Combating Child Trafficking for Labour and Sexual Exploitation (Pakistan Chapter)
| Time-frame |
Donor(s) |
Duration: 5 years
Starting date: September 2002
Ending date: November 2007 |
US Department of Labour (USDOL) |
The IPEC Project on Combating Child Trafficking for Labour and Sexual Exploitation (TICSA Project) was operational in six countries, namely Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand, and Indonesia. In its Pakistan component, this regional Project had three interventions. Firstly, research was carried out to determine the extent and nature of trafficking of children and women for labour and sexual exploitation in Pakistan. A legal review report on the status of law and pratice relating to trafficking was completed in August 2005. Secondly, an action programme was implemented with the National Commission for Child Welfare and Development and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women Development and Special Education. It aimed at capacity building, advocacy, and awareness raising for prevention of child trafficking in two districts of Southern Punjab and Upper Sindh, and the vulnerable communities in these districts. Thirdly, a second research study was undertaken to determine the demand side of trafficking of children and women in Pakistan for labour and sexual exploitation.
These components contributed to the development of the Information Kit on Human Trafficking which was used in capacity building and providing training to the district officials and representative of workers and employer organizations and NGOs.
One of the objectives of this program was to ensure that the legal frameworks include trafficking for other forms of labour exploitation than prostitution. This was necessary as most legal frameworks only consider trafficking for prostitution. In Pakistan, this aspect of the project was included in the legal review of laws conducted by the Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Assistance. Further, the legal review report identified gaps in practice and legislation and was shared at a national level stakeholders consultation organized by government and civil society organizations. Most significantly, as a result of direct interventions, legal aid was provided to seven victims of child trafficking and 72 convictions were secured for trafficking cases, in keeping with national law related to the worst forms of child labour. Further, 24 children were withdrawn or prevented from entering exploitative work through the provision of non-education related services such as counselling and income generation or skills training for parents of children at-risk.
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