Our Correspondent
Islamabad: US Ambassador in Pakistan, DonaldBlome has said human trafficking is an appalling and pervasive crime. It deprives millions worldwide of their dignity and freedom. It is a global crisis that touches every country, including Pakistan and the United States.
Addressing the International Conference on Combating Trafficking and Bonded Labor of Women and Girls in Pakistan here at a local hotel on Tuesday, Blome said, ”By its nature, the crime of human trafficking is often hidden from view. While the real numbers are hard to confirm, an estimated 27.6 million people around the world are victims of human trafficking, including millions of women and children. “Beyond the harm to individual victims, trafficking-in-persons also undermines national security, distorts markets, enriches transnational criminals and terrorists, and is an affront to our universal values.
These statistics are alarming – but we need to go beyond the numbers and humanize this danger by understanding the experiences of survivors and engaging with those who are actively fighting against this transnational crime,”he said.
In the United States, we follow the widely used “3P” paradigm — prosecution, protection, and prevention – and I am glad to see that it is universalized here as well — to combat human trafficking worldwide. In addition, the Department of State employs a “4th P” — for partnership — as a complementary means to achieve progress and enlist all segments of society in the fight against human trafficking. The US Embassy’s ongoing grant program with the Sustainable Social Development Organization is a testament to the effectiveness of meaningful partnerships between civil society and the public sector, demonstrating how we can expand awareness, leverage expertise, and facilitate creative solutions when we work together.
The toll of human trafficking is borne disproportionately by its survivors; however, it would be a mistake to dismiss the impact it has on all of society. Human trafficking erodes the rule of law, the safety of our communities, the security of our borders, and the strength of our economy. The severity and pervasiveness of this issue demands our collective action. Working together — across government, business, and civil society — is essential in our joint effort to create a fairer and more equitable world.
We are making progress, but there is still a lot of work remaining to do. Through this conference, I hope to see partnerships develop and opportunities for further collaboration explored. Together, we can increase awareness of the risks and consequences of human trafficking, strengthen Pakistan’s capacity to identify and investigate trafficking crimes, and share best practices in assisting and protecting survivors.
The U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Government is committed to supporting Pakistan’s efforts in addressing this critical human rights issue. So thank you everyone for being here today.
