Panel 8: Policies To Address Vulnerability Among Women And Children

Thursday, April 20th (11:00am-12:00pm)

13th Symposium on

Development and Social Transformation

The Spring Buds Plan: Poor Girls’ Education

Liwei Zhang

Panel 8: Policies To Address Vulnerability Among Women And Children

13th Symposium onDevelopment and Social Transformation

Spring Buds PlanSpring Buds PlanHelping the Drop-out Poor Girls Helping the Drop-out Poor Girls

Return to Schools Return to Schools

Presented by: Liwei ZhangPresented by: Liwei Zhang

April 20April 20thth 2006 2006

CCTFCCTF

► China Children and Teenagers’ FundChina Children and Teenagers’ Fund► Created in 1981 as the first charitable Created in 1981 as the first charitable

foundation in Chinafoundation in China► Mission: Help create a safe and healthy Mission: Help create a safe and healthy

environment for children's growth by environment for children's growth by keeping them from dropping out of school, keeping them from dropping out of school, from injuries, from illnesses and from from injuries, from illnesses and from crimes. crimes.

► Under the leadership of All China Women Under the leadership of All China Women Federation. Federation.

Spring Buds PlanSpring Buds Plan

►When: In 1989When: In 1989►By whom: China Children and By whom: China Children and

Teenager’s Fund (CCTF) Teenager’s Fund (CCTF) ►What: To aim at helping girl dropouts What: To aim at helping girl dropouts

in poverty-stricken areas return to in poverty-stricken areas return to schoolschool

►With whom: Women Federations of With whom: Women Federations of various levels (province, city and various levels (province, city and county ) and local governments county ) and local governments

Work Flow of the projectWork Flow of the project

CCTF CCTF

Provincial office Provincial office

City officeCity office

County officeCounty office

Forms of the ProjectForms of the Project

►Spring Buds Bridges Project (one to Spring Buds Bridges Project (one to one assistance)one assistance)

►Spring Buds Classes Spring Buds Classes ►Spring Buds SchoolsSpring Buds Schools►Spring Buds Practical Skills TrainingSpring Buds Practical Skills Training

AchievementsAchievements

►By the end of 2003, 30 provinces, 312 By the end of 2003, 30 provinces, 312 cities and 2316 counties joined the cities and 2316 counties joined the project project

►By the end of 2003, 583 million RMB By the end of 2003, 583 million RMB has been raised has been raised

►By the end of 2003, 3 million girls By the end of 2003, 3 million girls have been assisted have been assisted

ExperienceExperience

►Strong leadership Strong leadership ►Cooperation among all the partnersCooperation among all the partners►Multiple channels for fund raisingMultiple channels for fund raising

LessonsLessons

►Lack of continuation and sustainabilityLack of continuation and sustainability►No No psychological consultationpsychological consultation►Lack of transparency for the selection Lack of transparency for the selection

of the poor girls of the poor girls ►Misuse of the fundMisuse of the fund

SCHIP And Children’s Access To Healthcare

Theresa Geldard

Panel 8: Policies To Address Vulnerability Among Women And Children

13th Symposium onDevelopment and Social Transformation

Health Care Access in US Health Care Access in US ChildrenChildren

The SCHIP ProgramThe SCHIP Program

Theresa GeldardTheresa Geldard

SCHIPSCHIP

State Children’s Health Insurance ProgramState Children’s Health Insurance Program

The reason for SCHIPThe reason for SCHIP

10 million children without health 10 million children without health insurance (1997)insurance (1997)

Low-income children of working parents Low-income children of working parents fall through the cracks most oftenfall through the cracks most often

Medicaid has limited coverageMedicaid has limited coverage

What is SCHIP?What is SCHIP?

Created in 1997Created in 1997 Flexible, state directed programFlexible, state directed program Higher federal match Higher federal match Designed to reach children 100%-200% Designed to reach children 100%-200%

FPLFPL 3.9 million children covered (2004)3.9 million children covered (2004)

How is SCHIP implementedHow is SCHIP implemented

Medicaid-like programMedicaid-like program Private insurance modelPrivate insurance model Medicaid/private insurance hybridMedicaid/private insurance hybrid Family coverageFamily coverage Premium assistancePremium assistance Employer premium assistanceEmployer premium assistance

BarriersBarriers

No seamless transition between programsNo seamless transition between programs Paperwork requirements often difficultPaperwork requirements often difficult RetentionRetention Cost sharing burdensCost sharing burdens Continuity of provider Continuity of provider Perceived crowd-outPerceived crowd-out

And now…And now…

¼ of low-income children lack insurance¼ of low-income children lack insurance Many still don’t receive regular careMany still don’t receive regular care Un-insurance rates have dropped but vary Un-insurance rates have dropped but vary

by state/regionby state/region

Human Trafficking In The Philippines

Jennifer Handog

Panel 8: Policies To Address Vulnerability Among Women And Children

13th Symposium onDevelopment and Social Transformation

Human Trafficking in the Philippines

By Jennifer HandogMPA/IR Candidate

The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

Human Trafficking DefinedHuman 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)

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)

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).

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)

“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

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

Recommendation/ConclusionHuman Trafficking is an extremely complex

issue: Ex. Human Rights:Gov. should restrict the use of “entertainer”

visasVS.

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

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

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

approachesEx. Inter-Agency Council Against

Human Trafficking (mandate)• Participated in multilateral and

bilateral anti-trafficking efforts

Road Blocks/ChallengesEnacting 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.

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

Questions?

Thank you

Panel 8: Policies To Address Vulnerability Among Women And Children

Thursday, April 20th (11:00am-12:00pm)

Liwei Zhang The Spring Buds Plan: Poor Girls’ Education

Theresa Geldard SCHIP And Children’s Access To Healthcare

Jennifer Handog Human Trafficking In The Philippines

13th Symposium onDevelopment and Social Transformation