Challenges in Implementing International and Domestic Laws

This paper focuses on the challenges Pakistan faces regarding the Implementation of international and domestic laws on human trafficking where proper actions against this widespread problem are difficult to take. Among these challenges, one of the challenges is a low level of awareness and understanding of human trafficking. A lot of people, police inclusive, or the public at large, have limited understanding of the different strands of trafficking, victims’ rights or laws that seek to protect against these vices. This ignorance can result in unsuccessful investigations of trafficking cases and totally non-recognition of victims, which aggravates the circle of violence and abduction (Baig, 2024).

Each year, more instances of human trafficking are reported in Pakistan due to corruption and collusion with law enforcement and other governmental agencies. Corrupt practices erode the legal standards and make it possible for trafficking criminals to go scot-free. There is some information that some officials are involved either directly or indirectly in trafficking; they continue to tolerate the process in exchange for money (Khan et al., 2018). They not only weaken the law enforcement process so that several existing rules can never be implemented but also undermine people's confidence in authorities that are meant to safeguard the weaker sections of society.

Lack of funds and support is, therefore, any nation's biggest challenge in fighting human trafficking, as well as the weak transport networks. Police remain ill-equipped and understaffed, as do most attorneys, detectives, and forensic experts who are wary of investigating and convicting traffickers. The lack of institutional structures for conducting operations against human trafficking makes fighting this phenomenon even more difficult (Baig, 2024). As well, no provision of victim support services that include shelters and rehabilitation centres means that survivors cannot get the support they require for restoration.

Another major operational difficulty in Pakistan is the identification of victims truffled into human trafficking. It is all legitimised by cross-sectional specimens of the fact that many victims do not report the crime due to fear, shame or ignorance about their rights. Besides, because trafficking is a hidden business, victim identification and rescue are also a problem for law enforcement agencies (Yousaf & Purkayastha, 2015). Another challenge that is born from the trade’s structure, which increasingly consists of trafficking networks with cross-border dimensions, is the identification and protection of victims. The flows involve some or all of the components of trafficking, making it difficult to police due to its cross-border nature, where collaboration is usually limited (Baig, 2024).

In this context, analysing the cultural and social factors can also explain why human trafficking is still prevalent in Pakistan. This is because societal culture and perception towards women and usually the vulnerable in society make them vulnerable to trafficking (Baig, 2024, para 15). Also, the ordinary act of trafficking can develop a negative connotation, which keeps victims from reporting their condition or seeking assistance, Therefore perpetuating the problem in specific geographic areas.

The effect of human trafficking In Pakistan is extensive and cuts right across the whole social and economic life of the country. In this social aspect, trafficking leads to the breakage of families and societies, hence increasing the vulnerability of the most vulnerable in societies. Economically, it pulls people out of the labour market and increases the cost of supporting social welfare programs (Wheaton et al., 2010). Victims often suffer from a form of trauma that may lead to everything from mental illness, substance abuse and social readjustment problems (Yousaf & Purkayastha, 2015).

However, human trafficking has a close relationship with organized crime and terrorism. The traffickers are most times part of other criminal cartels involved in other criminal activities such as drug peddling and arms dealing. This interrelation can cause the linked organizations to elaborate security issues in Pakistan as some of these networks may fund terrorism besides other kinds of violence (Wheaton et al., 2010). Criminal and consumer justice expenses and losses in economic productivity due to illicit business and services, where victims were trafficked to provide, and customers sought sexual exploitation and forced labour, psychologically and were burdensome on Pakistan's ailing economy (Wheaton et al., 2010).

Coping with Challenges

The problems encountered with the application of both international and domestic legislation combating human trafficking include significant challenges in responding to this Issue in Pakistan. Solving such problems implies intersectoral cooperation for the enhancement of the legal basis and practical measures, improvement of the identification of victims and their assistance, an increase of awareness and educational activities, promotion of international cooperation, and encouragement of the combating of social and economic factors motivating trafficking.

The lack of adequate laws and failure in Implementation need strong legal reform for counteracting human trafficking in Pakistan. Although the existing laws are fairly extensive, most of them remain poorly implemented because of insufficient funding, authorities’ lack of training in these affairs, and inefficiency of cooperation between the police departments. For example, risk factors: the identification of trafficking victims still presents a major problem when reporting and/or when misdiagnosed owing to the covert nature of trafficking (Hill, 2023). Authorization of adequate laws that define trafficking and prescribe the requirement that law enforcement agencies undergo legal training can make the identification of traffickers and subsequent prosecution easier. However, getting organizations from government and non-government and community organizations working together to come up with policies help in eradicating the challenges of trafficking (Macy & Graham, 2012).

Enhancing the recognition and support of the victims is another crucial issue that should be discussed. Trafficking survivors experience many challenges to service utilization, such as isolation, fear of police, and lack of knowledge about services (Brace et al., 2018). This is especially important since the establishment of victims falls under the responsibility of healthcare professionals, but many of whom remain unaware of how to notice traffic victims or even how they should respond (Ross et al., 2015). Using trauma-informed care or culturally competent methods can enhance recognition of those involved and their subsequent related intervention (Hemmings et al., 2016). Moreover, aftercare services should be set to ensure the inclusion of all kinds of services offered, such as legal, psychological and accommodation services, to support trafficking survivors' recovery and reintegration (Macy & Graham, 2012).

Teaching people about human trafficking and increasing their knowledge of this problem is crucial for developing a community in which people would be able to prevent this problem. There is a need to use public campaigns to inform communities about the warning signs, the rights of victims and where they can get help (Combs & Arnold, 2021). Lastly, educational institutions themselves can also come in by helping to implement awareness of trafficking into their academic systems so as to ensure learners of today are able to stand up against human trafficking once they find themselves in society. Finally, further education and training for healthcare givers, social workers and the police will increase their knowledge about trafficking and its effects and also increase their capacity for responding to the victims (Macias‐Konstantopoulos, 2016).

There is also the need to improve the cooperation that exists between countries because many of the cases relating to the sale of human beings are cross-national. Pakistan can learn from other countries through cooperation with international organizations like the United Nations and Interpol, were trying to fight against trafficking networks by sharing successful practices, important resources, and intelligence information (Surtees, 2013). Moreover, the two countries should be able to agree on combating trafficking by immediately heading to the side of the victim and giving them proper assistance in whichever country they belong to. It can also involve cooperation in sharing training with law enforcement and judicial personnel to standardize and meet the trafficking cases (Sweileh, 2018).

A more efficient way of fighting human trafficking Involves looking at the base of the pyramid where societal and economic causes derive, hence making the solution sustainable. Lack of resources and employment, illiteracy, and unemployment all predispose the inhabitants of Pakistan to traffickers, where many of the victims are women and children (Eviningrum et al., 2019) by offering education, vocational training, economic support to adults to avoid their vulnerability to being trafficked. However, eradicating gender disparity and women's rights could go a long way in combating trafficking, especially since it is a vice that mainly targets this gender (Kakar et al., 2020).