PARC

Trafficking: Prevention & Awareness-Raising Campaign (PARC)

Since 1999, IOM’s counter-trafficking programme in BiH provides protection to trafficked human beings through its shelter network, and promotes prevention by raising public awareness of trafficking. IOM’s previous prevention activities have raised awareness of the issue of trafficking in BiH by training media on reporting trafficking issues, portraying the risks and dangers of trafficking, providing information on services available to trafficked human beings, and distributing reproductive health information to victims of trafficking and BiH youth. IOM also builds the capacity of the Government and local NGOs to manage counter-trafficking activities and facilitate the prosecution of traffickers.

THE PARC CAMPAIGN

The PARC campaign aimed to prevent trafficking by providing information on the risks and pitfalls of trafficking. Another activity included providing information to target groups on the transmission and spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Infections (STDs/STIs) and HIV/AIDS.

PARC targeted:

BiH youth aged 6 to 10
groups at risk, particularly those aged 11-25
users of sexual services (“clients”) aged 18-46
victims of trafficking
media professionals
local authorities working with victims of trafficking and
general public.

In implementation of the Prevention and Awareness Raising Campaign, IOM co-operated with the BiH State Coordinator for Counter-Trafficking and Illegal Immigration, the Ministry of Security BiH, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, the Ministries of Internal Affairs in the Federation BiH, Republika Srpska and Brčko District, and local NGOs.

PARC PHASES

PREPARATION PHASE (May to August 2004)

IOM conducted pre-campaign research to determine the target group’s information needs through nation-wide surveys, focus groups and informal interviews. IOM then developed a strategy based on the results of the pre-campaign research. A steering committee was developed to provide suggestions and approve campaign materials and to facilitate co-ordination among PARC partners.

IMPLEMENTATION PHASE (Sept. 2004 to March 2005)

IOM officially launched the PARC campaign. For seven months, IOM raised awareness of trafficking with the mass media by broadcasting television clips and radio jingles, printing newspaper and magazine advertisements and conducting a seminar for media professionals on reporting trafficking issues. IOM distributed information materials such as billboards, posters, leaflets, sugar bags, key holders, mobile phone holders and coasters. IOM also promoted the SOS Hotline for the assistance to victims of trafficking. Finally, IOM carried out education outreach activities by conducting seminars in schools, distributing brochures and producing a documentary.

Two messages on mobile phone/key - holders:

DO NOT TRADE WITH YOUR LIFE!
YOU ARE NOT FOR SALE!

WATCH OUT! so you are not…
deceived, sold, beaten, raped, humiliated, used, wiped out
DO NOT TRADE WITH YOUR LIFE!

“70 % Clients of Trafficked Victims are Nationals from BiH.
ARE YOU ONE OF THEM?”

CHILDREN BEAWARE!
Traffickers in human beings might be looking at you!
YOU ARE NOT FOR SALE

Follow-Up Phase (April 2005 to May 2005)

IOM conducted post-campaign research and compared the results with the pre-campaign research in order to evaluate the impact of the campaign’s messages. IOM also evaluated the campaign in a final report.

PARC Media Presentation on 18 August 2005

PARC PARTERNSHIP ACTIVITIES WITH NGOs

IOM worked closely with its NGO partners to prepare, implement and follow-up PARC.

STEERING COMMITTEE: The steering committee consisted of IOM, government and NGO representatives. The 3 NGO representatives represented the PARC partner NGOs by communicating campaign developments, reviewing campaign materials and providing suggestions.

EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS: NGOs developed and implemented counter-trafficking lectures in elementary and secondary schools. These seminars targeted students, parents, teachers, school management, school psychologists and school counsellors by raising awareness of the risks of trafficking, including STDs/STIs and HIV/AIDS. A special lecture was designed for elementary school children in grades 1-4.

EDUCATIONAL BROCHURES:
At the educational seminars, NGOs distributed the PARC educational brochures and answered any questions regarding the brochures.

Educational Cartoon for Children

From home to school – from school to home

DEAR CHILDREN,

In our country, there are a lot of men and women who are stealing children.

They give to child a candy (sweets) and promise to take him/her to playground or ZOO. If child goes with them, they steal him/her and take him/her far, far away from his/her mother and father (mom and dad). So far that nobody could never find him/her.

AND THAT'S WHY, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE IN MIND/REMEMBER WHAT YOU SHOULD NEVER DO FROM HOME TO SCHOOL AND FROM SCHOOL TO HOME:

DO NOT enter the car if you do not no people in it!
DO NOT take anything from people (men and women) you do not know!
DO NOT go anywhere with people you do not know/unknown men and women!

If you are approached by unknown men and women, on your way from school to home or home to school, IMIDIATELY tell that to your mother, father or teacher!

YOU ARE NOT FOR SALE!
AND REMEMBER,
without you, smiles on the faces of your mother and father would not be there!

Educational brochure for youth

I have lived with my mother and father.
I was third grade of secondary school.
I met a boy...
...and fell in love with him.

After few moths of dating, he invited me to spend couple of days at the weekend house of his relatives in Croatia.

My parents knew him...
...and they allowed me to go.
When we arrived to Croatia, he locked me in a house.
He was no longer that nice guy that I fell in love with.
Hours of beating and raping followed.
I was locked in a room and I could not call my parents.
After three days, my boyfriend sold me to unknown man…
...who took me at night through woods to another country.
He sold me to the owner of the bar...
...who locked me as well.
I was locked in that room with no food and water
....and unknown men were coming and going.
Once they forgot to lock the door, and I run out from that house and continue running until I saw a police car.
They returned me home.

I found out that I spent eight months in that hell.

FINAL REPORT: At the end of the campaign, NGOs evaluated the impact of the education seminars, educational brochures and other campaign activities by providing feedback to IOM in a written report.

PARC OBJECTIVES

Develop specific means of information, using a gender perspective, in order to influence the target groups’ perception of trafficking and discourage the use of irregular means of migration;
Increase an understanding about the risks and consequences of trafficking of girls and women;
Inform trafficked victims about their rights and available assistance and support;
Raise awareness of the general public on the issue of trafficking for forced prostitution;
Educate policy makers, law enforcement officers, the State Border Service officers and members of civil society on proper identification of trafficking victims;
Address the demand-side of the trafficking process by raising awareness of potential clients, including the international community;
Educate the media about ethical, accurate and gender sensitive reporting, as well as about their responsibility in preventing trafficking; and
Provide an educational campaign about the risk of STDs and HIV/AIDS infection which will further facilitate an essential component of informing those individuals involved in trafficking, including the victims and users of sexual services.

PARC RESULTS

Demonstrated increases in awareness of the plight of trafficked women and counter-trafficking services offered to them amongst the target groups in BiH;
Increased national awareness among the target groups about trafficking of girls and women for the purpose of sexual exploitation;
Increased understanding among clients of trafficking of girls and women;
Increased referrals through the SOS line;
Completed analysis of the research findings and comparison to previous research performed by IOM, resulting in an increased understanding of societal patterns.

DONORS:

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency (SIDA)

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