ISLAMABAD: The UK Border Force’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Teams recently visited Pakistan to deliver training at Islamabad and Lahore Airports, focusing on eradicating modern slavery and human trafficking. This initiative aligns with the UK’s priority to combat these issues through cooperation with Pakistani authorities.
Ahead of the ‘World Day Against Trafficking in Persons’, UK experts trained 31 frontline officers at Islamabad and Lahore airports. The training emphasized the importance of early victim identification and safeguarding. Participants learned from UK case studies on how to identify and support vulnerable individuals, addressing topics like forced marriages, honour-based abuse, and female genital mutilation.
Amanda Read, the Border Force National Operational lead for Safeguarding and Modern Slavery, highlighted the significance of sharing best practices and understanding the challenges faced in Pakistan. She emphasized the necessity of cooperation to protect vulnerable individuals and prevent exploitation.
Jane Marriott, British High Commissioner, underscored the global nature of modern slavery and human trafficking, advocating for international cooperation. She stressed that early victim identification is crucial in tackling these tragedies.
The training was well received, with officers acknowledging the importance of safeguarding potential victims. The sessions equipped them with the knowledge to identify victims early, support them effectively, and comprehend the profound impact of trafficking on individuals.
On July 30, the ‘World Day Against Trafficking in Persons’, the international community highlights the urgency of addressing human trafficking. This crime involves recruiting, transporting, transferring, harbouring, or receiving people through force, fraud, coercion, or deception for exploitation. Pakistan ranks 4th in Asia Pacific for modern slavery risks and 18th globally.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Pakistan plays a crucial role in border control, criminal investigation, counter-intelligence, and security. The UK Border Force, a law enforcement command within the Home Office, secures the UK border through immigration and customs controls at 140 sea and air ports across the UK and overseas.
This collaborative effort between the UK and Pakistan marks a significant step towards strengthening the fight against modern slavery and human trafficking, aiming for better protection of the vulnerable and the prevention of all forms of exploitation.
