2007 Trafficking in Persons Report - Center for Women Policy Studies

P A K I S TA N
164
anti-trafficking law, it prohibits slavery under Article
260-261 of its penal code and coerced prostitution
through Article 220. Prescribed punishment for
both crimes are sufficiently stringent and commensurate
with penalties prescribed for other grave
crimes. In July 2006, the Sultan issued Royal Decree
74 prohibiting forced labor and increasing the
applicable penalties , but those penalties — up to
one month in prison or fines — are not sufficiently
stringent to deter this serious offense. In November
2006, the Ministry of Manpower issued a legallyenforceable
circular prohibiting employers from
withholidng workers’ passports; the circular does
not specify penalties for non-compliance, and the
practice continues to be widespread. The government
did not report any prosecutions for trafficking
offenses under these laws in the last year and has
taken no active measures to investigate trafficking
in persons offenses. Oman should significantly
increase criminal investigations and prosecutions
of trafficking offenses. The government should also
follow through with its plans to enact a comprehensive
anti-trafficking law that criminalizes all forms
of trafficking, and assigns penalties both sufficiently
stringent to deter the offense and reflective of the
heinous nature of the crime.
Protection
During the reporting period, Oman made no
significant efforts to improve protections or services
for victims of trafficking. The government continues
to lack a systematic procedure to identify
victims of trafficking among vulnerable
groups, such as illegal migrants and
women arrested for prostitution. In May
and June 2006, the government conducted
sweeps to find, detain and deport illegal
migrant workers; Omani authorities did
not, however, systematically identify
trafficking victims from among the group
of deportees. As a result, victims may
have been detained and deported without adequate
protection. Oman does not offer foreign victims legal
alternatives to their removal to countries in which
they may face hardship or retribution. The government
reports that it encourages victims to assist in
investigations, but authorities often have not investigated
cases of foreign workers who have escaped
exploitative conditions and may have returned them
to their abusive employers or recruiting agencies.
Prevention
Oman made insufficient efforts to prevent trafficking
in persons this year. Oman’s military and police
continued to monitor Oman’s borders to prevent
illegal entry and human smuggling. The government
also developed, in partnership with the Indian
embassy, a pamphlet that will inform Indian workers
of their rights and resources; as of the writing of this
report, however, these pamphlets have not been
distributed.
PAKISTAN (Tier 2)
Pakistan is a source, destination, and transit country
for men, women, and children trafficked for the
purposes of sexual exploitation and involuntary
servitude. Pakistani women and men migrate
voluntarily to the Gulf, Iran, Turkey, and Greece for
work as domestic servants or construction workers.
Once abroad, however, some find themselves
in situations of involuntary servitude when faced
with overwhelming recruitment and transportation
fees, restrictions on their movement, and physical
or sexual abuse. There were no new confirmed
reports of the trafficking of Pakistani boys to the
Middle East to serve as camel jockeys, but some
NGOs contend that Pakistani children are trafficked
to the Gulf for sexual exploitation. Pakistan faces
a significant internal trafficking problem reportedly
involving thousands of women and children
trafficked to settle debts and disputes or forced
into sexual exploitation or domestic servitude.
Unconfirmed estimates of Pakistani victims of
bonded labor are in the millions. Women and children
from Bangladesh, India, Burma, Afghanistan,
Sri Lanka, Nepal, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgz Republic, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and
Tajikistan are also trafficked to Pakistan for sexual
exploitation and involuntary servitude. In addition,
Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Nepali, and Burmese
women are trafficked through Pakistan.
The Government of Pakistan does not fully comply
with the minimum standards for the elimination
of trafficking; however, it is making significant
efforts to do so. During the reporting period,
the government prosecuted traffickers, including
government officials facilitating trafficking, and
continued to refer victims to available protection
services. Pakistan did not, however, demonstrate
efforts to address the serious issues of bonded labor
and other forms of involuntary servitude. Over the
next year, Pakistan should continue to increase its
anti-trafficking efforts, particularly in the areas of
bonded labor, forced child labor, and internal trafficking
for commercial sexual exploitation.
Prosecution
The Government of Pakistan made uneven progress
in prosecuting trafficking this year. Pakistan prohibits
all forms of trafficking in persons through its
2002 Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking