Sindh has 22 labor laws and each district has a District Vigilance Committee. Sindh Human Rights Commission highlights gaps in Sindh’s legislation
Karachi, Sindh
The critical issues of Trafficking in Persons and Bonded Labor in Sindh were discussed at a session organized by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO), in collaboration with the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) here on Wednesday October 2, 2024.
A preliminary coordination meeting and orientation of the Working Group members on combatting trafficking in persons was held at a local hotel in Karachi. The meeting brought some members of Sindh Assembly to lay the foundation for a collaborative approach in addressing these pressing human rights challenges.
Syed Kausar Abbas, Executive Director of SSDO explained that trafficking in persons involves the buying and selling of human beings, treating them as commodities and subjecting them to exploitation and modern-day slavery. This includes forced beggary, child labor, commercial sexual exploitation, prostitution, and organ harvesting.
He added that addressing these issues is the international, legal and moral obligation for combating the menace of trafficking in persons and bonded labor in Pakistan.
Emphasizing the implementation of Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act 2018 to address the menace of Trafficking in Persons and Bonded Labor in Pakistan, he said that the role of parliamentarians is crucial to ensure the legislative oversight and awareness at the constituency level on the issue. “The working group will be effectively playing its part in developing rules of the province and file questions, adjournment motions and resolutions in the Sindh Assembly,” he said.
Iqbal Ahmed Detho, Chairperson of the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), discussed the International Parliamentary Union and various legislative matters, including Article 142.B, criminal law, criminal procedure, and evidence. He highlighted the Sindh Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act, 2015 and stressed the important role of parliamentarians in influencing areas such as inviting technical experts to standing committees, enabling legislation.
Read: Recruiting agencies accused of Trafficking and Smuggling of Humans
Detho noted that Sindh has 22 labor laws, and each district has a District Vigilance Committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner. He also pointed out gaps in Sindh’s legislation, such as the absence of a law governing Dar-ul-Aman and the lack of daycare centers in the Secretariat premises.
Additionally, Detho mentioned that less than 8% of property rights are given to women in Sindh and shared that there is only one remand home in Karachi and another in Nawabshah. He expressed SHRC’s intent to engage the Speaker of the Assembly to organize training sessions for parliamentarians on standing committees. He outlined SHRC’s role in conducting research, studying treaties and international human rights instruments, making recommendations for effective implementation, and regularly updating human rights protection policies.
Read: Life of slavery — bonded labor in Pakistan
The meeting was attended by several MPAs, including Rehana Laghari, Mahesh Kumar Hasija, Rehan Bandukda, Muhammad Farooq, Khurunisa Mughal, Rukhsana Parveen, Sikandar Khatoon, Tanzila Umme Habiba, Engineer Syed Usman, Naseer Ahmed, Abdul Waseem, Bilal Hussain Khan Jadoon, and Hillar Wassan. (PR)
Read: Special Registration Drive for Brick Kiln Workers in Sindh
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