Gender and Development

Addressing Violence Against Women and Girls

RETA 6247: HIV/AIDS Vulnerability and Risk Reduction among Ethnic Minority Groups through Communication Strategies

Drug trafficking routes in the GMS provide easy access to illicit drugs and encourage behavior that makes individuals vulnerable and at high risk. A key approach to reducing HIV transmission among drug users is through communication efforts aimed at changing behaviors and practices.

RETA 6247 will address the increased risk of HIV/AIDS due to human trafficking and drug abuse. It will adopt a regional approach to tackling HIV/AIDS vulnerability and risk among populations living in cross-border areas in the subregion. One of the performance targets is an increased knowledge base among policy makers, government and other stakeholders. By creating awareness among ethnic minorities of the increased risks of HIV/AIDS due to human trafficking and drug abuse, the TA will equip ethnic minorities with the tools necessary for preventing HIV/AIDS.

The TA held workshops, interviews and focus group discussions, including on HIV/AIDS, safe migration/trafficking, drug use, and domestic violence. Some real-life stories were featured in a radio program.

RETA 6190: Preventing the Trafficking of Women and Children and Promoting Safe Migration in the GMS

Traditionally a high migration area, the GMS recently had improvements in connectivity that increased trafficking of migrants. Increasing migration of women and young people intensifies the risks of trafficking in illegal and exploitative work situations.

After the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing (1995), there has been increased international attention to the issue of trafficking. At a regional level, initiatives have been taken to promote intergovernment cooperation. At the national level, anti-trafficking legislation, establishment of anti-trafficking units within law enforcement agencies, prevention programs, and assistance to victims have taken place in GMS.

Yet despite these initiatives, no significant impact is being made on the trafficking issue for reasons such as: absence of a subregional agreement for intercountry collaboration against trafficking, lack of coordination, corruption, knowledge gaps, and lack of options for migrants who may be potential victims of trafficking. Legal and policy frameworks also encourage trafficking. Potential migrants who are unaware of laws, rules, and regulations covering migration; and lacking documentation, resources, and information, can fall prey to traffickers. They include women and children from poor areas and victims of abuse and violence.

Since human trafficking is among the risks associated with ADB's projects in the GMS, ADB must develop a better understanding of the issues of trafficking and the gender aspects of migration. ADB cannot do this in isolation. It is working with governments, NGOs and other development partners to reduce the social risks of mega projects. In particular, ADB is working with governments to support legal migration as a livelihood option for labor in the GMS.

The RETA is among ADB's efforts to develop pilot programs that can be replicated in the future, to deal effectively with risks of trafficking particularly in infrastructure and tourism projects. It aims to improve the safety and economic benefit of mobility of poor and vulnerable peoples in the GMS, especially women and children. NGOs are creating awareness on conditions leading to trafficking, risks and forms of trafficking, vulnerable groups, laws and penalties against trafficking, redress and support to victims, etc.

It is hoped that the RETA's findings will find their way into policy dialogue between ADB and DMCs with regards to better laws and policies against human trafficking, and stronger enforcement. Greater understanding and efforts are already found in more recent road and infrastructure projects. More improvements are likely as research findings gain more ground. One recommendation of the RETA is to emphasize the use of indigenous languages and cultural approaches to promote safe migration, such as through radio programming. The latter has been adopted by RETA 6247.

Loan 2172-BAN: Second Urban Primary Health Care Project

The Project aims to provide affordable health care to the urban poor, including service for victims of domestic violence. This project is limited to identifying victims, counseling and referrals.

The subsector analysis identifies victims of violence as one of the vulnerable urban populations. Women and adolescent girls suffer coercion, exploitation, and violence. The Project will address all these issues and explore ways to reduce their negative impacts on female health. The Project will provide legal counseling for women who are abused or under the threat of being abused. It will explore ways to empower women to protect themselves from such pressures.

Other project outputs in the GAP include: behavior change communication and marketing strategies to raise awareness on the health needs of women and girls; building capacity for local government divisions and NGOs in gender-sensitive targeting and monitoring; and policy support for gender-equity in urban primary healthcare projects.

Loan 1989-LAO: GMS-Northern Economic Corridor Project

The project will strengthen regional infrastructure linkages among Lao PDR, PRC, and Thailand. It is expected to employ large numbers of relatively well-paid men during the 3-year period of construction. In the long term, the road is expected to attract increasing numbers of businessmen, tourists, and truck drivers-all potential HIV vectors.

An HIV/AIDS/STD and Trafficking education and awareness program is being implemented by the Project. The program includes: (i) baseline survey on STD/HIV/AIDS and village populations to check the movement of people later on; (ii) formation of village monitoring groups; (iii) preventive education and awareness through peer education and training of trainers (beginning with the formation of core groups of village head, leaders of women's and youth groups); (iv) behavior, communication, and change awareness, including preparation of information, education and communication materials; and (v) STD Services/health clinics on construction sites, including condom promotion and distribution, drugs for treatment, revolving drug funds.

TA 4453-VIE: Supporting the Preparation of the Law on Gender Equality

Trafficking in women and children, migration, and gender-based violence, while addressed under the relevant laws in Viet Nam, are not dealt with in a comprehensive and unified manner.

The TA supported the Government in developing a law on gender equality with a view to reducing poverty and inequality based on gender. Specifically, the TA aimed to (i) facilitate the process of gender mainstreaming in drafting and amending legislation related to the legal and socioeconomic status of women in critical areas, which include health and reproductive health, violence against women, and human trafficking, (ii) build gender-sensitive legal institutions, and (iii) enhance gender awareness in the legal system.

The Law on Gender Equality was adopted by the National Assembly of Viet Nam on 21 November 2006. It defines gender-based violence as "any violence [sic] acts threatening, leading or possibly leading to physical, psychological and sexual injury of men and women in public places or in private life". "Gender-based violence at workplaces, public areas and in families" is considered a forbidden violation of gender equality, and is subject to sanctions by the relevant agencies. According to the Viet Nam Women's Union, the Law on Gender Equality is a "historic success of the Vietnam women movement."

Loan 1953-CAM: Commune Council Development Project [ PDF: 170kb | 56 pages ]

The Project provided commune and sangkat councils the facilities, equipment, systems, training, popular understanding, and support required to function effectively, including on HIV/AIDS awareness and anti-trafficking.

The Project was also involved in disseminating the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and the Protection of the Victims which was adopted on 24 October 2005 by a Royal Decree.

The Law establishes legal mechanisms to prevent domestic violence and protect victims. It defines domestic violence as "violence that happens and could happen toward husband or wife, dependent child, persons living under the roof of the house and who are depend of [sic] the household. Violence includes acts effecting life, acts effecting physical integrity, [and] sexual aggression." The Law does not duplicate the existing Criminal Law and the draft Penal Code. It is also not an obstacle to their implementation in case of flagrante delicto crime.

With co-financing from GTZ and Seila, ADB's financial contribution was $83,329.89. The Ministry of Women's Affairs (MOWA) and Department of Local Administration (DoLA) worked together to prepare training materials and conducted training of trainers for DoLA, Seila and MOWA staff at the provincial and district levels. The trainers then organized trainings in 24 provinces in Cambodia for all commune chiefs, commune vice-chiefs, commune clerks, all female councilors, women focal points at the commune level, and all village chiefs, totaling 21,674 participants.

A sub-decree is being drafted by MOWA and DoLA to increase the roles and responsibilities of commune councilors for handling cases of domestic violence at the community level.

Loan 2143-NEP: Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women Project

In both the household and public arena, women are vulnerable to gender-based violence, such as verbal and sexual harassment, rape, and trafficking. An estimated 95% of women and girls have firsthand knowledge of violence, 77% of which from their own family members. The costs of gender-based violence to the potential for socioeconomic development can be accounted not only in impacts on health and eroded self-confidence, but also in loss of productive potential. The deteriorating security situation and insurgency have also presented productive new chances for assault on women.

The Project aims to improve the socioeconomic conditions of poor rural women through a process of economic, social, legal, and political empowerment. Under the legal empowerment component, the Project will prepare and implement massive awareness-raising campaign in the project area on issues related to gender, safe migration and trafficking issues; domestic violence and sexual offenses. Legislative changes, increased awareness of legislation, and improved access to legal institutions will offer women protection from rape, domestic violence, and crime.

The Bill to Amend Some Nepal Acts Related to Maintaining Gender Equality, one of the conditions for Loan Effectiveness, was passed by the House of Representatives on 21 September 2006.