Impact
Trafficking Support by UNICEF resulted in an agreement by China and Vietnam to intensify joint anti-trafficking efforts. The two countries agreed to establish mechanisms for exchanging information and repatriating trafficking victims, and to establish border liaison offices. Local officials meet monthly to exchange information and coordinate action; central authorities meet once a year to review progress and develop a plan for the following year. The two governments also launched a joint communications campaign to fight trafficking in border areas. One year after bilateral cooperation began, the number of Vietnamese girls rescued and repatriated in the city of Dongxing alone rose to 141, compared with 15 in 2001. Seven traffickers were arrested in 2001, and by 2002 the figure had risen to 33 (22 from Vietnam and 11 from China). With UNICEF's support, China and Thailand developed an agreement called “Appeal for Action” addressing cross-border trafficking between the two countries. China is developing a National Plan of Action for Anti-Trafficking with UNICEF's support. Chinese Media reported that a girl escaped from traffickers after attending a UNICEF-supported training programme conducted in 2,000 Chinese schools.
OMAR monitoring software is being replicated at five project sites and is planned for a nationwide roll-out. A bi-lingual, bi-cultural project for deaf education has been receiving inquiries from all over China and is moving towards replication in various areas. Family and community support IECD drop-in centre created through the Family and Community Support Project has been replicated in four UNICEF project sites. Beaises, 7 replication centres are set up in Guangdong, Shandong, Hebei and Beijing. Abandoned and Orphaned Children A new policy on foster care was adopted in 2003 based on the research, experiences, and expertise gained through pilot projects as well as national and regional seminars supported by UNICEF. Based on new policy guidelines and pilot projects, a family foster care approach is being further promoted and expanded throughout the country. Migrant Children Various local level policy and guidelines have been developed and adopted for migrant children Project sites that have developed inter-sectoral participatory models have received inquiries from all over China and are promoting replication of the model.
A national policy on street children is being developed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs Street Children's Protection centres whose models supported initially by UNICEF now expanded to 127 Chinese cities. The Ministry of Civil Affairs plans to further expand the model to 150 cities by 2005. A comprehensive rehabilitation model is being developed in the current UNICEF-assisted project sites. Components such as drop-in centre, out-reach programmes by university student volunteers, and residential and foster care programmes for street children are being introduced for the first time in China.
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