Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a country located in South Asia that has experienced years of political instability, conflict, and social unrest. These factors have contributed to the country’s vulnerability to human trafficking, which has become a serious problem in recent years.

In Afghanistan, human trafficking takes many forms, including forced labor, sex trafficking, and forced marriage. Victims of trafficking may be women and children who are forced into prostitution, domestic servitude, or other forms of exploitative labor, or men and boys who are forced to work in hazardous conditions in industries such as mining, construction, and agriculture.

The conflict in Afghanistan has also created a large population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are particularly vulnerable to trafficking. IDPs are often forced to flee their homes and communities due to violence or natural disasters, and may end up in camps or informal settlements where they are at risk of being exploited.

Despite efforts by the Afghan government and international organizations to combat trafficking, the problem remains pervasive. Factors such as poverty, lack of education, and social norms that devalue the rights of women and girls contribute to the problem, making it difficult to address in a sustainable manner.

Addressing human trafficking in Afghanistan requires a multi-faceted approach that includes prevention, protection, and prosecution. This includes strengthening legal frameworks to prosecute traffickers, providing support and assistance to victims, and promoting education and awareness to prevent trafficking and reduce vulnerability to exploitation.

 

 

121 arrests in operation against migrant smuggling and human trafficking – INTERPOL
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121 arrests in operation against migrant smuggling and human trafficking – INTERPOL

Operation Storm Makers busts criminal networks profiting from the movement of vulnerable men, women and children across borders. Organ traffickers in Turkey staged wedding photos between recipients and donors to mislead hospital ethics checks.  LYON, France – An INTERPOL-coordinated operation targeting migrant smuggling and human trafficking has triggered 121 arrests across 25 countries, prompting 193…

GLO.ACT facilitates workshop on legislation and possible solutions to counter migrant smuggling in Kurdistan Region of Iraq
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GLO.ACT facilitates workshop on legislation and possible solutions to counter migrant smuggling in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Erbil, KRI – 23 March 2022 – Over the past nine months, the issue of migrant smuggling and how best to address this crime has gained momentum in Iraq. To support counterparts in Iraq UNODC, under the framework of the Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT-Asia and the Middle East),…

Promoting women in law enforcement: Ambrin’s story
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Promoting women in law enforcement: Ambrin’s story

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and speak about some of the personal challenges you have overcome?  My name is Ambrin Kanwal, and I have worked for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Pakistan since 2015. I have 7 sisters and 4 brothers, and my father is a retired army officer. I belong…

The South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC) endorses the legal checklist to better protect the region’s children from sexual exploitation
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The South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC) endorses the legal checklist to better protect the region’s children from sexual exploitation

SAIEVAC, the South Asia regional movement to end violence against children by South Asian governments and Civil Society organisations (NACGs) from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, during a virtual briefing organised with ECPAT International on 17 May 2022, agreed to take steps to review and improve their legal and policy…

GLO.ACT provides Women’s Network members with soft-skill training to maximize their impact in countering human trafficking and migrant smuggling
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GLO.ACT provides Women’s Network members with soft-skill training to maximize their impact in countering human trafficking and migrant smuggling

Vienna, Austria – 26 May 2022 –To continue to strengthen the resilience of members of the GLO.ACT Women’s Network, GLO.ACT ran a workshop on work-life balance on 24 May 2022, featuring an exciting panel of women representatives from GLO.ACT countries. Panellists shared their insights on how to best manage the work-life balance, offering tips and advice…

Engaging stakeholders to counter human trafficking: UNODC provides platform for the Sindh Anti-Human Trafficking Committee to hold a provincial consultation
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Engaging stakeholders to counter human trafficking: UNODC provides platform for the Sindh Anti-Human Trafficking Committee to hold a provincial consultation

Karachi, Pakistan – 25 May 2022 – UNODC, under the framework of the EU funded GLO.ACT project and in collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), has been advocating with federal and provincial authorities to establish Trafficking in Persons (TIP) coordination committees across the country. As a result of this advocacy work, the government of…

Human Trafficking Around the World:  Statistics to Know
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Human Trafficking Around the World:  Statistics to Know

Human trafficking is synonymous with the term “modern slavery,” and while this might feel like a nefarious comparison, it is the reality. No, “modern slavery” is not a marketing term that was created to instill fear into the public about the horrors of human trafficking. On the contrary, it is an accurate depiction and a…

Health Care Providers Are Missing Signs of Human Trafficking / Modern Slavery
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Health Care Providers Are Missing Signs of Human Trafficking / Modern Slavery

“88% of nearly a hundred trafficking victims had contact with a health care provider at some point while being trafficked” Thousands of sex trafficking victims filter through the U.S. health care system each year. Words and Photos by Isabella Gomes This article appeared in print as “What Doctors Are Missing” in the Spring 2020 issue of Hopkins Bloomberg…

Developing legislation to address migrant smuggling: GLO.ACT facilitates the first drafting committee meeting
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Developing legislation to address migrant smuggling: GLO.ACT facilitates the first drafting committee meeting

Baghdad, Iraq – 20 April 2022 – The issue of migrant smuggling and how best to address this crime has gained momentum in Iraq. To support Iraqi counterparts UNODC, under the framework of GLO.ACT Asia and the Middle East organized workshops bringing together diverse stakeholders to identify pathways likely to facilitate the drafting of national…

GLO.ACT holds second police training on investigation techniques in cases of human trafficking and migrant smuggling
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GLO.ACT holds second police training on investigation techniques in cases of human trafficking and migrant smuggling

Sulaymaniyah, KRI – 28 March 2022– The second of a three-part series of training for police and judicial investigators on the “Investigation of Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants” took place from 14 to 18 March 2022 in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). 29 officers from Baghdad, Diyala, Salaheddin, Anbar, Al-Qadisya and the…