Muhammad Shahid Khan is a seasoned professional with more than 15 years of experience in research, policy advocacy and lobbying, capacity building and program development & management. He is currently a Senior Director at Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO), where he leads all advocacy portfolios focusing on governance, rule of law, TIP, human, minority and gender rights, and countering violent extremism. He has a passion for writing and has contributed articles to leading newspapers on social inclusion and social cohesion, peace and democratic just governance, inclusive governance, human security, decentralization, parliamentary procedures, legislative development, rule of law, transparency and accountability and civic rights. He previously served as the Program Lead (Aug 2015-Dec 2020) in the CWSA program Equality Inclusion and Participation.

IVLP Impact Award Project: Orientation of Law Enforcement to Victim Centered Approach in Combatting Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in Pakistan

This project enhanced efforts to combat TIP in Pakistan through the effective implementation of the Prevention of Trafficking in Person Act (PTPA) 2018. Specialized training sessions were provided to the police department, particularly the Investigation Officers (IOs), in adopting a victim-centered approach while implementing PTPA-2018. The training sessions covered essential aspects of the law, such as the PTPA provisions, First Information Report (FIR) registration procedures, investigation techniques and the significance of a victim-centered approach in handling TIP cases. The targeted districts for these training sessions included Muzaffar Garh, D. G. Khan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Mirpur Khas, located in Punjab and Sindh provinces, where there is a high incidence of TIP cases and human rights violations.

This article explores the project's impact in-depth and highlights the power of global collaboration and cultural exchange: IVLP Impact Awards Perspectives: Building Stronger Communities: Combatting Human Trafficking through Collaborative Efforts, Part II   | Meridian International Center

“Before this training, we were confused about the offence of child labor, bonded labor, and TIP cases. This training has clarified various dimensions of crime against children.” Project Participant

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Muhammad participated in the IVLP Project Countering Trafficking in Persons (TIP), organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center in partnership with International Citizen Diplomacy of Los Angeles.

Muhammad's exchange experience led to the development of his IVLP Impact Award Project: "During the IVLP experience, I gained a deep understanding about the role of the Orange County and Los Angeles Police Departments and the fact that they have adopted victim-centered approaches to support TIP victims."

U.S. Communities Visited

Los Angeles, CA; Washington, DC

"This project is inspired by the work stakeholders are doing in the U.S. to combat Trafficking in Persons." - Muhammad Shahid Khan

Country: Pakistan

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