What Pakistani Government is doing?
The President of Pakistan promulgated prevention and control of human trafficking Ordinance on 3rd October 2002 to prevent and control human trafficking to protect and assist victims of trafficking. The penalty marked out is a fine and prison sentenced of 7-10 years. Further in May 2005, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed and agreement to help return the re-integrate under age camel racers to their native countries. The UNICEF and Government of UAE and Pakistan took joint responsibility to ensure immediate actions undertaken for smooth repatriation of these children with their families and communities. Since the large majority of children are from the Punjab, the Government of Pakistan gave this important mandate to the provincial government of Punjab and in particular its Child protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB), Lahore.
Rehabilitation arrangements and repatriation of camel jockey children
In persuasion of addressing the issue of safe and speedy return of camel jockeys from UAE, a delegation from Pakistan including Dr. Faiza Asgher, Advisor on children rights Government of the Punjab and country representative UNICEF visited UAE on 7-9 May 2005. An agreement was singed between UNICEF (Gulf) and UAE Govt. to help, return and reintegrate underage Camel Jockeys to their home countries. In this regard, several consultative meetings were held with Overseas Pakistan Foundation, Social Welfare Department (Federal / Provincial), Federal Investigation Authority and UNICEF to chalk out the strategy and plan for safe return, reintegration and rehabilitation of Camel Jockeys.
Provincial Level Consultation:
Child Protection and Welfare Bureau established concrete contacts in order to get legal and other relevant support to kick off the project and a strong liaison was established with SWD Police, FIA, Distt. Govt of Rahim Yar Khan, UNICEF and NGOs. Mr. Zubair Ahmed Shad led the staff members to Rahim Yar khan on a Reconnaissance Mission where the team performed the situation analysis of most affected areas and looked deeper into the Modes Operandi devised by the Agents.
Modes Operandi:
Lahore was decided to be the port of entry for these children who were coming from different Gulf states, especially from United Arab Emirates. Overseas Pakistani Foundation (OPF), UAE Govt., UNICEF joint hands to play their role as partners in smooth repatriation of these children from Arab States. The task of receiving these children, providing shelter, caring, family tracing and giving legal custody to parents, including the follow up monitoring was given to child protection and welfare bureau.
Repatriation Process:
First batch of 22 Camel Jockeys touched the Lahore Airport on 21st June 2005. Dr Faiza Asghar , the country representative of UNICEF, Mr. Omer Abdi and OPF Minister received these kids at the Airport.
In this continuation eight bathes of Camel jockeys have so far been received up till 22nd March, 2006 and the and last camel jockey children was received on 11th November,2006.so for 331 CJCs has been received. All these children were taken into protective custody through Child Protection court and were placed in Child protection Institution and 325 of them have been re-united with their families. 06 children are still in CPIs.
Protective Custody and care at the Child Protection Institutions:
The rehabilitation of these children involves multi pronged strategies addressing the issues of logistics, finances, shelter, health, education, vocational training, social and psychological assessment & support followed by a respectable and secure discharge form the caring units.
Shelter
Health
Education
Socialization
Psychological support
Recreation
Vocational training
> DNA Test case
> Blood Testing of all CJC
>Social investigation & Psychological counseling for each camel jockey
> Immunization of all children against communicable disease (TT, Hiv , DPT, etc.)
> Special recreational facility: Karate, music/folk, visits to Zoo and other interesting places.
Family Tracing and re-unification:
A comprehensive awareness raising through media and Sub-office at Rahim Yar Khan, Multan and Lahore has launched for family tracing. This is facilitating the parents to contact CPWB for child identification and their re-union. This process is undertaken through the child protection court for the legal custody by their parents. This is being carried out in a most transparent and supportive environment.
COMMUNITY SERVICES:
Sub office at Rahim Yar Khan engaged in the following:-
Facilitation to CJCs to re- integrated with families in their respective communities.
Family tracing based on the database received form CPWB.
Family tracing through community contact.
Family tracing through awareness raising at local level.
Receive family reporting for CJCs identification still in Lahore or UAE.
Follow up and monitoring.
Support retuned CJCs for educational and vocational opportunities in their own areas.
REHABILITATION EFFORTS:
The main principle underlying this rehabilitation plan is the realization by the governments and the agencies that these children are the victims and not accused and hence need to be treated with compassion,sympathy and care.
> Community Action Plan developed based on the situational analysis in RYK.
> Area Mapping of the villages/ cluster of CJC is done.
> Compilation of list and profile of returned CJC has been completed.
> Monthly cash grant of Rs. 600/- per month linking with 80% attendance of school/ vocational institute has provided to the 88 CJC and remaining are in process.
> 600 bicycles have been disturbed to provide transportation facility to the CJC and procurement of remaining 125 bicycles is in process.
> To provide vocational training to CJC aged 14 + years Community Organizations has been forced in the vulnerable areas, these COs are going to be registered as CCBs to access the funding for establishment of the vocational training centers.
> Micro –credit facility to the CJC families with in the selected clusters, linkage developing with Khushali Bank, Pakistan Bait ul Mall and other MFIs for financial assistance.
> Local Focal Person (LFP) have been identified in vulnerable areas of R.Y.Khan.
> Trainings of Local Focal Persons on Child Rights, CO’s record keeping communication, leadership & business management skills, roles and responsibilities, community mobilization and monitoring scheduled in for June- Sept 2006.
Nine Community Organization have been formed in identified cluster in R.Y.Khan and 02 COs formed in Muzaffar Garh.
UNICEF is assisting in the following manner:
1. Technical assistance
2. Coordinating agency between UAE Govt. and Pakistan Govt.
Financial Assistance to support the efforts of the CPWB in the areas of residential, logistics for rehabilitation and re-unification of returning children
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