Memorandum submitted by Stop The Traffik
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 STOP THE TRAFFIK welcomes the International
Development Committee's inquiry into DFID's development assistance
in Afghanistan.
1.2 STOP THE TRAFFIK welcomes the UK Government's
commitment to reconstruction and development in Afghanistan, in
order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and improve
security.
1.3 STOP THE TRAFFIK believes that effectively
delivering development assistance in insecure environments can
only be achieved if the implications of human trafficking are
taken into account.
2. INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AND
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
2.1 STOP THE TRAFFIK urges recognition of
the links between international development and human trafficking.
This can be demonstrated through addressing the issues raised
by the MDGs.
2.2 MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and
hunger
International Labour Organisation 2005: The
majority of trafficked victims arguably come from the poorest
countries and poorest strata of the national population.
2.3 MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education
US Department of State Trafficking in Persons
Report 2005: Approximately 50% of people trafficked across
international borders each year are minors.
2.4 MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower
women
US Department of State Trafficking In Persons
Report 2005: Approximately 80% of people trafficked across
borders each year are female.
2.5 MDG 4: Reduce child mortality
Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP)
Centre Report 2007: Pregnancy is used as an instrument of oppression
on trafficked girls, and babies are removed and killed whilst
their trafficked mothers are forced to work.
2.6 MDG 5: Improve maternal health
Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP)
Centre Report 2007: Trafficked girls are abused and abandoned
once they become pregnant, decreasing their life-chances.
2.7 MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and
other diseases
Journal of the American Medical Association
(JAMA) Study 2007: The trafficking of women increases the spread
of HIV/AIDS, with girls being particularly at risk.
2.8 MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
The Statesman Newspaper Report 2007: Environmental
problems and rising townships contribute to the rise in human
trafficking.
2.9 MDG 8: Develop a global partnership
for development
UK Department for International Development
Report 2006: Poverty, debt, and youth disenchantment lead to
the trafficking of people for bonded labour, forced domestic service,
and other forms of slavery.
2.10 As such, the implications of the links
between international development and human trafficking impact
on DFID's work in Afghanistan.
3. AFGHANISTAN
AND HUMAN
TRAFFICKING
3.1 The US Department of State's 2007 Trafficking
In Persons Report declares that:
Afghanistan is a source, transit, and destination
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes
of commercial sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude. Afghan
children are trafficked internally and abroad for forced marriage
to settle debts or disputes, forced begging, debt bondage, service
as child soldiers, or other forms of involuntary servitude. Afghan
women are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation, and men
are trafficked for forced labour ... The Government of Afghanistan
does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination
of trafficking ... Afghanistan made limited progress in preventing
trafficking in persons. [170]
3.2 STOP THE TRAFFIK believes that these
issues hinder international development, and only when DFID addresses
the implications of human trafficking can development assistance
be effectively delivered in Afghanistan.
4. POINTS ADDRESSED
4.1 One of the objectives of DFID's programme
in Afghanistan must be to tackle human trafficking, without which
the MDGs cannot be achieved. This would balance multiple goals
including poverty reduction, development assistance, and basic
human rights, and by developing tailored programmes for identified
people groups vulnerable to human trafficking, short-term gains
can contribute to long-term transformation. This would improve
the security of the beneficiaries of DFID's programme in insecure
environments such as Afghanistan.
4.2 Comparable studies in other countries
demonstrate how varying levels of poverty between the northern
and southern regions of a country are directly related to varying
degrees of vulnerability to human trafficking, and patterns of
movement and exploitation. Funding should be distributed to areas
where people are most likely to be trafficked, as this in turn
would help tackle insecurity and poverty.
4.3. Strengthening institutional capacity
and accountability is crucial to combat corruption, which both
facilitates and is facilitated by inequality and human trafficking.
Frontline training in identifying and supporting victims of human
trafficking for personnel such as border and immigration officials
and health and education practitioners would augment institutional
capacity and accountability.
4.4 The military and development effort
must be coordinated to help tackle human trafficking. Previous
cases have demonstrated an increase in the trafficking of women
for prostitution to service both foreign and domestic military
personnel in insecure environments. Both UK and other military
service personnel should be trained on the implications of human
trafficking, and standards enforced.
4.5 The above point also marks out tensions
between development and security agendas. All areas of assistance
must be coordinated and adopt a holistic approach, with the achievement
of the MDGs taking precedence.
4.6 The effectiveness of the Post Conflict
Reconstruction Unit would be enhanced if they rescued, rehabilitated,
and reintegrated identified victims of human trafficking, exploitation,
and other worst forms of child labour. This would aid the reconstruction
of communities following violence and upheaval.
4.7 Recent evidence from the Child Exploitation
and Online Protection Centre Scoping Report 2007 indicates a hidden
pattern of children being trafficked to farm narcotics. Policies
must recognise and address this growing trend.
4.8 The US Department of State's 2007 Trafficking
In Persons Report recommends that Afghanistan institute a formal
mechanism to refer trafficking victims to NGO protection services.
NGO shelters and other activities should be protected and actively
supported.
4.9 STOP THE TRAFFIK therefore urges the
International Development Committee to address these issues, integrate
anti-trafficking into its Inquiry into Afghanistan, and mainstream
tackling human trafficking in all its work.
170 http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2007/82805.htm Back
| 
