Islamabad, Pakistan – 08 December 2020 - Under the framework of the Global Action to Prevent Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT-Asia and the Middle East), IOM in close coordination with UNODC, organized an interactive session on identification, screening and referral of vulnerable migrants in Pakistan on 30 November 2020.
The session was specifically organized for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), which is Pakistan’s border control, criminal investigation and security agency under the Ministry of Interior. IOM has been working closely with the Anti-Human Smuggling Directorate of the FIA to build capacities to implement national laws guaranteeing services to victims of human trafficking and vulnerable migrants.
Fourteen officials from the FIA participated in the session, most of which are serving as inspectors and sub-inspectors from the investigation and detention centers in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, known as the FIA’s Anti Human-Trafficking Circles (AHTCs). Recognizing the need to bolster capacities of female inspectors, it was ensured that nearly half (6 out of 14) of the participants were women.
The FIA’s Director of Anti-Human Smuggling (AHS), Sardar Zaheer Ahmed opened the session by stressing upon the need to provide assistance to victims of human trafficking and migrant smuggling and the current challenges in this area of work due to the absence of a National Referral Mechanism (NRM).
IOM’s presentation then further built upon these points, initiating discussion on awareness and operational challenges regarding the recent legislation in Pakistan that stresses protection and assistance for vulnerable migrants. Additionally, perceptions of legal rights and criminality around migration were discussed, which provided IOM with an opportunity to reinforce the reasons behind the classification of trafficked persons and smuggled migrants as victims with rights and not criminals.
As the lead on GLO.ACT’s Outcome 5 on Provision of Protection and Assistance to Vulnerable Migrants, IOM is currently coordinating efforts to establish the process for creating Pakistan’s first formal NRM to link victims of human trafficking and migrant smuggling with service delivery organizations providing shelter, psychosocial services, legal support and other facilities.
To build a basic understanding of NRM and understand the current informal mechanisms in place, IOM presented briefly on the core components of this mechanism, including the importance of various stages such as identification, screening and referral of victims. Participants were briefed about how a NRM would work in Pakistan’s context, including the specific role of various agencies/departments, while avoiding duplication of efforts and ensuring accountability of all stakeholders.
Participants highlighted the need for continued engagement with IOM and UNODC and requested for more comprehensive workshops focusing on modalities of identifying and assisting vulnerable migrants. The participants unanimously agreed that they had not received any such trainings in recent years and such initiatives would add value to their daily work.
Director AHS of FIA, Sardar Zaheer Ahmed, lauded IOM and UNODC for their cooperation and engagement for working towards a NRM in Pakistan. He directed all participants to passionately engage in the process as it is a legal requirement for the FIA in light of recent legislation and termed it a ‘visionary’ step in the right direction.
Looking ahead, based on discussions during the session, IOM and UNODC will closely coordinate on developing tailored content for planned workshops on victim identification and referral that will pave the way towards establishing an NRM in Pakistan. IOM will also continue to provide platforms for engagement amongst all relevant stakeholders, including the service delivery sector, to ensure sustainability of efforts.
The Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants – Asia and the Middle East (GLO.ACT-Asia and the Middle East) is a four-year (2018-2022), €12 million joint initiative by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) being implemented in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in up to five countries: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Afghanistan), Islamic Republic of Iran (I.R. of Iran), Republic of Iraq (Iraq), Islamic Republic of Pakistan (Pakistan). The project builds on a global community of practice set in motion in GLO.ACT 2015-2019 and assists governmental authorities and civil society organizations in targeted, innovative and demand-driven interventions: sustaining effective strategy and policy development, legislative review and harmonization, capability development, and regional and trans-regional cooperation. The project also provides direct assistance to victims of human trafficking and vulnerable migrants through the strengthening of identification, referral, and protection mechanisms.
The project is funded by the European Union.
For more information, please contact:
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/glo-act2/index.html
Email: unodc-glo.act@un.org
Twitter: @glo_act
