Skip to main content
Serious & Organised Crime
Human Rights & Social Justice
Trafficking in Persons

Human trafficking remains a serious and widespread human rights violation in Pakistan, affecting thousands of individuals—especially women, children, and marginalized communities. Victims are exploited through forced labor, bonded labor, child labor, commercial sexual exploitation, and forced or coerced marriages.

Despite Pakistan’s ratification of key international frameworks, including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), trafficking networks continue to operate with impunity. Weak enforcement, corruption, and deep-rooted socio-economic vulnerabilities allow these crimes to persist, leaving victims without access to justice or protection.

This is not just a criminal justice issue—it’s a crisis of dignity and human rights. Survivors of trafficking often face lifelong trauma, limited access to rehabilitation, and systemic barriers to reintegration.

At the Centre for Human Rights (CFHR), we combat trafficking through a multi-faceted approach that includes research, capacity building, advocacy, and survivor-centered support. Our work focuses on strengthening legal frameworks, empowering communities, and ensuring protection for the most vulnerable.

Our Work

Research & Policy Reform‍

We map trafficking hotspots, analyze trends, and develop policy recommendations to improve law enforcement responses and victim protections.

Victim-Centered Support & Rehabilitation

‍CFHR advocates for legal aid, shelter, psychosocial support, and reintegration services that prioritize the needs and rights of survivors.

Capacity Building for Law Enforcement‍

We work with Criminal Justice Institutions (CJIs) and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to strengthen investigation, prosecution, and victim-sensitive procedures.

Rights-Based Advocacy

‍Our team works to influence legislation and national policy to align with international human rights standards—ensuring stronger legal safeguards for survivors.

Community Empowerment & Prevention‍

We address the root causes of trafficking—including poverty, gender inequality, and climate vulnerabilities—through targeted awareness and education initiatives.

National & Cross-Border Collaboration ‍

We partner with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the National Police Bureau (NPB), and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to strengthen coordination, intelligence-sharing, and alignment with international commitments.

Project: Building Community Resilience to Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in Pakistan | Key Highlights

Where: Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan | When: October 2025 – September 2026

CFHR takes a preventive, community-based approach to trafficking in persons, building the knowledge, confidence and local structures communities need to recognise and respond to exploitation risks themselves. Our flagship resilience project delivered:

  • 🏘️ 86 community members engaged in a participatory needs assessment informing a Resilient Communities Action Plan identifying local vulnerabilities and priority interventions
  • ⚖️ 2 Legal Clinics engaging 13 law students as youth advocates, reaching 124 individuals with legal literacy and awareness support
  • 👥 2 Community Watch taskforces established — conducting 126 door-to-door awareness sessions and 12 community baithaks reaching 138 participants‍
  • 📱 #AwaazBano campaign generating 523,138+ interactions across Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn and Facebook — extending awareness to nearly half a million people nationwide
  • 🛡️ 7 requests for legal aid and referral from members of the public who reached out for help after seeing the campaign
  • 📊 495 direct beneficiaries (57.6% female), including 324 adults, 171 youth, and community members from a religious minority community in Youhanabad

Read full project details here.

Our Global Role

As a member of the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, CFHR brings civil society voices to the forefront—advocating for gender-sensitive, rights-based approaches in counter-trafficking efforts both nationally and internationally.

CFHR has also conducted research and advocacy on Smuggling of Migrants and Firearms Trafficking.

A lightbulb representing an idea next to the question "What is Algorithmic Unfairness" and a large question mark. The logo for "Institute for Responsible Artificial Intelligence & Human Rights" is in the bottom right corner.

Building Community Resilience to Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP)

CFHR's Building Community Resilience to Combat Trafficking in Persons project strengthened community-led prevention of trafficking in Lahore and Peshawar — training youth advocates and community taskforces, running 126 door-to-door awareness sessions and 12 baithaks, and reaching over half a million people through the #AwaazBano campaign.

Building Community Resilience to Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP)

Awaz Bano - Campaign on Trafficking in Person

CFHR’s #AwaazBano campaign, raised awareness of trafficking in persons among youth and the general public through survivor storytelling, practical safety information, and myth-busting content. Reaching over half a million accounts organically, the campaign highlighted the prevalence of deceptive job offers, clarified common misconceptions about trafficking, and engaged audiences—particularly women aged 25–34 in Pakistan and beyond—on exploitation indicators, reporting mechanisms, and available protections.

Awaz Bano - Campaign on Trafficking in Person

Related Publications

Visa fraud and illegal migration threaten Pakistan’s security and credibility, underscoring the need for better regulation, digital verification, and inter-agency coordination.

Preventing Visa Fraud and Illegal Migration

The CFHR and Centre for Governance Research with support and funding from the United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime - Country Office Pakistan, hosted a one-day Conference on organized crime in Lahore on 12th November 2025 and commemorated the 2nd International Day for the Prevention of & Against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime. The Conference prioritized inclusion and meaningful participation of youth and gender, acting as it’s theme and backdrop for dialogue. The event brought together a total of 67 participants, including high-level representatives from government, law enforcement, civil society, academia, international experts, along with youth representatives who were given an equal share of the table for the first time in an organized conference context in Pakistan.

Commemorating the 2nd International Day for the Prevention of & Fight Against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime

The Civil Society Declaration against Transnational Organized Crime, presented by The Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention & Criminal Justice, urges states to fully engage civil society in combating organized crime and implementing the UNTOC. It highlights the critical need to protect and expand civil society spaces, integrate gender, human rights, and victim-centered approaches, and enhance international cooperation across various crime protocols, including human trafficking, migrant smuggling, firearms, and environmental crimes. The Declaration also calls for greater transparency and accelerated progress in the UNTOC Review Mechanism, emphasizing civil society's indispensable role in achieving holistic and effective crime prevention and response.

Civil Society Declaration Against TOC [Pocket Edition]

Local Action, Global Impact

We work across Pakistan, driving legal reform, advocacy, and policy change to protect human rights and empower communities.

Our Work
Our Partners