ELECTRNIC 2014 ECUADOR Between its inception in October 2007 and its completion in September 2013, the Integrated Municipal Development Programme - PIDEM, funded by the United States Agency for International Development - USAID and implemented by the International Organization for Migration - IOM, fulfilled its goal of improving the living conditions of the populations on Ecuador s northern border by providing a social and productive infrastructure, benefitting both persons seeking international protection as well as members of the host communities. With the completion of PIDEM and in accordance with the procedure for closing the project, USAID instructed IOM to donate the vehicles belonging to the project to various non-governmental organizations whose work focuses on the welfare of the most vulnerable people and the care of the environment, both aligned with the PIDEM mandate On Wednesday September 17, in the presence of Christopher Cushing, Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), IOM Ecuador undertook the official presentation of four vehicles from the Integrated Municipal Development Programme - PIDEM, that were donated to Fundación Hermano Miguel, Corporación Kimirina, Centro Internacional para la Investigación del Fenómeno del Niño (CIIFEN) and Fondo para la Protección del Agua (FONAG). The event was also attended by Argentina Santacruz, Officer in Charge of IOM; Rocio Cedeño and Sara Bustamante of USAID; and representatives of each of the beneficiary organizations: Elba Fiallo of CIIFEN, Xavier Pico and Patricia Cordero of Corporación KIMIRINA, María de Lourdes Iza and Gina Proaño of FONAG, and María Eugenia Paredes and Veronica Suárez of the Hermano Miguel Foundation During this poignant ceremony, the beneficiaries thanked USAID in Ecuador for the contribution and expressed their gratitude to IOM for providing the four vehicles that will surely be of great use. Meanwhile, Christopher Cushing expressed his appreciation for IOM s work undertaken through PIDEM and reiterated the commitment of USAID to local development 1. Christopher Cushing (USAID) and Argentina Santacruz (OIM) with the representatives of FONAG, Corporación Kimirina, Fundación Hermano Miguel and CIIFEN. 2. The representatives of each organization with their respective vehicles. 3. Christopher Cushing and Argentina Santacruz give each NGO its donated vehicle. DID YOU KNOW THAT.... between 2007 and 2013, IOM Ecuador, through PIDEM, executed a total of 208 social and productive infrastructure works, benefiting more than 160,000 people on Ecuador s northern and southern borders, investing a total of $ 31,558,601.42, generously funded by the United States Agency for International Development, USAID
Editorial IOM ECUADOR SUPPORTS THE ECUADORIAN GOVERNMENT IN COMBATTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING - INTERAGENCY COORDINATION AREA Human trafficking is a serious violation of human rights and a crime against freedom and dignity. An estimated 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year and this criminal activity ranks as the second most lucrative trade in the world, slightly less than drug trafficking. Since 2006 and with funding from several donors, IOM Ecuador has provided technical assistance to the Ecuadorian Government in combating human trafficking. The Programme Against Human Trafficking seeks to contribute to the implementation of the National Plan to Combat Human Trafficking in the areas of: 1) prevention, 2) integral protection, 3) investigation and sanctions, and; 4) interagency coordination. Since its inception the Programme has worked intensively in the area of interagency coordination and since July 2006 has formed part of the Quito Anti-Trafficking Network, a human-rights focused group of public and civil society institutions that fights against the crime of human trafficking in Quito. As part of this network, IOM has been involved in various initiatives, ranging from coordinating cases of human trafficking to the undertaking of various events to commemorate the International Day Against Human Trafficking Beginning in 2011, the Programme concentrated on the need to strengthen the various networks that are working against this crime at local level. The upshot was that as from 2011, the Programme has sought to strengthen four local networks: the Lago Agrio Anti-Trafficking Bureau, the Imbabura Human Mobility Bureau, the Network for the Integral Protection of Rights of the Canton of Guamote and the Integral Children, Adolescents and Youth Welfare Network of Colta (REDBINACJ). Our strategy was not to create specific bureaux or networks against human trafficking but, rather, to insert ourselves into stronger local networks that work on related issues. In January 2012, IOM provided technical assistance to reactivate and strengthen the Lago Agrio Anti-Trafficking Bureau, which had previously operated from 2006 to 2008 before being followed by a period of inactivity. This is now one of the strongest local networks combatting human trafficking and that takes actions against this crime in Ecuador. Within the Bureau framework, IOM has been able to strengthen its initiatives. Consequently both the Canton Agenda Against Human Trafficking and the Municipal Ordinance were constructed in an Anti-Trafficking Bureau interagency operation involving the Municipality of Lago Agrio and IOM In 2011, IOM joined the Imbabura Human Mobility Bureau (MMHI) that seeks to safeguard the rights of the population within the context of human mobility in the province and to generate systemic changes that promote social integration. The MMHI was set up in July 2010 under the leadership of the Office of the Ombudsman. In November 2011, IOM, together with other institutions, established the MMHI Anti-Human Trafficking Area. Through this space, IOM has been able to articulate its actions for designing public policies with the province s three Municipalities: Ibarra, Cotacachi and Otavalo Also, in 2011 IOM joined the Network for the Integral Protection of Rights of the Canton of Guamote and the Integral Children, Adolescents and Youth Welfare Network of Colta (REDBINAJ). Through these two local networks, the Programme has been able to work with public and private institutions in the construction of local policies against trafficking
photois a courtesy of the National Assembly) IOM ECUADOR IN NATIONAL FORUM ON THE ROLE OF DAGS IN THE SPHERE OF HUMAN MOBILITY IOM Ecuador participated in the National Forum on the "Role of Decentralized Autonomous Governments in the sphere of Human Mobility: public policy and regulatory framework", organized by the Standing Specialized Committee on Citizen Participation and Social Control of the National Assembly of Ecuador, with the support of the Consortium of Autonomous Provincial Governments of Ecuador (CONGOPE), the Decentralized Autonomous Governments (DAG) in the provinces of Pichincha and Imbabura, and the Office the Ombudsman of Ecuador. The event was attended by representatives of various social organizations, Ecuadorians living overseas, returned migrants, refugees and people in varying states of mobility, as well as provincial DAG, canton and parish authorities. Several local governments presented their best practices on issues of human mobility, including two projects in the provinces of Imbabura and Pichincha funded by the European Union and the Swiss Agency for Development within the framework of the Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI) - a global programme led by UNDP in collaboration with IOM, ILO, UN Women and UNFPA and UNHCR - which focuses on the local dimension of the contribution of migrants to development. One role for Provincial Governments proposed by the Prefects is the generation of public policies for managing human mobility in the territories, which would promote the good practices of Pichincha and Imbabura in the other provinces. The event also included a contribution from Diego Zorrilla, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System Ecuador, on the social inclusion of people in situations of Human Mobility and the right to migrate from an international perspective. PRESENTATION OF THE ACTIVITIES REPORT IN THE IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK OF THE CANTON AGENDA FOR THE PREVENTION AND PUNISHMENT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE INTEGRAL PROTECTION FOR VICTIMS IN THE CANTON OF LAGO AGRIO After three years of work in the canton of Lago Agrio, on Friday August 29 IOM Ecuador, together with the Municipal Decentralized Autonomous Government (DAG) of the Canton of Lago Agrio and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), organized an event to inform the public as well as key stakeholders on the activities undertaken to implement the Canton Agenda for the Prevention and Punishment of Human Trafficking and the Integral Protection of Victims 2013-2017 IOM has been present in Lago Agrio since 2011 and one of the programme s greatest achievements has been reactivating the Lago Agrio Anti-Trafficking Bureau in January 2012 The Anti-Trafficking Bureau is a network comprising both public and private actors and is one of the most active local networks at nationwide level seeking to combat this crime. Another notable programme success was the setting up of the Canton Agenda for the Prevention and Punishment of Human Trafficking and the Integral Protection for Victims in the Canton of Lago Agrio that was approved in November 2013. During this time, the Programme has supported the Municipal DAG in implementing the Canton Agenda. One of the key activities was providing technical support to the Municipality for the participatory development of a Draft Ordinance to help combat human trafficking Top: Christopher Cushing (USAID), Rogelio Bernal (OIM), Flor Jumbo (Deputy Mayor Lago Agrio), Vinicio Vega (Mayor of Lago Agrio), Yadi Gómez (President of the Municipal Patronage of Lago Agrio), Miryam Guarnizo (Coord. Anti-Trafficking Bureau of Lago Agrio), and Kerly Jordan (Coord. Network for Rights Protection of de Lago Agrio). Bottom: Rogelio Bernal hands the Draft Ordinance to Mayor Vinicio Vega. This event was attended by 74 representatives from public institutions, international development agencies and social organizations working locally that comprise the Anti-Trafficking Bureau of the Canton of Lago Agrio. Leading the event were the Mayor Vinicio Vega, the Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Commission on Equality and Gender of the Municipal DAG, Flor Jumbo, the Director of USAID Christopher Cushing, IOM Chief of Mission in Ecuador Rogelio Bernal, the Coordinator of the Anti-Trafficking Bureau Myriam Guarnizo, as well as authorities and delegates of both canton and provincial institutions. The highlight of the event was the speech by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Municipal DAG who reaffirmed their commitment to the adoption of the Ordinance for the Prevention and Eradication of Human Trafficking and the Integral Protection for Victims of this crime in the canton in the second and final debate
PRESENTATION OF THE ACTIVITIES REPORT IN THE IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK OF THE CANTON AGENDA FOR THE PREVENTION AND PUNISHMENT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE INTEGRAL PROTECTION FOR VICTIMS IN THE CANTON OF SANTO DOMINGO CULTURAL ORIENTATION FOR DENMARK On September 27, an informative talk was provided at the UNHCR offices for 85 refugees who were interviewed by the Danish Immigration Service last May and have been accepted for resettlement in this country. The talk took place during the Danish Cultural Orientation and was offered to this group of people who will be traveling in late October. During the event, the group was provided with full details of their journeys, the documents they will need to take and information on their respective destinations. In short, they were informed on the entire process up to the day of their departure, the intention being to reduce the anxiety and stress that the trip may cause DHS CIRCUIT INTERVIEWS IN THE RSC Between September 8 and 25, 3 DHS (Department of Homeland Security) officers -a leader and two refugee officers, conducted interviews in 90 cases/162 individuals who had been previously processed by the RSC. As of the date of preparing this article, the results of the adjudication interviews are still partial. However, the recognition rate has been much higher than previous circuit interviews. The RSC expects that approved applicants will be traveling to the United States in early 2015, after completing processes involving medical examinations, cultural orientation, and security checks. On August 26, an event was held to present the activities report in the implementation framework of the Canton Agenda for the Prevention and Punishment of Human Trafficking and the Integral Protection for Victims 2013-2015, in the canton of Santo Domingo One of the significant activities in implementing the Agenda was the participatory construction of the proposed Draft Municipal Ordinance for the Prevention and Eradication of Human Trafficking and the Integral Protection of Victims The idea behind the proposed Draft Municipal Ordinance for the Prevention and Eradication of Human Trafficking and the Integral Protection of Victims of this crime is to be an instrument of local legislation that addresses this serious problem within the context of the following areas: a) prevention; b) victim care and protection; c) cooperation with the competent authorities for the investigation and punishment of the crime; and, d) restoration of rights The event was attended by 125 people, including representatives of public institutions, international development agencies and social organizations working locally. Leading the event were the Mayor Victor Manuel Quirola, the Deputy Mayor Ruth Almeida and several councilors. The keynote speech was given by the Executive Secretary of the Canton Council for the Protection of Rights of Santo Domingo, Nalda Bustamante, who described the process of developing the Draft Ordinance in the canton, with technical assistance provided by IOM. Mrs. Ratified her commitment to obtain approval for the Ordinance by the local authorities. Top: Rogelio Bernal (OIM) hands the Draft Oridnance to Mayor Victor Manuel Quirola. Bottom: Rogelio Bernal (OIM), Isabel Santillán (USAID), Victor Manuel Quirola (Mayor of Santo Domingo) and several councillors listen to the activities report.
IOM ECUADOR IN THE CYBERCRIME AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING SEMINAR ORGANIZED BY THE IOM REGIONAL OFFICE FOR SOUTH AMERICA AND INTERPOL PRESENTATION OF NATIONAL AGENDA FOR EQUALITY IOM participated in the "Presentation of the National Equality Agendas" event held by the Ecuadorian Government and organized by the National Secretary of Planning and Development (SENPLADES) along with other state agencies such as the National Assembly and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility. The event presented five Equality Agendas comprising national policies and guidelines for equality in the areas of: gender, disabilities, nationalities and peoples, intergenerational aspects, and human mobility. The Equality Agenda for Human Mobility, designed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, has a broad framework for action to guarantee the rights and inclusion of migrants in Ecuador, the defense of Ecuadorians abroad and assistance for returnees. To implement this agenda, IOM offered all the available support to the Ecuadorian Government. On August 28 and 29, a Seminar on Cybercrime and Human Trafficking was held within the framework of the INTERPOL South American Working Group. This seminar sought to learn more about the links between new technologies, cybercrime and human trafficking Approximately 50 specialists, including the police, prosecutors and cybercrime experts from all over South America and the focal points against human trafficking from IOM Colombia, IOM Paraguay, IOM Chile and IOM Ecuador met in Buenos Aires, Argentina to exchange experiences with key international experts, such as representatives of Facebook, the Polaris Project, the Technology and Trafficking in Persons Research Project and the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children Although no overall statistics are available on the links between new technologies and human trafficking, police and technicians working in the cases have confirmed that criminals involved in this felony are increasingly turning to technology to recruit and even control their victims Perpetrators of the crime of human trafficking exploit people searching for better job opportunities or wishing to study, recruiting potential victims through false offers overseas. In today s interconnected world, most hiring is undertaken through internet Human trafficking is an organized crime and, as such, has always had links with cybercrime. However, the community combatting human trafficking has only recently begun to analyze how new technologies, particularly social networks, can be used to identify and protect victims and support police investigations MIMOSA MAD SUPER WEB USER TRAINING PRE-SCREENING MISSION IN IBARRA Two RSC officials undertook a mission to Ibarra, province of Imbabura, from September 8 to 12, 2014. During the week the RSC team interviewed 9 families and a total of 31 people, residents in the provinces of Imbabura and Carchi. The RSC conducts interviews in United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees offices, thus facilitating travel for families living far from Quito. The 16 cases processed in the mission will be interviewed by the DHS during the next circuit in November this year. In Bogotá, from September 9 to 11, training was provided on the MiMOSA system for the Migrant Assistance Division (MAD) with the participation of colleagues from IOM Colombia, IOM Peru, IOM Ecuador and IOM Venezuela. The purpose of the training was to strengthen the capacity of the missions when using MIMOSA for cases of trafficking (CT) and voluntary return (AVRR), in order to: improve communication processes with missions handling AVRR projects in other regions, improve the visibility of the great work undertaken in our region with respect to reintegration and improve the process involving annual statistical reports with the Head Office. The challenge is to eventually have a MiMOSA MAD system where all missions enter CT and AVRR cases, enabling communication to be digitized, to the maximum extent possible, when managing cases and reports globally
Y Janeth Espinosa is living testimony to the importance of community awareness about the crime of human trafficking and its various forms. She has lived in Santo Domingo for 17 years, is a mother and is studying for a Degree in Education at the University of Guayaquil. She is also the Secretary of the University s Student Council GLOBAL COORDINATOR FOR CULTURAL ORIENTATION VISITS IOM QUITO Pindie Stephen, Senior Specialist in Immigration Training, Focal Point Integration and Global Cultural Orientation Coordinator, visited the Resettlement Support Center (RSC) in Quito from September 15 to 19. During her visit, she attended a 3- day CO session and assessed the materials provided and the methodology used, as well as making recommendations for improvements and sharing material of interest. Ms. Stephen met with RSC and UNHCR management to consider offering courses on basic English (as a second language) to refugees selected for resettlement. This issue needs to be analyzed at global IOM level. Pindie also gave a presentation to IOM Ecuador staff on "Migrant training and Integration. When asked about human trafficking in Santo Domingo, she recognizes that it is a problem, especially trafficking for prostitution and begging. Janeth explained how she, together with her university colleagues, provided help to a foreign child who was a victim of human trafficking. She also spoke about the situation of "girls of 13 and 14 working in brothels in remote villages around Santo Domingo". A group of her friends learned of "a very young girl working in a brothel and we went to investigate the case. In Manabi, her parents had reported her as missing, but we realized that the reality was different. When we asked her why this group of students is so involved with the cause, she explained that it is organized by her class in the university. "We are a group of 45 colleagues. I asked IOM to provide me with materials and we then handed them out (the information) in my class. I also invited the student leaders to attend." Hence, the interest and active participation of students in the fight against trafficking Janeth believes that the fight against human trafficking is "an obligation for all us mothers. I have grown up daughters and I see many cases. VISIT OF DAMAK REPORTS SUPERVISOR Alexey Susalev, Resettlement Programme Reports Supervisor to the United States of Damak, Nepal, visited Quito from September 15 to 26 to train the RSC Quito Reports Specialist. The training provided knowledge on best practices in Reporting Services on the SQL and WRAPS Server, including data protection and integrity, IT technical solutions, innovations, interfaces, SQL server management and data exchange technologies. In addition, Alexey helped install the filing software for RSC Quito, implement the barcode system, the File Tracking and participated in discussions to create reporting standards for the RSC Janeth recognizes that IOM has acted as a guide in developing this strong interest, "I was invited to a workshop, I liked it and I spread the word in the university." As a person and as a leader of her class, she explained that she would like to undertake a project and help people in need. Janeth recognizes that it is extremely important to educate the population and she likes to see that there is niche where she can contribute to the canton s community I very much appreciate IOM. I would love to become a little more involved and would appreciate their help with more in-depth seminars" on the subject.
LIFE STORY Jhon B. Andrade is a Colombian refugee who has been granted resettlement in Canada. After receiving Cultural Orientation in IOM, he is ready to set off for his new country. The following is an interview undertaken with Jhon B. while he was waiting to board his airplane CULTURAL ORIENTATION FOR CANADA During the last week of August and the first week of September, IOM Ecuador conducted two Cultural Orientations (CO) sessions for refugees to be resettled in Canada. The sessions, spread over 3 days, seek to familiarize participants about what will be their new country and culture, thus addressing their principal concerns regarding resettlement in Canada. The COs for Canada have been held in the IOM Quito offices since April 2013. The sessions provide useful information about the country, help refugees to form realistic expectations as well as positive feelings toward their new life in Canada. This month, the COA personnel also provided airport assistance to groups of refugees who traveled to Canada to help resolve potential problems for those flying for the first time (input which can be incorporated into the CO programme) and to check that the refugees remembered the information learned in the orientation sessions and to reinforce a positive attitude about the new life that awaits them Q: Today is the big day! How do you feel now that we ve passed through the security checks and migration, and are waiting for the boarding call? A: Happy, because I m going to a new world. Q: What aspect of being at the airport and the departure procedures surprised you most? A: What you have to go through and that they check everything. What s it called? Security point. I was surprised that so many things like knives, nail files and razors are in the trash can. It was full! Q: How do you think the COA session prepared you for today? A: A lot. A great deal because I now have an idea of what's going to happen, not only here in Quito but also at the airport there. I ve never flown in an airplane so the orientation provided me with information about what traveling is like. Q: Now that you are about to leave for Canada, what additional information would you have liked to have received during your COA session? A: Only to know exactly where I'm going. (During the session)... I didn t know where it was. Q: Now that you are boarding the plane, how do you feel about your experience in the resettlement process? A: I'm happy because I ve forgotten about the process and all the frustration I had. My big day has arrived. Q: How has the support been that you received from the people of IOM for your resettlement process? A: They are always providing information. As far as I m concerned it s been good. People have given me information directly and I m grateful to them for that. Also, the people who went before me didn t get the talk (cultural orientation session) and went blind into Canada. Q: What message would you give to others similarly situated and who are being assisted by IOM? A: Persistence because some people can t put up with it, they begin to despair. Patience is the thing. Q: What do you most expect after getting to Canada? A: Study. I haven t done any studying and I want to study to get a good job.