Over the years, programs have been effective. For example, a four-year partnership between the United States and the Philippines, which started under the first Trump administration and ended in 2021, helped protect hundreds of children: more than 350 children were rescued and supported and nearly 100 potential criminals arrested. The new cuts also come as record levels Online sexual abuse images are discovered.
“The victims and the authors come from various regions and countries, emphasizing the need for continuous international commitment and coordinated efforts to fight these crimes exhaustively,” explains an employee of a South American Protection group of the ‘Childhood working to fight trafficking and online sexual abuses. The organization, like others in this history, has obtained anonymity to speak given the sensitive nature of work and uncertainty on future financing. “The interruption of these funds inevitably limits the scope and scope of these critical services,” he says.
A person, who works for an organization that directs several child protection projects, says that operations in a country in southeast Europe have been largely disrupted. In the country, organization’s projects have 147 victims of the trafficking of their custody, says the person. “The break continues and potentially the cessation of funding would have a significant and negative impact on our ability and our ability to provide essential services to these victims who are at fragile stages of their recovery; some of which are in programs under psychosocial advice linked to their trauma, “says the person.
Several members of LWOB say that children are further endangered in the projects it generates in East Africa. “These children may not be identified, the practices to reduce their trauma are not supported at the moment,” says Ryckman. “Even if they are identified, they can be placed in a canneline where they will have to face current interviews on their trauma or again face their traffickers.”
LWOB has, with partner organizations, identified approximately 200 victims of human trafficking in Tanzania, the majority referred to safe houses, said Lulu Makwale, victim coordinator among lawyers without borders. “Most of the financing of safe houses has been interrupted, which means that the services and needs of the victim are also on break,” said Makwale. She says that the organization has linked shelters to investigators so far. “The victims may not be well linked now to the police,” explains Makwale.
In addition to directly supporting the victims, many efforts also provide training or technical assistance to the police, allowing them to better investigate crimes. A program listed on the Reverse Department of State Department Funding indicates that it provides training to combat the sexual exploitation of online children for 10,000 police, prosecutors and judges in 100 countries.
The person with links to work in a European country claims that their organization had 74 surveys on current traffickers, plus 66 undergoing proceedings. They say that financing changes will have a “significant and negative impact on these criminal trials” and the safety of people who can testify in cases.
Ryckman, lawyers without borders, said the organization recently completed its work on an online database to identify victims and follow the exploitation of children online in Kenya. Although the database is functional, says Ryckman, future work to train people has been interrupted and there will be slower absorption of the system. “I think it will be used, and it will be extremely useful,” says Ryckman. “But these victims are there now. They shouldn’t have to wait.
