Recognising the increased risk of violence, abuse and trafficking in earthquake-hit areas, Swatantrata Abhiyan, Gramin Mahila Srijanseel Parivar and Free the Slaves Nepal carried out action research following the earthquakes, with important technical and financial support from the Freedom Fund. The research aimed to understand changes in the dynamics or extent of human trafficking and other violence and abuse in the context of the disaster. The project aimed to strengthen community-based protection mechanisms and learn more about what results could be achieved through such mechanisms to prevent trafficking and violence. It explored whether frontline workers living in the area, themselves deeply affected by the disaster, could be consulted and trained during the aftermath, and what practical actions they would undertake as a result. The action research consisted of preliminary desk review; scoping interviews with 18 key informants from Sindhupalchok district; consultative training workshops for 81 frontline workers of community-based NGOs; and follow up visits with 33 of these participants to map out the changes and learning. The research found that the participants could provide valuable information on increased vulnerability to human trafficking, and could point to causes and risk factors including inadequate relief supplies, unsafe shelters, uncertain futures, delayed processing of government recovery assistance and the lack of information on relief services. The resulting desperation combined with unrestricted access to the affected populations offered an opportunity for organised traffickers. By sharing these pieces of information with each other, they generated the training content as the workshops unfolded. With regard to violence and abuse against children, the study identified increased neglect and violence by parents following the earthquake, as well as early marriages and early pregnancy and risk of sexual harassment due to unsafe settlements and sanitation services. Participants also identified significant problems for unaccompanied and separated children in accessing education, adult protection and guardianship, finding alternative care, and protecting their rights to parental property.
