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UN agencies, Ambassadors and Lao Officials visit AFESIP shelter in Savannakhet

On the 17^th of February 2010, the Mini Dublin Group for Lao PDR, consisting of international representatives working on drug-related issues in the country, visited AFESIP rehabilitation centre in Savannakhet.

Acting for Women in Distressing Circumstances (AFESIP) welcomed the delegation composed of representatives from the Lao National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision, from the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives from UN agencies (UNODC) and representatives from the Embassies of Australia, Brunei Darussalam, China, France, Japan, Germany, India, Luxemburg, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sweden, Korea, Philippine, United States, Thailand, Vietnam and European commission.

This delegation was led by Mr. Kenthong Nouanthasing, head of press department at the Ministry of Foreign and Affairs, Ms. Michelle Forster, Ambassador of Australia in Laos and Mr. Leik Boonwaat, UN representative for UNODC in Laos.

This visit to AFESIP shelter was made in the framework of a 3 days Mini Dublin workshop in Savannakhet concerning drug issues, related trafficking issues and projects aimed at combating those issues in Laos. AFESIP project was therefore part of the visits planned as the project is aimed at combating Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of women and children.

During the visit, Ms. Vonemaly Mangnomek, AFESIP Project Coordinator, presented AFESIP’s project and activities, in particular the process of victim repatriation, rehabilitation and reintegration as well as the referral system put in place together with government partners such as the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (MLSW) and the Anti-Trafficking Unit (ATU).

“AFESIP is the first NGO implementing activities specifically against human trafficking for sexual exploitation of women and children and covering whole Lao country. AFESIP has recently signed the second memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare launching the second phase of the project that started initially in 2006’’, Ms. Vonemaly Mangnomek said.

After the presentation that led to many interesting questions from the visitors, the delegation visited the different buildings of the shelter: vocational training room, classroom, cooking class as well as the plantations, animal raising and mushroom growing activities.

At the end of their visit, officials, ambassadors and representatives from embassies and UN agencies were given AFESIP Ngam organic beauty products and handicraft goods made by the former victims employed at AFESIP Social Enterprise.

“AFESIP would like to warmly thank the delegation for its visit to AFESIP rehabilitation centre and hope for future cooperation and partnerships to be launched or strengthened with the different organizations present at the visit”, Ms. Vonemaly Mangnomek, concluded.