the plague of Afghan children victims of ‘bacha bazi’

Published yesterday the report of the US State Department that monitors interventions to combat human trafficking in 188 countries and territories. Regarding Afghanistan – which is among the nations with the highest level of risk – it denounces the persistent use or recruitment of child soldiers and forms of sexual slavery. The recommendations: law against trafficking and interministerial commission.

Rome (/Agencies) – The persistence of the aberrant form of child slavery “Bacha Bazi” is the central theme of the in-depth look at Afghanistan in the 2024 Report on Human Trafficking published yesterday, June 24, by the Benjamin Franklin Room of the United States Department of State in Washington. At the ceremony, Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the report – which ranks countries on a scale of 1 to 3 based on their efforts – as “a comprehensive and objective assessment of the state of anti-trafficking efforts in 188 countries.” and territories, including the United States.” For more than two decades, this report has documented emerging trends and highlighted areas of progress and setbacks.”

It offers a global vision – based on data collected between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024 – of the plague of trafficking and government interventions to combat it, based on reports from diplomatic organizations, NGOs, academic studies , consulted authorities, journalists, individuals and other sources from all regions of the world. The most critical issues affecting the Taliban-held country highlighted in the report, according to Amu, concern “a pattern of employment or recruitment of child soldiers and sexual slavery, commonly known as bacha bazi, a practice in which “Men exploit children for social and sexual entertainment.” This form of violence, according to testimonies from victims collected by some NGOs, was widespread even before the takeover of Kabul in 2021, and was perpetrated by people with power, such as military commanders, government officials and leaders.

He 2024 Human Trafficking Report gives Afghanistan level 3, the worst: it means that it does not meet minimum standards and that it is not making any effort to combat and eliminate trafficking. In fact, “during the reporting period, Afghan ministries and other public sector institutions did not take significant action,” it notes. Specifically, it is noted that the Taliban and other armed groups involve children in combat and support functions. “The Taliban often recruit children through coercion, fraud and false promises. Groups such as ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) and the National Resistance Front use children in direct hostilities to plant and detonate improvised explosive devices, transport weapons , spy and monitor bases,” the document continues. The recruitment of minors also takes place in madrasas, which in addition to religious indoctrination provide military training. On the other hand, the repression of the rights of women and other discriminated groups does not decrease. The Taliban have continued to undermine the rights of women, members of minority groups and other vulnerable populations,” the report states, “they have hindered the work of NGOs, exacerbating vulnerability to human trafficking and hampering efforts to protect the victims”.

The 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report includes several recommendations for Afghanistan, including “ending the illegal recruitment or use of children by the Taliban, including at the local level, and demobilizing children from all armed groups with protection and support for their reintegration. It also calls for “the ban on using children for sexual slavery (bacha bazi) in the Taliban ranks to be applied.” The report also recommends redoubling efforts to “identify trafficking victims, including through screening for vulnerable populations” and ensure that “victims are not penalized for illegal acts committed as a direct consequence of trafficking.” Finally, the US State Department report calls for “increased cooperation with civil society organizations to assist vulnerable populations, including men and women who are trafficked, and the reopening of shelters for victims throughout the world.” country”. It urges Afghanistan to “enact and implement a comprehensive anti-trafficking law that criminalizes all forms of human trafficking” and to “formally convene an inter-ministerial anti-trafficking commission to coordinate efforts.”