https://twitter.com/home https://www.facebook.com/Shabbir.Hussain191By Shabbir Hussain
ISLAMABAD, July 31 (Alliance News): The UK Border Force’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Teams visited Pakistan to deliver essential training at Islamabad and Lahore Airports. This training aims to combat modern slavery and human trafficking, which are top priorities for the UK.
In the lead-up to ‘World Day Against Trafficking in Persons,’ UK experts provided training to 31 frontline officers at these airports.
The training focused on safeguarding and identifying victims early. It included UK case studies to help officers understand how to support vulnerable individuals and recognize the severe impacts of trafficking.
Additionally, the sessions covered forced and early marriages, honor-based abuse, and female genital mutilation.
Amanda Read, the Border Force National Operational lead for Safeguarding and Modern Slavery, explained the significance of the training. “Through this training, we were able to share some of the best practices that the UK has developed in this area and learn about the challenges faced in Pakistan.
Cooperation is essential. We look forward to continuing to work together to ensure better protection of the vulnerable and prevention of all types of exploitation,” she said.
The British High Commissioner, Jane Marriott, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in addressing these issues. “Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking are unacceptable tragedies.
Early identification of victims is essential, and international cooperation is of the utmost importance. This is a global problem and can only be tackled if we work together,” she stated.
The training was well received by the officers, who recognized the importance of safeguarding potential victims. The sessions aimed to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to identify victims early, support vulnerable individuals, and understand the impact of trafficking on victims. The officers learned about various aspects of trafficking, including forced and early marriages, honor-based abuse, and female genital mutilation.
The training also provided an opportunity for UK experts to understand the specific challenges faced in Pakistan. By sharing best practices and learning from local experiences, both countries can improve their efforts to combat modern slavery and human trafficking.
Human trafficking is a serious issue worldwide, involving the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of people through force, fraud, coercion, or deception for exploitation. Pakistan ranks 4th in the Asia Pacific region for modern slavery risks and 18th in the world.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Pakistan is responsible for securing the country’s borders and addressing crimes such as human trafficking. The FIA plays a crucial role in combating modern slavery by investigating and prosecuting perpetrators while safeguarding victims.
Border Force, a law enforcement command within the UK Home Office, secures the UK border by carrying out immigration and customs controls for people and goods entering the country. With officers at 140 sea and air ports across the UK and overseas, Border Force is dedicated to preventing human trafficking and modern slavery.
Today, 30th July, marks ‘World Day Against Trafficking in Persons,’ a day to raise awareness about the global issue of human trafficking. The collaboration between the UK and Pakistan highlights the importance of international cooperation in addressing this serious problem.
By working together, the UK and Pakistan aim to strengthen their efforts to protect vulnerable individuals, prevent exploitation, and prosecute those responsible for modern slavery and human trafficking. The training provided by the UK Border Force is a significant step towards achieving these goals and ensuring a safer future for potential victims.
