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Global Health Promise: Dedicated to helping trafficked and prostituted mothers and their childrenBackground of the nameThe name "Global Health Promise" came from a conversation with a group of prostituted women, all of whom are mothers, in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 2007. They had horror stories about what happens to them and their children. At the end of the meeting they said they were glad to be finally talking about something that matters to them: their children. They then asked us to promise that we would keep working on this issue. This is a promise we will keep.Vision statementA world in which no woman must bear or raise a child while she is trafficked or prostituted and where all children will grow up with mothers who are free from the bonds of prostitution.MissionTo improve the health and well-being of trafficked and prostituted mothers and their children.About The Global Health PromiseWhat we do:The Global Health Promise focuses on research, advocacy, and service. Research:We work with NGOs and other partners to research: (1) the factors that put women, adolescent girls, and mothers at risk for being prostituted or trafficked; (2) the health and social problems of prostituted and trafficked mothers and their children and barriers to health and social services; and (3) obstacles to leaving prostitution and escaping sex trafficking for these mothers and their children. We conduct our research in collaboration with local NGOs so that the information from research can be used by NGOs to develop locally appropriate programs and services that specifically address the needs of these mothers and their children in the community where they live. For more information on community-based assessments, please see below. Advocacy:Data from our research and other studies and sources are used to raise awareness about the situation of prostituted mothers and their children. While many organizations work with trafficked and prostituted women, the fact that they are also mothers is often overlooked. In some cases assistance is provided to the children of trafficked and prostituted mothers but the mothers are left in a brothel. We view these mothers and their children as families that are under tremendous stress and advocate for recognition of the physical, mental, and social needs of the mothers and their children as a family with the goal of keeping mothers and their children together. Service:As a small organization we primarily support the efforts of other NGOs that provide direct services to sexually exploited women and their children. Currently we are in discussion with several NGOs regarding services for prostituted mothers and their children in Kathmandu. Community-based assessmentsOur assessments are conducted in two parts. First, each mother is interviewed regarding the factors that contribute to trafficking and prostitution of women in that community and her health and the health of her children. Second, each mother and her children are provided a medical examination. Depending on the location and services available the mothers and their children may receive treatment for health problems as part of the medical examination or be referred to an appropriate local medical clinic for treatment. In addition, the mothers and their children may also be referred to other facilities if they need additional care.. A report is then prepared for the NGO providing an analysis of the interview and health examinations along with recommendations for addressing the unmet needs of TPW and their children. Assessments can be done in several weeks depending on the number of TPW and their children who will participate in the assessment. Since our goal is to assisting organizations to more effectively serve the needs of TPW and their children we focus on quickly completing the report of the assessment so that information is available to the NGO to use as soon as possible. NGOs can contact us to discuss collaboration on community-based assessments. Who we are:Director: Brian Willis Brian began researching the public health impact of child prostitution in 1990 at the same time he joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While at CDC, Brian worked on HIV/AIDS legislation and policies, TB, and immunizations. In 2002 he left CDC and began working on the public health impact of prostitution full-time and became the Health Advisor to ECPAT-USA. While continuing to working on child prostitution and sex trafficking, Brian has focused much of his attention on the impact of prostitution on mothers and their children since 2003. Medical Director: Katherine Welch, M.D. Katherine has worked in Asia for the past seven years. From 2000-2004 she was the Co-Medical Director of hospital in rural Thailand on the Burmese border and provided medical care for refugees, poor villagers, and other marginalized people in the area, many of whom had HIV/AIDS and TB. Her patients included women who had been prostituted in Bangkok. Katherine has been based in Yunnan Province, China, since 2005 where she has been the medical consultant to NGOs working with victims of trafficking, prostitution, as well as orphans and children with disabilities. She also works with the Morning Sun Center of Hope in Henan Province providing medical care to indigent and orphaned children with disabilities. Contacting The Global Health PromiseDr. Welch can be contacted at KWelch@taskforce.org and Mr. Willis can be contacted at BWillis@taskforce.org or the following telephone numbers: 503-243-5848 or 503-381-0085. |
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