Caritas Pakistan

On 20 August 2009 Caritas Pakistan organized Day of Prayer for the victims of human trafficking in Press Club Rahim Yar Khan. Rahim Yar Khan is one of the districts of South Punjab that is highly prone to human trafficking. The representatives from media, civil society, other faiths/religions and Child Protection Bureau participated in the day of prayer. The main objective was to sensitize media and general public on the issue of human trafficking and gain their support for the prevention of this scourge.

This activity was organized as a result of a research study on camel jockeys carried our by Caritas Pakistan. In the framework of the research, the team of Caritas Pakistan recorded interviews of children who were trafficked as camel jockeys and their parents for the preparation of a documentary. The camel jockey children, their parents, muslim leaders, representatives of Caritas Pakistan, and staff of Child Protection Bureau Rahim Yar Khan joined the day of prayer to show solidarity and pray for the victimized children and their families.

The main speakers in the Press Club included Mr Jamil Azhar (Editor Khabrain), Samuel Clement (Executive Secretary Caritas Pakistan Multan), Amir Irfan, and Mr. Farhan Amir (Child Protection Bureau). Further Mr. Jamil Azhar (Editor Khabrain, Mr. Sukh Dev Jee (Hindu representative), and Babu Danial offered prayers to express solidarity with the victims of human trafficking. More than 40 participants were in attendance including several persons from print and electronic media.