Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) celebrates 20 years with members from around the world
More than 100 experts from the fields of anti-trafficking, migration and women’s rights from around the world will come together this month for an international congress to celebrate 20 years of the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW).
The International Members’ Congress, taking place in Bangkok, Thailand, brings together members of the Alliance and partners to review successes and setbacks over the last 20 years of anti-trafficking work, and set goals for the future. Participants will discuss topics including women, migration and work; funding for anti-trafficking work; and accountability in the non-governmental organisation (NGO) sector.
Participants will represent diverse aspects of the alliance, which covers 45 countries, four regions, over 120 member organisations and varying areas of work, including service provision, access to justice and advocacy and for trafficked and migrating women.
At the conference, GAATW will present initial findings from its accountability research, which with 17 member organisations has involved looking at services and programmes from the perspective of trafficking survivors. GAATW will also launch the third issue of its peer-reviewed journal – the first of its kind in the world – which examines funding in anti-trafficking; where the money comes from, who it goes to and what it actually achieves. A copy of the journal will be available on 23 September at www.antitraffickingreview.org
“This International Members’ Congress comes at a very special time in GAATW’s history,” says Bandana Pattanaik, GAATW International Coordinator, “The Alliance was originally founded by a group of women activists to understand the views of trafficked women and challenge existing perceptions of trafficking. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we look forward to welcoming members and partner organisations and reviewing what we have achieved and how we can best respond to the issues faced by migrating and trafficked women in future.”
Visit www.gaatw.org to read updates from the International Members’ Congress.
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