International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Government of Nepal have enlisted the support of private businesses to help 200 trafficking victims to regain their economic independence and reintegrate with their communities.

According to a statement released by IOM today, the Trafficking Risk Reduction in Nepal (TRRIN) project was launched in March 2010 and closes at the end of this month. Each partner has its own role: the government extends legal and infrastructure support; the corporate sector provides training, job placement and startup opportunities; NGOs give psychosocial counselling and day to day hand-holding and IOM is responsible for planning, coordination, implementation and monitoring.

Many beneficiaries supported through business startup and job placement opportunities left the NGO shelter where they first lived post-trafficking. They now live independently and have successfully re-integrated into society and are supporting their families with sustainable income.

One of the key achievements of the project was the involvement of the private sector in the successful economic rehabilitation of the survivors and potential victims of trafficking. The private sector was encouraged to participate in the project through series of workshops entitled “Corporate Social Responsibility to Address Human Trafficking” organized jointly with the Ministry and the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The project – financed by the IOM Development Fund - partnered with 11 companies who provided training and/or job placement to the participants.

To mark the end of the project and capture its successes IOM is organizing a workshop for the key stakeholders from 18-19 July to share and learn from the experiences as well as sharing information on recent trends and dynamics of migration and trafficking. nepalnews.com