Stakeholders call for end to bonded labour

Urge political parties to include the issue in their election manifesto

KARACHI:

The Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) conducted a consultative session bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss and prioritise the critical issues of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Bonded Labour in the election manifesto of political parties in Pakistan.

The session aimed to foster collaboration among various stakeholders, including representatives from civil society organisations, government agencies, human rights advocates, academics, and media members. It provided a platform for open dialogue, knowledge sharing, and the development of actionable strategies to address the pervasive issues of Trafficking in Persons and Bonded Labour in Pakistan.

SSDO in collaboration with the Sindh Human Rights Commission and US Embassy, Islamabad, organised a quarterly meeting of the stakeholder’s working group on Friday at a local Hotel to discuss the progress on the issues related to trafficking in persons and mainstreaming TIP in the agenda of political parties manifesto.

Senior representatives of PPP, MQM, PTI, TTLP participated in the consultative meeting and endorsed the agenda. During the session, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the current challenges and vulnerabilities associated with TIP and Bonded Labour in the country.

The session emphasised the importance of incorporating comprehensive and effective policy measures in the election manifestos of political parties to combat these issues. Stakeholders urged the political parties to demonstrate a strong commitment to combat Trafficking in Persons and Bonded Labour by including specific and measurable goals in their election manifestos.

Syed Kausar Abbas, Executive Director SSDO believes that addressing Trafficking in Persons and Bonded Labour requires a concerted effort from all sectors of society. By engaging with stakeholders and fostering collaboration, we aim to create a collective impact that will contribute to the eradication of these deeply entrenched issues.

He said that the outcomes and recommendations from this consultative workshop will be compiled into a comprehensive report and shared with political parties, government agencies, and the public to advocate for the inclusion of anti-trafficking and anti-bonded labour measures in the upcoming election manifestos.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2023.