HRCP Urges Pakistan to End Enforced Disappearances and Human Trafficking
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has released a charter of demands calling for the end of enforced disappearances in Pakistan. The HRCP emphasized that enforced disappearances are a crime against humanity under international law.
Key Demands
The eight-point charter includes:
- Immediate and safe recovery of all victims of enforced disappearances.
- Ensuring accused individuals receive fair trials and due process.
- Making enforced disappearances a criminal offense.
- Implementing the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances in Pakistan.
- Holding accountable those involved in enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and custodial torture.
- Creating a transparent mechanism for victims and their families to claim reparations.
- Allowing victims’ families to exercise their right to freedom of expression and assembly safely.
- Inviting the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to review the situation in Pakistan.
Human Trafficking Report
HRCP also released a report on human trafficking in Pakistan, highlighting it as a severe human rights violation. The report noted that victims of human trafficking face torture, extortion, rape, blackmail, imprisonment, and even death.
The report pointed out that irregular migration through human trafficking networks is often driven by economic coercion. It documented the journey of an irregular migrant from Punjab to Turkiye, revealing that unemployment, lack of opportunities, poverty, insecurity, and conflict are the main causes of irregular migration from Pakistan.
Human trafficking networks operate like criminal enterprises, targeting young and vulnerable individuals and encouraging them to migrate to Western countries. Many former refugees become human traffickers themselves, perpetuating the cycle.
Doubts Revealed
HRCP -: HRCP stands for Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. It is an organization that works to protect and promote human rights in Pakistan.
Enforced Disappearances -: Enforced disappearances happen when people are secretly taken away by the government or other groups, and their families don’t know where they are or what happened to them.
Human Trafficking -: Human trafficking is when people are tricked or forced into doing work or other activities against their will. It is a serious crime and a violation of human rights.
Charter -: A charter is a document that outlines important points or demands. In this case, HRCP’s charter lists what needs to be done to stop enforced disappearances.
Crime Against Humanity -: A crime against humanity is a very serious crime that affects many people. It includes actions like murder, enslavement, and enforced disappearances.
Economic Coercion -: Economic coercion means forcing someone to do something because they need money or resources. It often happens when people are very poor and have no other options.