Terms of Reference of the Consultant

 

Type of Consultant: International Consultant

 

Title of the Assessment: Situation Assessment of Child Trafficking in Sierra Leone

 

Background

It is abundantly clear that human trafficking especially of children and women is widely practiced in West Africa. This trafficking can be both internal and external. Internal trafficking is the form of trafficking that takes place within the country’s borders from the rural to the urban centers, while the external trafficking is that which involves the trafficking of persons from their home countries to other countries. As a result of poverty and internal strife causing displacement of peoples, the West African sub region has provided a fertile ground for the perpetuation of this denial of basic human rights.

Traffickers have thus taken advantage of the age old cultural practices of fostering to suit their illicit business. Traffickers have capitalised upon, for example, as a way to break the cycle of poverty, the culture of the extended family system in which poor family members send their children to their rich family members to be cared for and educated by the rich family members in the cities which in essence was to break the cycle of poverty in the family. Over the years the children who are fostered to their rich relatives are no longer cared for but rather placed in various forms of labour or used as domestic servants under exploitative conditions and abuse. This has given rise to a growing number of street children in urban communities with alarming consequences: Street children are homeless and without status, are at heightened risk of sexual exploitation and trafficking by those who are keen to take advantage of their physical and emotional vulnerability. Street children are often already psychologically "broken" even before they reach the streets. Many have suffered poverty and sexual abuse in the past from their relations or community members. As a result, the children have low self-confidence and self-esteem and are more likely to take greater risks than other children. Their low self-esteem as a result of lacking citizenship, identity and legal protection make them easy prey for trafficking. Children from the sub region are often trafficked to far off places like countries of North Africa, Middle East and Europe.

 

Sierra Leone emerged from a decade long war in 2002 that directly affected over 10,000 children in the form of family separation, random and indiscriminate violence, sexual assault, and abduction into the fighting forces. The war disrupted community and family cohesion, resulting in displacement of people, including children. Over the past years, it is believed that a large number of women and children were held and trafficked against their will in heinous conditions. Unfortunately there exists no documented information to determine the exact magnitude of the problem. Even though it is widely it is widely acknowledged that trafficking needs to be combated in the country, the absence of the necessary legal framework makes it difficult to meaningfully address the situation.

 

In 2004, it was learnt that activities by some local and international NGOs have bordered on a `systematic child trafficking in the country. Some 47 separated children were found in a Mosque near Makeni that were awaiting to be trafficked to Freetown and then to a third country. The Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs requested that UNICEF provide support for these children, and UNICEF has taken action placing all children in the NGOs’ interim care shelter.

 

In response to the problems highlighted in the foregoing, the Government of Sierra Leone has drafted an “Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill” and established the Trafficking in Persons Task Force to further discuss how to appropriately respond to the issue nationwide. The Task Force comprises Representatives from the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs (MSWGCA), Ministry of Justice, Sierra Leone Police, Immigration Office, Customs Office, Tourism Office, UNAMSIL, UNICEF, IRC, Faith Consortium, National Forum for Human Rights, and the United States of America Embassy.

 

Ø    The Challenge:

1.     Information on CP is sporadic and thus programmatic responses have not been of a proactive nature

2.     Lack of clear understanding on the nature of organisational structures that are involved in trafficking

3.     Limited understanding on “loopholes” that traffickers exploit to carry on their “business”

4.     Little information on which regions/provinces mostly affected and what children/families most vulnerable

 

 

As interest in trafficking in persons gains momentum and increased attention is focused upon the issue, it is imperative for government and partners interested in child protection issues to assess the current situation of child trafficking in Sierra Leone so as to develop strategies to address the scourge.

 

 

 

 

Ø    Objective

 

The objective of the assessment is to gain better insight into the current situation of child trafficking in persons in Sierra Leone so as to develop a strategic plan in combating the issue on a sustainable basis.

 

Specific Objectives

 

a)     Conduct a qualitative assessment and analyse the nature of child trafficking in Sierra Leone.

b)    Identify and assess availability and functionality of existing mechanisms both community and national including legal frameworks to address the issues of child trafficking in Sierra Leone.

c)     Identify and assess groups and agencies that are currently working for trafficking issues, their strategies, constraints and lessons learned.

d)    Document ways in which trafficking has been taking place (rural/urban/international

e)     Identify policies and laws that are in place to protect children from trafficking

 

 

 

Ø    Methodology

 

The assessment will use a variety of methodologies; focus group discussions, in-depth interviews with stakeholders including government functionaries responsible for addressing the issues of trafficking, adoption, migration, law, policy formulation; and review and analysis of policy documents. The clandestine nature of the phenomenon makes if difficult if not impossible to get valid quantitative data of the magnitude of the problem. In the light of this, qualitative information gathering methods will focus on the determination of the nature of the practice, factors responsible for the problem, and identification of groups among whom the practice is predominant. Strategic stakeholders among whom focus group discussions may be held would include community leaders, traditional rulers, transporters, market men and women, children, teachers, immigration officials, police and government functionaries in the ministry of MSWGCA.

 

In the review of relevant policy documents, emphasis will be placed on the adequacy of the policies in as far as how they address issues identified in international conventions like CRC, CEDAW and ILO convention on the worst forms of child labour.

 

Appropriate focus group and interview guidelines should be developed to facilitate assessment of the nature of child trafficking, the beneficiaries who are they?, the victims who are they?, where and how does the trafficking occur?, what are the responses from government, community and individual when the problems occur?, and what policies, legal frameworks and monitoring mechanisms that are put in place?.

 

Scope of the Assessment:

The assessment is to be conducted nationwide especially in Provincial headquarter towns and Freetown the capital. Also border towns including Lungi international airport, Kambia (border with Guinea), Koidu and Kailahun (border with Liberia)

 

 

Timing:

It is estimated that the duration of the assessment will be about 8 weeks to include the development of the assessment tools, carrying out the assessment and analysis and report writing. Availability of the consultant between April and June 2005 is highly desirable

 

Responsibility:

Technically responsible to the child protection officers in UNICEF, Mr. Donald Robertshaw, Chief, Child Protection.The consultant will closely work with the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer who has the overall responsibility to oversee the conduct of the assessment

 

Deliverables

-     The Assessment report clearing indicating important findings and conclusions and recommendations

 

Resource requirements

·      Estimated cost of the consultancy will be at the P4 level with cost estimated to cover items including:

-     Travel: international

-     Team member cost: salaries, per diem, and expenses

-     Payments for translators, and interviewers.

·      In-country travel will be borne by UNICEF

 

 

Qualifications and Experiences

 

a)     A post graduate degree in social science preferably law and human rights with focus on women and child rights, and/or other related area.

b)    Evidence of experience in conducting qualitative assessments in areas of human and child rights especially in the area of trafficking in persons in a developing country preferably Africa or Asia

c)     A proven ability in the area of research and evaluation and working in multi-ethnic situations is an advantage.

 

Skills and Competencies

 

a)     Technically updated on trafficking in persons and human rights issues, especially in Africa.

b)    Excellent communication and writing skills in English.

c)     Technically sound in designing and conducting assessments and evaluations.

d)    Adaptability and flexibility, client orientation, confidentiality, initiative, concern for accuracy and quality.