Well-knit strategy vital to fight human trafficking
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—Well-knit strategy is vital to fight human trafficking. A host of speakers Wednesday stressed upon the need for well-knit strategy among all the law enforcement agencies for crafting coordination in fight against human trafficking.
A capacity building workshop on “counter Trafficking Specialized Training for Members of Judiciary” was organized in collaboration with the Federal Judicial Academy here at the Academy.
The speakers were Mr. Hassan Abdel Moneim, Regional representative International Organization for Migration (IOM), Director General Judicial Academy ( FJA) Mr. Moazzam Hayat, Mr. Muhammad Azam Khan Director ( law) Federal Investigation Agency ( FIA) and advocate Tariq Bilal which was attended by eminent scholars, Judges lawyers, representative of International Organization for Migration (IOM) and officials of law enforcement agencies.
Hassan Abdel Moneim of IOM presented an overview of his organization’s various projects to assess and address the level of trafficking in various countries including Pakistan and other countries in the region.
He pointed out that lack of reporting of cases, inability of victims to access the judicial system and insecurity have so far cropped up to be as prime obstacles to counter trafficking in persons.
During the interactive session he was posed a few technical and academic questions by the participants. In a question asked by Hashim Abro regarding treatment meted out to the trafficking victims, IOM Regional representative elucidated that serious efforts are being made to change the perception of the law enforcement agencies regarding the trafficking victims as they should be treated as victims and not as criminals. “ It was an issue which requires compassion particularly for the victims of trafficking whose rights were infringed by unscrupulous human traffickers” he concluded.
Director General FJA Mr. Moazzam Hayat stressed upon the need to brig the gap between vital organs of the State in the efforts towards elimination of human trafficking from Pakistan.
He said that both administrative, technical measures and capacity building is sorely needed to address this day by day mounting malaise.
Moazzam Hayat who was topic was Trafficking in Person nexus with bonded labour, called for effective poverty eradication programs, saying it was the root cause of child trafficking in Pakistan.