Launch of Awareness Campaign

Launching of an awareness campaign against TIP and SOM in Pakistan

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, May 18,  2022: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Officer Pakistan (COPAK) in collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) launched today, an awareness-raising campaign on the risks and challenges of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) in Pakistan. It targets relevant stakeholders including law enforcement, media, academia, civil society organizations, non-government organizations (NGOs), and relevant government departments and the public in general, to strengthen in-country Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) prevention and response capacity. 

 

The campaign is being implemented with the financial support of the Government of Canada through Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It will include publishing and distributing awareness brochures and pamphlets, streamers, banners, airing of public service messages on radio and social media accounts as well as mobile Short Messaging Service (SMS) to increase awareness of risks, issues, and challenges related to TIP and SOM.

 

While talking to the participants, Dr. Jeremy Milsom, UNODC Representative, Pakistan, commented, “According to UNODC's 2020 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, Criminals trafficking children target victims from extremely poor households, dysfunctional families, or those who are abandoned by no parental care. In low-income countries, children make up half of the victims detected and are mainly trafficked for forced labor (46 percent). In higher-income countries, trafficking crimes against children may also be for sexual exploitation, forced criminality, or begging.

 

Mr. Ashraf Zubair Siddiqui, Additional Director General, Immigration FIA welcomed the dignitaries and said “The Government of Pakistan is acutely aware and stands fully committed to its international obligations to combat these inhuman and terrible crimes. FIA, as the lead agency against these crimes, has developed and maintained excellent relations with its international partners in general and UNODC in specific which is an abundant demonstration of our commitment. The FIA is grateful for receiving the support from UNODC to capacity building of agency in serious organized crime such as human trafficking and migrant smuggling, in policy and legislative reforms, training, equipment, research and development, and international cooperation.”

 

He further added, “FIA and UNODC hold a solid and long history of cooperation in the fight against TIP and SOM. In 2018, together with UNODC two laws on TIP and SOM were passed by the parliament followed by the approval of implementing rules in early 2021. The National Action Plan to combat TIP and SOM (2021-2025) was also drafted with the support of UNODC, which provides a clear guideline of what steps we must take during the next five years.

 

“The awareness campaign launched today will help to protect the most vulnerable from being preyed upon by human traffickers and migrant smugglers. This campaign will help ensure that information reaches those in most need and enable civil society, policymakers, and government officials to work together to help prevent and respond to these crimes.  Canada will continue to work alongside our partners, such as the Government of Pakistan, and the UNODC, in fighting trafficking and smuggling operations.  These efforts will also support safe migration, and increasing awareness is a critical component of that.”, Mr. Matthew Ciavaglia Representative Canadian High Commission to Pakistan.

 

The campaign will be implemented nationwide in close partnership with the FIA and other relevant stakeholders. Civil Society will be a key partner in this process as UNODC understands that the government and civil society must work in close partnership to fight human trafficking and migrant smuggling. The way to succeed in this fight is through a joint effort to raise awareness of these crimes among a much broader mass of relevant stakeholders. This campaign is important as it combines both prevention and protection strategies, which will support civil society organizations in their efforts to help potential victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants.