The refurbishment of the Survival Advocacy Network (SAN) in Nabua and the Salvation Army’s Family Care Center in Suva will provide the much-needed assistance and support services to the victims of trafficking and associated forms of exploitation and abuse.
The refurbishment of two local non-governmental organisations in the Central Division has been funded by the European Union (EU) through the project ‘Empowering Fijian Civil Society in Countering Trafficking in Human Beings’ that was jointly implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Homes of Hope.
Speaking during a technical site visit, the Program Manager for Civil Society, Gender, Human Rights and Health from the Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific, Francesco Ponzoni, said the EU was pleased to support the NGOs through the refurbishment of safe houses.
“Finding a safe place to stay after a traumatic experience is one of the key basic needs of a victim of trafficking or another form of exploitation and abuse,” Mr Ponzoni said in a statement.
Chief of Mission for IOM in Fiji Solomon Kantha said IOM was privileged to work with local NGOs to support them with the provision of much-needed items such as cooking utensils, stoves, beddings, washing machines, and first aid kits, including refurbishing the safe houses to be able to accommodate victims of trafficking.
“IOM is appreciative of the funding support from the EU to be able to support safe houses in the three Divisions who provide a very important service at a time when the most vulnerable including women and children are at risk of being exploited,” Mr Kantha said.
