A series of three training workshops on Investigation and Prosecution of TIP and SOM Cases, Karachi, Quetta, and Islamabad.

5th July 2022, Islamabad: The investigation and prosecution play a vital role in the criminal justice system in a country. The role becomes more vital when the justice system deals with complex and evolving crimes including Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants. The offenders of this crime are organized criminal syndicates; thus, the response also requires organized and well-coordinated efforts on part of LEA, prosecution, legislators, and the judiciary. To build the capacities of the actors of the justice system in Pakistan, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), under the project “Combatting Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in Pakistan”, funded by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), conducted three two-day training workshops on the investigation and prosecution of TIP and SOM cases.

The first training workshop was conducted on 19-20 May 2022 in Karachi, 9-10 June 2022 at Quetta, and 4-5 July 2022 in Islamabad. In a series of three, the last workshop was organized for officers of FIA, Punjab Police, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police in Islamabad - the previous two were conducted in Karachi and Quetta with participants from FIA, Sindh Police, and Balochistan Police. The training workshops helped participants in understanding key concepts related to Human Trafficking and Migrants Smuggling, the national laws and international best practices, and investigative techniques for handling TIP and SOM cases. A total of 68 officers (61 male: 7 female) officers were trained during the workshop.

Ms. Shahida Gilani, National Programme Officer, HTMS-UNODC, in her remarks referred to TIP as a heinous crime and major human rights violation. She mentioned “Trafficking in Persons is a vile crime that feeds on inequalities, instability, and conflict. Human traffickers profit from peoples’ hopes and despair. They prey on the vulnerable and rob them of their fundamental rights. In the end, they are the ones who reap benefits and victims suffer in every possible way.” Ms. Shahida also highlighted the importance of training in the country’s national response to combatting TIP and SOM. She said “awareness-raising and capacity building is part of Pakistan’s National Action Plan to combat trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. The National Action Plan was supported by UNODC and was endorsed by the government of Pakistan in December 2020. It is an important tool to plan, prioritize, coordinate, and measure the response to human trafficking and migrant smuggling in Pakistan. These training workshops aim to equip investigators and prosecutors with the knowledge such as elements of exploitation, TIP and SOM, national legislations, case laws, and skills such as crime scene investigation, documentation, preservation, field Interview, abuse investigations, etc. so that LEAs and prosecution understand the victim-centered approach for handling and managing TIP and SOM cases more effectively and efficiently.”

Mr. Javaid Akbar Riaz, newly appointed Director of FIA’s Anti-Human Smuggling (AHS) during his remarks at the Islamabad workshop expressed his gratitude to UNODC for its long-term partnership with the FIA for supporting the Government of Pakistan in combatting trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. The Director said,” with support of UNODC, more than 2800 officials of FIA, Police, Police Training Colleges, Provincial and District Bar Councils, Social Welfare Labour and Child Protection Departments have been trained in different areas dealing with TIP and SOM. The focus of the capacity-building sessions was to familiarize stakeholders with new trafficking laws, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for victim identification and support, and data sharing. This specific training is part of our strategy where apart from creating enabling environment i.e., legislation and development of SOPs, formation of TIP committees, etc, we are now building the capacity of investigators and prosecutors so that we have a unified and coordinated response to TIP and SOM.”

In his remarks, Mr. Ehsan Manzoor, Director Baluchistan FIA at Balochistan workshop said, “as far as internal trafficking issues are concerned, Provincial and Federal Police departments are designated to investigate this crime which includes sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, and forced labor. We are committed to curbing the menace of TIP and SOM. After the enactment of the 2018 Act, we now have a framework to deal with the crimes. We have Federal, provincial, and district-level committees that will coordinate and synergize working. As LEA and prosecution, we need to see the TIP and SOM from the lens of the new legislation so that cases can be identified, and registered, offenders can be prosecuted and punished, and victims could be supported. We thank the UNODC for their support to accomplish several achievements to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling”.

The two-day workshops were facilitated by prosecution and investigation experts. The workshop enhanced participants’ knowledge of Policies, Laws & Rules related to Trafficking in Persons & Smuggling of Migrants, and Victim Assistance and Protection. The participants also enhanced their skills in evidence Collection, dealing with victim-witnesses, and evidential challenges. Through group work and trainer sessions, the participants learned about Investigation Techniques, analyzed TIP & SOM Cases (inquiry, FIRs, Investigation, and Court Proceedings), and also analyzed court judgments.

Combatting Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in Pakistan is ajoint initiative, funded by the Government of Canada, through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It aims to strengthen the capacity of the Federal Investigation for its fight against Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM), the Police as well as the Social Service departments in improving the prosecution of traffickers, smugglers and protecting and supporting victims and witnesses, while upholding the rule of law and in recognition of human rights.

 

   

For more information, please contact:

 

Ms. Shahida Gillani, National Project Officer

Email: Shahida.gillani@un.org