:

educating children and families in border areas about the threat of trafficking
putting local pressure on traffickers to stop their activities
training children to make informed choices before they migrate for work, and raising awareness about sexual health and HIV/AIDS
helping to repatriate children who've been trafficked, and reintegrating them back into their families and communities.

Save the Children published: Small Dreams Beyond Reach: The Lives of Migrant Children and Youth Along the Borders of China, Myanmar and Thailand. (Caouette, Therese, 2004) part of the Participatory Action Research Project of Save the Children UK.

Breaking Through the Clouds. (Save the Children UK, May 2001) part of the Participatory Action Research (PAR) Project with Migrant Children and Youth Along the Borders of China, Burma and Thailand.

Save the Children established a Cross Border Community-based Initiative Against Trafficking in Children – and on HIV/AIDS.

2004

Save the Children UK Regional office organized a National Children's Forum for "Voices of Myanmar Children" in the context of Human Trafficking from 4-6 October 2004 in Yangon.

One of the objectives of the Forum was to provide children with an opportunity to share their experiences in trafficking and views on issues in trafficking.

Voices of the pounding hearts were concise, explicit and unequivocal.

"We are the girls that who are more vulnerable to trafficking then the boys."

"It was really dangerous and terrifying to reach the other country."

"It was disgusting for being arrested and deported after losing two hundred thousand Kyats for broker fees."

"We were at risks for being abused and exploited physically and mentally by various means. One might get hot ironing on the face. There is always the risk of being raped. One might be pushed into sex trade. It is also likely to be forced to work long hours, but pay nothing."

"Despite paying broker fees and travel cost, we have to travel on foot most of the time. Sometimes, we traveled on a very crowded vehicle. At times, we had to hide under the huge pipe."

"We have to do a lot of menial work that the others do not want to carry out, for example, clean the latrine three times a day."

"It is very important for parents to realize the fact that the bringing up children properly and care for and protection of children are their prime responsibility. If not, the children might be easily lured by the brokers. It becomes dangerous."

"If actions are to be taken seriously and effectively to brokers, then we can combat human trafficking."

The children from Burma, who attended the National Children's Forum for "Voices of Myanmar Children" in the context of Human Trafficking, conveyed their voices of the pounding hearts to the children of Mekong Region, who attended the Mekong Children's Forum. In the letter, they gave suggestions to the policy makers of the respective governments to adopt legislative and preventive measures to combat human trafficking. Furthermore, seven areas of implementation plans were also mentioned in the letter that was passed on to the children of Mekong Region.

The plans included were:

On the awareness raising activities on trafficking issues
On providing support to the families and community in the area
On ensuring economic development of countries concerned
On taking action against brokers involved in human trafficking
On cooperation with governments from other countries to facilitate in working with legal status