Peshawar: Pakistan does not comply with the
minimum standards for eliminating trafficking and is a major
source of trade in persons, a leading human rights activist
said on Wednesday.
Addressing a workshop on countering women trafficking
here, Aurat Foundation chairperson Rakshanda Naz said
Pakistan`s inability to comply with minimum standards for
eliminating trafficking had resulted in the country being
placed in the Tier-2 watch list in the 2009 Trafficking In
Persons report prepared by the US State Department.
Mashood Mirza, Director of the Federal Ombudsman, said
the only Pakistani law dealing with women trafficking is the
Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking Ordinance, which
does not address internal trafficking.
Experts said non-implementation of relevant laws, lack of
social support, harmful traditional practices and lack of
awareness among public are leading factors responsible for the
growing menace of women trafficking in Pakistan`s northwest.
The workshop for lawyers on countering women trafficking
was organised by the NGO Community Appraisal and Motivation
Programme with support from the DFID and UNDP.
Participants were briefed by a panel of experts on the
nature, trends, forms, effects and laws on woman trafficking
in Pakistan.
Afzal Shinwari, the project coordinator for human rights
for CAMP, said human trafficking is the third largest
lucrative illegal business after drug and weapon smuggling and
generates USD 8 billion to USD 10 billion annually.
PTI
