Islamabad, Pakistan 12 October 2018 - UNODC, under the framework of the Global Actions against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT) and in collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), is rolling out a nationwide public awareness campaign against Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and the Smuggling of Migrants (SOM). The aim of the campaign is to increase awareness on the risks, issues and challenges associated with TIP and SOM. It also aims to develop community-led prevention efforts as well as kick starts a national discourse on the topic which will ultimately lead to the engagement of policy makers.
The awareness campaign is being rolled out at national level with a focus on high-risk areas. It utilizes several institutionalized tools to engage stakeholders including the distribution of brochures and display of banners in key districts, a social media page focused on TIP and SOM, and the dissemination of public service messages through local and terrestrial radios as well as through Short Messaging Services (SMS). The campaign was officially launched on 24 September 2018 throughout Pakistan.
Over the next six month, UNODC will distribute 250,000 leaflets, display 600 banners across highways and important landmarks, including airports and railway stations, disseminate half million messages on mobile phones, air public service messages across the country. The campaign also has social media component, targeting youth through platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In just over two weeks, approximately 24,300 people have been reached through these social media channels.
The recent passing of laws to prevent Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in May 2018 represents a fantastic step in the right direction by the government of Pakistan in combatting these crimes. These laws not only define TIP and SOM as separate crimes but also highlight the importance of increasing public awareness. UNODC urges civil society organizations, NGOs, the media and academia to play an active role in helping to raise awareness on TIP and SOM prevention.
Mr. Cesar Guedes, UNODC Country Representative for Pakistan, reaffirmed his commitment to the government saying, "We need to mobilize all the relevant stakeholders to empower the institutions and promote innovation in conventional approaches. When it comes to awareness raising we must target the community at grassroots level to have a deeper impact". He added that, "Much more needs to be done in terms of raising awareness amongst a broader section of society, including local communities, policy makers, local government representatives and the media".
At UNODC we know that it is crucial for the government and civil society to work in close partnership to fight human trafficking and migrant smuggling. The fight will only succeed in a joint effort by raising the level of awareness among masses and relevant stakeholders. This campaign is significant for the country as it incorporates both, prevention and protection strategies.
The Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT) is a four-year (2015-2019), €11 million joint initiative by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The project is being implemented in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). GLO.ACT aims to provide assistance to governmental authorities and civil society organizations across 13 strategically selected countries: Belarus, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Mali, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, South Africa, Ukraine. GLO.ACT works with the 13 countries to plan and implement strategic national counter-trafficking and counter smuggling efforts through a prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnerships approach. It supports the development of more effective responses to trafficking and smuggling, including providing assistance to victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants through the strengthening of identification, referral, and direct support mechanisms.
Please follow the campaign here:
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/UNODCCOPAK.GloAct/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GLOACTPakistan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unodcgloact/
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Shahida Gillani, National Project Officer
shahida.gillani@un.org
www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/glo-act/
Email: glo.act@un.org
Twitter: @glo_act