Myanmar

Myanmar is a poor country with a large population of 55 million. It has one of the highest rates of human trafficking, due to numerous vulnerability factors, including its borders and proximity to China, Laos, Thailand, India and Bangladesh. Limited services and prevention approaches are available for Myanmarese survivors of human trafficking, slavery and abuse. Recently, many have experienced significant trauma due to the COVID-19 pandemic and military coup which exacerbated financial vulnerability and the risk of human trafficking and abuse nationally.

Since 2014, Hagar has been working in Myanmar to build the capacity of partner agencies including World Vision, World Concern, ActionAid and local NGO, the Yangon Kayin Baptist Women’s Association. Hagar has worked with these agencies to educate front-line staff in Trauma-Informed Care and how it can be effectively applied in survivor case work.

In 2021, training materials developed in 2020 were made available to our partners via an online training platform due to the inability to travel and provide in-country training as usual. These important training sessions were delivered in English and the local language. Partner agency staff are now equipped and actively using their new skills as they work on the front-line with a large number of women, children and families affected by human trafficking, slavery and abuse.

Given the huge need that exists and the very limited capacity, Hagar is working to further develop its program in Myanmar in 2022. Our aim is to start new in-country programs that further build partner capacity to deliver effective Trauma-Informed Care client services and foster economic empowerment for survivors.

Contact us to learn more about how our work in Myanmar is changing lives.

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