Data for Impact Supports Armenia in Monitoring Counter-Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP) By Lillian Mageto, Data for Impact (D4I) Human trafficking affects an estimated 25 million people around the world, including adults and children subjected to sexual exploitation and forced labour in domestic servitude and sectors such as construction and agriculture. USAID’s Counter-Trafficking In Persons (C-TIP) activity supports the Armenian Government to gather high-quality, multi-sectoral data and use data to monitor, coordinate, and evaluate the national C-TIP response. Women and children, especially from rural communities, and vulnerable families, displaced because of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are facing heightened risks of human trafficking in Armenia. The Government of Armenia demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore, Armenia remained on Tier 2[1]. However, it does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and more efforts are required to tackle the trafficking, taking into consideration the threats and conflict escalation risks within the whole region. To support the authorized coordinating agency in counter trafficking – the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in the leadership, coordination and strengthened response, D4I continues its support with active engagement of key agencies. Within this support, Blue Heart Campaign was launched on July 31, 2022, dedicated to improved prevention of counter trafficking response. Blue Heart Campaign is an international anti-trafficking effort aimed at raising awareness of human trafficking and emphasizing the need for better support to victims. Within the opening remarks the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Ms. Tatevik Stepanyan, presented the progress in the area with the main emphasis of the legislative changes and reforms implemented in the field aimed at improving the standards of services provided to victims of human trafficking and exploitation, provision of accommodation, physical, psychological, counselling, legal assistance, and care. Presenting the preliminary vision to the National Action Plan (NAP) for the period 2023–2025, the Deputy Minister emphasized, “We have the gaps identified due to the monitoring to have more targeted and effective measures, which will be included in the action plan. We also envision an evidence-based operational mechanism for comprehensive program review and strategy development.” The Deputy Minister of Justice, Ms. Eranuhi Tumanyants, introduced the progress in the field and highlighted the need of more cooperation and communication. Also, she expressed the Ministry’s commitment to implement the recommendations of the U.S. Department of State 2022 Report on Trafficking in Persons. The country consultant for D4I C-TIP project, Ms. Gayane Hovakimyan, thanked the participants for their commitment to cooperate within the project and for the efforts to embed recommendations and key findings of C-TIP brief assessment into the new draft of the NAP. The new approach, based on improved programming, planning and measurement, will ensure more effective response to counter trafficking. D4I representative also presented the data analysis for the semi-annual period visualizing some patterns and raised issues, particularly regarding to reduced number of reported and identified victims. The project will continue supporting to the development of this system in 2022–2023. The USAID-funded Data for Impact (D4I) project in Armenia began in October 2021 to support the GOAM with addressing drivers of trafficking by establishing monitoring and oversight systems to improve its implementation of the NAP. D4I is working to strengthen the country’s leadership in advancing the NAP by expanding Armenia’s capacity to assess, address, and monitor the implementation’s progress. Using a learning-centered approach, D4I will enhance capacities of government partners to: Provide leadership for a structured assessment of the implementation of NAP Identify gaps and needs in C-TIP policy, NAP implementation, and legislative framework Develop plans to strengthen capacities and address priority needs Establish monitoring indicators and systems for regular assessment of progress and results of NAP implementation Promote ongoing inter-country learning and collaboration through periodic workshops and virtual meetings Lillian Mageto is a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Technical Advisor with Palladium, and the Activity Lead for the USAID-funded D4I project. [1] https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-trafficking-in-persons-report/armenia/
