2.1.2. Watchdog volunteer groups The WVGs are composed of local adult volunteers including community leaders, public health officers and community members. During 2010, three are operational at the Thai – Lao border: • The Women Protection Group (WPG) of Hin Sung village in Ubon • The Baan Tung Lover Group (BTLG) of Tung village in Ubon • The Social Problem Watchdog Center (SPWC) which involve two communities of Wan Yai district in Mukdahan Case assistance and notification: Throughout 2010 WVGs detected and provided assistance to 37 persons including: 30 stateless families without documents, 3 disappeared persons, 2 women in at risk situations and 2 vulnerable children with various problems. (See the cases 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 in the case narration of the annex.) They also participated in providing livelihood income to 15 families of stateless children. See the income generating development projects of the A.1.2. Watchdog volunteer groups undertake regular actions to prevent and protect the most vulnerable peoples of their communities. Groups report on the situation of human trafficking and case notifications for further protection interventions. The groups find neglected persons and provide them with direct assistance in case of social problems such as families without legal registration or with health problems. They also participate to identify and to evaluate families with difficulties. They inform us on their situation and we provide them support for livelihood income development. Then the groups undertake their follow up. The group of Mukdahan disseminates information on human trafficking through broadcasting radio programs. Beside their regular actions the groups have also conducted trainings and disseminated information on how to detect human trafficking, how to protect oneself in such situations, and how to detect and report doubtful situations to leaders and assist others in case of any dangers. They conducted the project with 132 participants in one temple and with 90 participants in one school. They also started the process of expanding the areas of watchdog actions in Chong Mek district.
2.2. Delivery of health services used for communities watch
In 2010 AAT has set up a health delivery project composed notably of a mobile clinic with a team of medical professionals from the hospital of Kongjiem, Ubon province. The team provided regular visits to girls in entertainment places in Ubon and Mukdahan province. Through the health checks, the team could provide various services to girls for their protection and to encourage them to other alternatives than prostitution. Visits were implemented with the mobile clinic in Ubon, and as in Mukdahan it was undertaken under the cover of aerobic lessons in a public place. The youth groups also participated to undertake this action. 342 girls could benefit from this action including 244 in Ubon and 98 in Mukdahan. Most of them are Laotian. (one girl can benefit from several services). We also established 2 women’s groups (one in Ubon and one in Mukdahan).
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