![Picture](/uploads/5/3/6/0/53608687/5682520.png?322)
One of the most controversial topics around the world is Human Trafficking and it just so happens that Pakistan is currently the 3rd largest source of it, according to the United Nations (2014). By definition, human trafficking is the illegal movement of people, typically for the purposes of forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. The most common result of human trafficking in Pakistan is bonded labor*. Currently as of 2015, there have been over 200,000 cases of Human Trafficking according to the State Government of Pakistan. This can be a cause of severe poverty within the country itself. Additionally, to fuel the problem, "Pakistan hosts more refugees then any other country in the world" (International Organization For Migration). So far not much has been done by the Pakistani government to counteract this problem even though they have developed a plan to fight it.
As of now there are countless cases of human trafficking that are taking place in Pakistan everyday. The most common victims of human trafficking and bonded labor are women and children. Human trafficking and bonded labor are caused by poverty and strife which make it very difficult for many Pakistani families to meet their basic needs. Having that combined with high illiteracy and unemployment rates; there will be people in Pakistan who are willing to sell off their children. In Pakistan children and women are often bought, sold, rented, or kidnapped and then forced to work in illegal panhandling rings, domestic slavery, agricultural labor, or even prostitution. This is in direct violation of the 4th article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The 4th article states, "No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms." Pakistani human traffickers are forcing women and children into servitude and trade, which is a direct violation of the rights sated in the 4th article.
Not only are thousands of women and children are being forced into servitude, prostitution, and bonded labor, but they are also being treated in an extremely inhumane manner. The women and children that are forced into bonded labor are consistently physically and mentally abused. Here is just one girl's story of how she was abused as a slave to death by her owner:
"Fizza, 15, was working for an educated family in Defence, Lahore. She started working at the age of nine with her mother and later on, she was left there, all alone. Her landlord made her an object of punishment and penance. She was beaten on a routine basis and was denied medical treatment, even when her bones and joints were broken. She used to be tied by her wrists and ankles by a tight rope, as punishment. She was unconscious when they finally brought her to the hospital, and remained in a coma for two days. After that, her lungs stopped working and her brain ruptured, causing her death." (Umar Riaz, journalist for The Express Tribune Blogs)
This directly violates article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states, "No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." Fizza was just one of thousands of other women and children who are subjected to cruel treatment and punishment by human traffickers and slave owners. Human traffickers are taking away this
right from the victims of human trafficking and bonded labor. Action must be taken immediately in order to stop human trafficking and the consequences that follow.
*Bonded Labor is a person's pledge of their labor or services as security for the repayment for a debt or other obligation. The services required to repay the debt may be undefined, and the services' duration may be undefined.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights Articles used:
Article 4.
As of now there are countless cases of human trafficking that are taking place in Pakistan everyday. The most common victims of human trafficking and bonded labor are women and children. Human trafficking and bonded labor are caused by poverty and strife which make it very difficult for many Pakistani families to meet their basic needs. Having that combined with high illiteracy and unemployment rates; there will be people in Pakistan who are willing to sell off their children. In Pakistan children and women are often bought, sold, rented, or kidnapped and then forced to work in illegal panhandling rings, domestic slavery, agricultural labor, or even prostitution. This is in direct violation of the 4th article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The 4th article states, "No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms." Pakistani human traffickers are forcing women and children into servitude and trade, which is a direct violation of the rights sated in the 4th article.
Not only are thousands of women and children are being forced into servitude, prostitution, and bonded labor, but they are also being treated in an extremely inhumane manner. The women and children that are forced into bonded labor are consistently physically and mentally abused. Here is just one girl's story of how she was abused as a slave to death by her owner:
"Fizza, 15, was working for an educated family in Defence, Lahore. She started working at the age of nine with her mother and later on, she was left there, all alone. Her landlord made her an object of punishment and penance. She was beaten on a routine basis and was denied medical treatment, even when her bones and joints were broken. She used to be tied by her wrists and ankles by a tight rope, as punishment. She was unconscious when they finally brought her to the hospital, and remained in a coma for two days. After that, her lungs stopped working and her brain ruptured, causing her death." (Umar Riaz, journalist for The Express Tribune Blogs)
This directly violates article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states, "No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." Fizza was just one of thousands of other women and children who are subjected to cruel treatment and punishment by human traffickers and slave owners. Human traffickers are taking away this
right from the victims of human trafficking and bonded labor. Action must be taken immediately in order to stop human trafficking and the consequences that follow.
*Bonded Labor is a person's pledge of their labor or services as security for the repayment for a debt or other obligation. The services required to repay the debt may be undefined, and the services' duration may be undefined.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights Articles used:
Article 4.
- No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
- No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
This is an another woman's story of how she was physically abused as a human trafficking victim.
Warning this video may contain disturbing content.
Warning this video may contain disturbing content.