November 6, 2009
 Japan's Assistance for the Construction of Safe Home Rehabilitation to Victim of Trafficking in Kathmandu
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The Government of Japan has decided to extend financial assistance of eighty-nine thousand, nine hundred and seven US Dollars (USD 89,907), equivalent to approximately six million, nine hundred and sixty-four thousand Nepali Rupees (NPR 6,964,000), to SHAKTI SAMUHA for the implementation of the Project for Construction of Safe Home for Increasing Rehabilitation to Victims of Trafficking in Gokarna, in Japan's FY 2009. This financial assistance is extended under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) scheme of the Government of Japan.
A Grant Contract to this effect was signed and exchanged today between His Excellency Mr. Tatsuo MIZUNO, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, and Mrs. Chari Maya Tamang, President of Shakti Samuha, Kathmandu.
The Grant will be utilized for the construction of a three-stories building with 10 rooms to be named 'Safe Home' for children and women victims of trafficking as a solid base for rehabilitating survivors of trafficking, and providing care and assistance to enable them to become economically independent.
Nepal is considered as a source country for trafficking. The underlying causes of trafficking in the border villages of Nepal are the prevalence of rampant poverty, gender inequality, discrimination against women, ignorance, domestic abuse, loss of livelihoods and recent political instability.
Shakti Samuha consists of 43 women staff who have different experiences on the issues of trafficking and domestic violence. They have been delivering emergency help, food, health, transportation and lodging, and extending training to trafficked women since 1996. They are also making a great effort to support economical issues through vocational training and micro credit in order to avoid poverty and illiteracy leading women to make the same mistake in the future. Independent lives surely enhance women's rights, and with this regard, Shakit Samuha is expected to intensify raising awareness in the communities in favor of woman's rights with dignity and respect.
Speaking at the ceremony, H.E. Mizuno mentioned that Shakti Samuha is facing an urgent need, due to the pressure of increasing numbers of victims rescued from brothels and slums, to construct and improving its facilities in order to meet the demand for rehabilitation and to enhance self-support for the trafficked victims. Victims tend to be treated contemptuously and scornfully by the neighborhood, so they have no alternative but to seek another shelter. H.E. Mr. Mizuno expressed his hope that the grant extended will contribute, through Shakti Samuha's activities, to improve the seriousness of human trafficking problems. Furthermore, he expressed his expectation that victims will live in dignity and that the grant will play a symbolic role in further strengthening the relationship between Japan and Nepal.
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