13 th Symposium on Development and Social Transformation

1. 13th Symposium on Development and Social Transformation Panel 8: Policies To Address Vulnerability Among Women And ChildrenThursday, April 20th (11:00am-12:00pm)

2. 13th Symposium on Development and Social Transformation Panel 8: Policies To Address Vulnerability Among Women And Children The Spring Buds Plan: Poor Girls’ EducationLiwei Zhang

3. Spring Buds Plan Helping the Drop-out Poor Girls Return to Schools Presented by: Liwei Zhang April 20th 2006

4. CCTF • China Children and Teenagers’ Fund • Created in 1981 as the first charitable foundation in China • Mission: Help create a safe and healthy environment for children's growth by keeping them from dropping out of school, from injuries, from illnesses and from crimes. • Under the leadership of All China Women Federation.

5. Spring Buds Plan • When: In 1989 • By whom: China Children and Teenager’s Fund (CCTF) • What: To aim at helping girl dropouts in poverty-stricken areas return to school • With whom: Women Federations of various levels (province, city and county ) and local governments

6. Work Flow of the project CCTF Provincial office City office County office

7. Forms of the Project • Spring Buds Bridges Project (one to one assistance) • Spring Buds Classes • Spring Buds Schools • Spring Buds Practical Skills Training

8. Achievements • By the end of 2003, 30 provinces, 312 cities and 2316 counties joined the project • By the end of 2003, 583 million RMB has been raised • By the end of 2003, 3 million girls have been assisted

9. Experience • Strong leadership • Cooperation among all the partners • Multiple channels for fund raising

10. Lessons • Lack of continuation and sustainability • No psychological consultation • Lack of transparency for the selection of the poor girls • Misuse of the fund

11. 13th Symposium on Development and Social Transformation Panel 8: Policies To Address Vulnerability Among Women And Children SCHIP And Children’s Access To HealthcareTheresa Geldard

12. Health Care Access in US Children The SCHIP Program Theresa Geldard

13. SCHIP State Children’s Health Insurance Program

14. The reason for SCHIP • 10 million children without health insurance (1997) • Low-income children of working parents fall through the cracks most often • Medicaid has limited coverage

15. What is SCHIP? • Created in 1997 • Flexible, state directed program • Higher federal match • Designed to reach children 100%-200% FPL • 3.9 million children covered (2004)

16. How is SCHIP implemented • Medicaid-like program • Private insurance model • Medicaid/private insurance hybrid • Family coverage • Premium assistance • Employer premium assistance

17. Barriers • No seamless transition between programs • Paperwork requirements often difficult • Retention • Cost sharing burdens • Continuity of provider • Perceived crowd-out

18. And now… • ¼ of low-income children lack insurance • Many still don’t receive regular care • Un-insurance rates have dropped but vary by state/region

19. 13th Symposium on Development and Social Transformation Panel 8: Policies To Address Vulnerability Among Women And Children Human Trafficking In The PhilippinesJennifer Handog

20. Human Trafficking in the Philippines By Jennifer Handog MPA/IR Candidate The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

21. Human Trafficking Defined Human Trafficking is “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, or deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of a giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having total control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.” (American Journal of International Law, 2001)

22. What is Human Trafficking? • Forced Prostitution • Sex Trade • Sexual Exploitation • Forced Labor • Mail Order Brides Victims are usually poor women and children from developing countries. Roughly 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders annually (U.S. Dept. of State)

23. Causes of Human Trafficking • Poverty • Global Demand for Sex/Sex-tourism • Weak judicial systems • Weak rule of law/law enforcement • Corruption • Large Profit Incentive from Trafficking Human Trafficking is a $12 Billion a year global industry is the 3rd largest illegal business after the arms and drug trade (Marci, 2004).

24. Philippines-Migration Background • The Philippines has a relatively strong history of international migration that gained momentum in the early 1970s • Migrating Abroad to find better economic opportunities has been internalized in the Filipino culture • There are 7.2 million Overseas Filipino Workers • The Philippines is the largest exporter of labor in Asia and is the 2nd largest exporter or labor in the world after Mexico (ILO)

25. “Entertainer” Visas “Entertainer” and “Artists” Visas are legal tools used by traffickers and recruiters • Japan (began 1981) and Korea • 71,084 Filipinos entered Japan as overseas performing artists in 2004 • Filipina “entertainers” work in bars and night clubs and become vulnerable and susceptible to prostitution once they begin working

26. Philippine Gov. Response • Incidences of many women coming home with signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, death of Maricris Sioson • 1991-Increases min. age requirement to 23 yrs. old. • 1996-Decreased min. age requirement to 21 yrs. old. • 1997-Decreased min. age requirement to • 18 yrs. old

27. Recommendation/Conclusion Human Trafficking is an extremely complex issue: Ex. Human Rights: Gov. should restrict the use of “entertainer” visas VS. Right to employment, even prostitution • Japan – Philippine power relations • Philippine Government must protect its citizens and should highly regulate the use of entertainer visas in the country

28. Anti-Trafficking Initiatives • Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (2003) • Mail-Order Bride Law of 1990 • Anti Rape Law of 1997 • Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998 • Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995 • Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act

29. Philippine Strategies • Acknowledged the Problem of Human Trafficking within its borders • Enacted legislation that made Human Trafficking illegal in the country • Rallied interagency and sector-wide approaches Ex. Inter-Agency Council Against Human Trafficking (mandate) • Participated in multilateral and bilateral anti-trafficking efforts

30. Road Blocks/Challenges Enacting Legislation is not enough. The number of trafficking-related prosecutions under the 2003 Act remains low there were only 28 reported cases under investigation in 2005. There are no reported convictions under the Anti-Trafficking Law of 2003.

31. Conclusion/Recommendations • Philippine Government needs to be more proactive vs. reactive in prosecuting perpetrators and traffickers • The Philippine government must improve its judicial system and law enforcement • Arroyo Administration must take an aggressive stance against human trafficking and integrate measurable goals into her strategic plan

32. Questions? Thank you

33. 13th Symposium on Development and Social Transformation Panel 8: Policies To Address Vulnerability Among Women And Children Thursday, April 20th (11:00am-12:00pm)