UNIFEM: Call for Proposals

Campaign Against Women Trafficking for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup

Introduction:

The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) is a Women’s Fund that provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies that promote women’s human rights, political participation and economic security. Placing the realisation of women’s human rights and security is at the centre of all its efforts. In all its actions, UNIFEM is guided by its Strategic Plan 2008-2011 one of its objectives is to reduce prevalence of violence against women (VAW) in both stable and fragile states. UNIFEM has been at the forefront of advocacy efforts, brokering partnerships, inter-agency collaboration and pioneering approaches to respond to violence against women in a wide range of countries and settings. In addition, it is the administrator, on behalf of the UN System and the UN Trust Fund to Support Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women, as designated by the General Assembly in 1995.

The legal framework for ending violence against women has been significantly strengthened over the past two decades. The Secretary-General’s report,  In-depth Study on all Forms of Violence Against Women indicated that 89 countries now have some form of legal provision against domestic violence and 93 on trafficking in persons, 90 against sexual harassment and in 104 countries, marital rape may be prosecuted. In 2008, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched “UNite”, a multi-year campaign that aims to secure political will and increase resources to end violence against women and girls; galvanise world opinion to ensure action at the highest level; and to engage men leaders and mobilise men and boys in the fight to end violence against women.

More recently, and in support to “Unite” Campaign, The African Union has also launched the African Wide Campaign on Violence against Women, which is proposed to serve as the regional component of the Secretary-General’s global initiative. The ultimate aim of the campaign is to mobilise and support governments in fulfilling their commitment to ending violence against women and girls, as well as to empower women and their communities in stopping gender-based violence and demanding accountability. 

Background

An important dimension of Violence against women (VAW) is trafficking. A Global Report on Trafficking in Persons launched by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has provided new information on this concern. Based on data gathered from 155 countries, it offers the first global assessment of the scope of human trafficking and what is being done to fight it. According to the Report, the most common form of human trafficking (79%) is sexual exploitation. The victims of sexual exploitation are predominantly women and girls. Surprisingly, in 30% of the countries which provided information on the gender of traffickers, women make up the largest proportion of traffickers. In some parts of the world, women trafficking women has since become a common place. The second most common form of human trafficking is forced labour (18%).

The “Palermo Protocol” entered into force in 2003 and derived from the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime known as the “Palermo Convention” defines “trafficking in persons” as the “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or gratifications to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation… ” The scope of exploitation was defined in the 4th Article to include, at a minimum, the exploitation of prostitutes or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.” The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women CEDAW states, in its article 6, that “States Parties shall take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to suppress and combat all forms of women trafficking”.

Justification

The rational/justification for the call for proposals on the campaign against women trafficking before and during the  2010 World Cup  is three fold:
1.) The resolve to launch campaign against women trafficking is in line with UNIFEM SRO annual strategy under its Work Plan Activity 8.2ai: “To advocate with national authorities for campaign on ending violence against women in the 2010 Soccer World Cup including the Secretary General Campaign .” A key aspect of the SG campaign is to step up effort in increasing public awareness, political will and resources for preventing and responding to violence against women and girls.

2.) To increase understanding and knowledge for the prevention of trafficking amongst vulnerable communities as well as to enable policy makers and practitioners to respond more effectively to human trafficking within national borders and across the region in view of the 2010 World Cup. The goal is to prevent the violation of the rights of women and children through human trafficking, exploitation and abuse before, during and after the FiFA soccer World Cup.

3.) The campaign to prevent women trafficking is in line with UN Global Advocacy to secure high level of political commitment from Head of states, ministers, mayors and as well civil society organisations to contribute in more effective ways to end violence against women and girls. Among the five key outcomes identified in the Framework for Action as benchmarks for the Campaign to be achieved in all countries by 2015 is the: Adoption and enforcement of national laws to address and punish all forms of violence against women and girls, in line with international human rights standards and; Establishment of national and/or local campaigns through the engagement of a diverse range of civil society actors in preventing violence and in supporting women and girls who have been abused.

General Objective:

To advocate with national authorities and other stakeholders to collaborate in the campaign to prevent Violence Against Women particularly in light of the FIFA 2010 World Cup event and the SG campaign.

Specific Objectives:

1. To raise sufficient awareness on women trafficking among the general public with the view to reduce vulnerability of potential victims through access to information on trafficking from a human rights perspective by the use of booklets and other reading materials. 
2. At the national level, it seeks to launch an advocacy campaign in countries of the Southern Africa Region that calls for:

• Signature / Domestication / Implementation of international commitments on trafficking. 
• Review of national legislation with a view to enacting domestic laws making human trafficking a criminal offence (Article 5 Palermo Protocol)  
• Allocation of national resources to prevent women trafficking 
• To ensure multidimensional protection for survivors of human trafficking ensuring accessible reporting mechanisms.

3. At the regional level the campaign is poised to intensify the call on Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) member states to step up coordination against trafficking in view of women’s rights as articulated in SADC Gender Protocol. 

Focus:  The proposal may address policy/legislative framework through an advocacy campaign.

The legal framework is predicated on the following:

• UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (Palermo Convention) which was signed by 117 countries and serves to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children. The Palermo Protocol was ratified in the Southern Africa region by eight SADC member states.
• SADC Protocol on Free Movement of Persons
• CEDAW Part I, Article 6 which states inter-alia ‘states parties shall take all appropriate measures including legislation to suppress all forms of traffic in women and exploitation of prostitution of women.
• SADC Gender Protocol
• African Women’s Protocol
• ILO Convention on the Protection of the Right of all Migrant Workers and their Families (ICRMW) 1990.

The advocacy campaign is located within the context of a rigorous media campaign leading to an increased public awareness and social mobilisation to prevent women trafficking before, during and after the 2010 World Cup event. This will involve the production of campaign-promotional materials and policy-oriented advocacy at all levels. In all cases, emphasis will be placed on demonstrating clear expected results and how they will be achieved. Proposals must summarise knowledge to be produced coupled with a clear indication on how the intervention will be documented and evaluated, and its results disseminated needs to be addressed in the proposal.  The funds will be made to available to those organisations that have already developed a campaign strategy for which our funds would used to augment the process of implementation.

Key Activities

I. To advocate with national authorities for sensitisation and campaign on ending Violence against Women and girls in the 2010 FIFA soccer world Cup.
II. To sensitise the general public on the menace of women trafficking as way of prevention.
III. To launch a media campaign to raise awareness on women trafficking.

Outcomes

1. A complete report on activities implemented highlighting the gains of the campaign, knowledge disseminated, group (men and women) targeted, and the sustainability of the actions taken.
2. Compile a list of other organisations or institutions that have supported the campaign.
3. Elucidate viable recommendations to UNIFEM on steps /actions necessary for strengthening on going efforts to fight women trafficking and other forms of abuses.

Budget and Duration of Proposals

The Budget available for the execution of this activity is US$30 000.  All proposals must be submitted two weeks from the day the call is issued. Note however that the proposal is for duration of 6 Months and reports are expected to be submitted not later than 15 of July 2010.

Who can apply?

Applications must come from government/authorities at all levels; civil society organisations and networks including non governmental organisations that are legally registered in the country of implementation and are working on/around issues of violence against women in the Southern Africa region.

Where and when to apply

All proposals should be submitted to UNIFEM Southern Africa regional Office (joseph.lengmang@unifem.org) on or before 10th of June 2009. Proposal received after the dateline will not be considered. Submission should be sent preferably by email.

Appraisal and Selection:

Appraisal of all submitted proposals would be based on the overall quality and results-oriented nature of the proposal amongst other requirements. The appraisal/selection process is normally two weeks after submission dateline.

Time Lines:

• Call Announcement: 25th May 2009
• Deadline for submission of proposals: 7th June 2009
• Selection/Appraisal Period: two weeks
• Announcement of a winner: 12 June 2009
• Contract award: 19 June 2009