Protecting Trafficked Children
According to research, human trafficking is the world’s 3rd most profitable illicit market worth around 32 billion USD each year 1; only illegal drugs and arms trafficking earn more money for organised criminals 2. There are now more human slaves than ever before in history; it is estimated that between 10-30 million people are currently enslaved 3. Reports suggest that 50% of people trafficked across boarders are children 4.
In Indonesia an estimated 100,000 children are thought to be trafficked each year, although the realistic figure might be much higher 5. These children are forced into child labour, child prostitution, held in exploitative orphanages, or sold through phony adoption agencies. Some are trafficked in-country, usually from the poorer islands to the larger cities such as Surabaya or Jakarta. Others are sent to ‘buyer’ countries which include Japan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia 6. Many trafficked children are held as child prostitutes for domestic markets whilst others are destined for the sex tourism industry. Most research studies agree that around 30% of all prostitutes in Indonesia are children.
If and when child victims are identified by the police there are very few refuges to send the children to where they will be safe and receive appropriate therapeutic support, instead most are sent to orphanages which are ill equipped to support their complex needs or challenging behaviours.
References
- International Labour Organisation
- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
- Freetheslaves.net
- U.S. Department of State on the Trafficking in persons report, 2007
- Unicef, Ecpat 2010
- The trafficking of women and children in Indonesia by Ruth Rosenburg
Sacred Childhoods is joining a new coalition designed to bring together a wide range of individuals and agencies who are in a position to combat child trafficking, child prostitution, and child sex tourism specifically.
Sacred Childhoods also plans to start a prevention program in 2012 which will work to raise awareness on the islands most targeted by human traffickers. But it is also vital that a safe and therapeutic refuge is created so that children who have been rescued have somewhere to go where they can recover from their traumatic experiences.
So Sacred Childhoods is creating ‘The Sanctuary’, a small eco village in a remote area of Bali. The eco village (built from recycled wood, bamboo and other environmentally friendly materials) will include 5-6 traditional wooden houses for the children to live in, 3 small staff houses, a school, a therapy studio, a workshop, a medical clinic, a large communal living room and kitchen, and extensive gardens incorporating organic vegetable plots, wild flower and herbal gardens, space for mediation, and play areas.
The children will be paired up with an Indonesia foster mother and live together in groups of 4 or 5 children per house. The foster mothers will provide 24 hour loving support and nurture to the children, alongside a team of Western and Indonesian therapists, teachers, and support workers. It is expected that the children will live at The Sanctuary for approximately 3 years whilst they regain a sense of psychological and spiritual balance, deal with any physical health issues, and become integrated back into society. The team will make efforts to reunite the child with his/her family if and when it is appropriate for that individual child, and continue to support the child long term in the best possible way.
The Sanctuary is currently under construction (two houses and the wall have already been built) but a further £100,000 is needed to complete the building project. The annual running costs will be high since we are commited to providing the best possible support to the children, including an abundance of western and Indonesian traditional and holistic therapists, special-trained teachers, full medical support, and a high level of security.
We are inviting larger NGOs, companies and private individuals to contribute to the building costs and/or annual running costs. A full financial report outlining what is required can be viewed on the 'Funding' pages; simply go to 'Sanctuary Budgets'. A more detailed report on Child Trafficking in Indonesia can viewed on the 'Resources' page under 'Reports'.
If you would like to donate directly to this project please follow the DONATE button and put 'The Sanctuary' as your reference so that we can ensure it is directed to this project. If you would like to sponsor one of the buildings at The Sanctuary, such as one of the small houses that the children will live in, please email us to discuss this further.
