SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION OF BOYS IN SOUTH ASIA A ...

The trafficking NPA is consistent with past government anti-trafficking interventions, which
focus on illegal migration and human smuggling. Government efforts have focused on
strengthening mechanisms to prevent irregular migration and smuggling at air, land and
coastal exit points, with particular emphasis on Iran and the Gulf states as destinations.
The trafficking NPA addresses prevention of human trafficking, prosecution of offenders and
protection of victims. Prevention activities include raising awareness on human smuggling
and trafficking, training of stakeholders, security and control of identity documents,
surveillance of employment recruiting agencies, and data collection. Prosecution activities
focus on inter-agency cooperation, strengthening border controls, training judicial officials
and monitoring immigration. Protection activities emphasize establishment and operation of
shelters to protect victims and witnesses. It is notable that the objectives include measures of
care and protection for victims that are lacking in the NPA against Child Abuse and
Exploitation, such as development of operational procedures for reception, treatment and
reintegration; trial and post-trial witness protection; and repatriation and reintegration
activities. At the same time, the trafficking NPA is primarily focused on victims of crossborder
trafficking and lacks measures to address internal trafficking.
An inter-agency Task Force on Human Trafficking, comprised of law enforcement agencies,
has been established to intercept trafficking victims and apprehend traffickers at points of
origin, transit and cross-border exit from Pakistan. Led by the Federal Investigation Agency,
the Task Force includes police, the Maritime Security Agency and the Coast Guard, among
others. In addition, an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Trafficking, Smuggling and
Illegal Immigration was established by the Office of the Prime Minister. Its function is to
develop and oversee policies to address trafficking, smuggling and similar crimes related to
cross-border movement.
The Federal Investigation Agency has established anti-trafficking units at headquarters and
sub-units throughout the country. According to the NPA, these units are responsible for
identifying and protecting potential or actual victims of trafficking, identifying and
prosecuting offenders, and coordinating the actions of law enforcement agencies and NGOs.
7.4 Programme Responses
7.4.1 Children’s participation
In 2006 in Islamabad, a Children’s Forum was organized in coordination with the meeting of
the first South Asia Forum on Violence against Children. The Forum is composed of SAARC
region governments (represented at the ministerial level), civil society organizations and
children’s groups. In 2005, UNICEF hosted 10 forums with girls and boys in Punjab province
to gather their views, experiences and suggested actions for addressing child sexual abuse and
exploitation. Children participated in revising the National Plan of Action against Child
Abuse and Exploitation, first developed as a separate NPA in 2001 and revised in 2004-2005.
Consultations were held with children, including children at risk, physically challenged
children and child victims of sexual exploitation, and a child-friendly version of the NPA was
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