Earthquake Assistance:

Protection from Trafficking and Abuse

Given the severity of the economic and social situation in the camps, DOSTI is implementing Protection Programs within camp villages where the agency has a strong presence. Organized by a DOSTI staff coordinator, the program protects unaccompanied women and children from predatory individuals or syndicates seeking to exploit traumatized and vulnerable families.

Operating with local partners, the program’s goal is to keep children and women safe from abduction, sexual abuse, and violence by:

• Providing psycho-social counseling services to the children, parents, and managers of the camp villages.
• Maintaining a database on missing children and unaccompanied women to share with all other organizations providing relief in the area.
• Preparing a strategy to rehabilitate and reassure unaccompanied children and women (case management plan).
• Fostering positive relationships between social workers and women and children as well as encouraging residents to seek help if they encounter abuse or violence.