Additional funding of USD 250,000 from the US Agency for
International Development (USAID) will allow IOM Ecuador to
continue its fight against human trafficking with a pilot programme
to support residential and treatment facilities for victims of
trafficking.



The pilot programme will provide victims of trafficking with a safe
and well-equipped shelter, psychological counselling, and
assistance for developing independent living skills, such as
personal safety, money management, and child care, amongst others.




In 2005 IOM received funds from USAID for a project to support the
implementation of the national plan of action to combat human
trafficking and other forms of violence. As part of that
initiative, IOM works with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Child
Welfare Police, the National Children and Family Institute, the
International Labour Organization (ILO), the Public
Prosecutor’s Office and other institutions.



Recognizing the importance of public/private alliances in
counter-trafficking efforts, IOM is consolidating agreements with
the private sector, including the Ecuadorian Airline ICARO and the
Spanish telephone company Movistar Telefónica.



Ecuador is a country of origin, transit, and destination for
persons trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and
forced labour. Many of the victims are children trafficked for
sexual exploitation. ILO estimates indicate that in 2003 more than
5,200 minors in Ecuador were being exploited for prostitution.



In June 2006, Ecuador moved from Tier 3 to Tier 2 in the State
Department’s Annual Trafficking in Persons Report as a result
of the progress made towards prevention, protection, and
prosecution. Ecuador was listed as having demonstrated two
international best practices, including using popular culture to
spread public awareness and using public transportation to spread
anti-trafficking messages.



For further information, please contact



Ana Guzmán

IOM Quito

Tel: +593.2.4449.28/29

Email: "mailto:aguzman@oim.org.ecl">aguzman@oim.org.ecl



or



Nadia Zelisko

Email: "mailto:nzelisko@oim.org.ec">nzelisko@oim.org.ec