US records the progress of Pakistan in curbing human trafficking
The government shows an increase in overall effort compared to the previous reporting period, given the impact of Pandemi Covid-19, if any, on the anti-human trade capacity; Therefore, Pakistan was upgraded to Tier 2, “said the report.
Tier 2 including countries whose governments do not fully comply with all requirements to prevent human trafficking but make significant efforts to obey them with these standards.
Conversely, the list of supervision of Tier 2 includes countries that can be placed at level 3 and are sentenced to sanctions and limited access to the US and international foreign assistance due to their disobedience.
Pakistan remains on the supervision list in 2015 to 2017 before being upgraded to Tier 2 in 2018 and remains there the following year. However, the country was again passed down to the list of Tier 2 in 2020 and remained on the list in 2021.
State Secretary Antony Blinken released reports in the Department of Foreign Affairs and also announced individual names from all over the world whose business without fatigue had made an eternal impact on the war against human trafficking.
The report praised Pakistan to increase investigation, prosecution and punishment, including increasing investigations and prosecution based on the prevention of 2018 trafficking (PTPA).
The report also noted that the Pakistani government “did not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trade,” despite “making significant efforts to do so”. According to the report, during 2021, the government referred more victims for protection services. The Provincial Department of the Government Increases the Implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) regarding the identification of victims and referrals and training more stakeholders.
The government allocates resources to implement the National Action Plan (NAP) and change PTPA to delete provisions that allow fines as a substitute for prison for sex trading crimes with women and children as victims.
For the third year, the government did not take adequate action on credible reports about official involvement in trade. There are reports about victims who are re-divided immediately after rescue, and corruption continues to hamper human anti-trade efforts.
In Sindh, local officials continue to carry out labor bound by impunity in Kiln Bata and in agriculture.The report urged Pakistan to increase prosecution and punishment for all forms of trade, including bounded workers at the federal and provincial levels.
It also urged Pakistan to be enthusiastic about increasing the number of bound workers identified and referred to services through provincial police training, labor inspector and social services at SOP.
The report strongly recommends preventing support for non-state armed groups that illegally recruit or use children’s soldiers.
