Kabul – Afghanistan has launched its first national referral network of NGOs and media to combat trafficking in persons. The Afghanistan Network for Combating Trafficking in Persons (ANTCIP) is part of a multi-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded activity, implemented by the U.N. International Organization for Migration (IOM) to strengthen the country’s capacity to more effectively respond to trafficking in persons.

“Trafficking in persons is a serious concern in Afghanistan. Strengthening the capacity of national NGOs to help the Afghan government in effective implementation of the new Law to combat trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants is the key purpose of this network’ ’said IOM Afghanistan Chief of Mission Laurence Hart.

ANTCIP will also build public awareness about the new Trafficking in Persons Law of 2017, and advocate for the Government of Afghanistan to enforce the law.

“Human trafficking continues to affect the lives of millions of people,” said USAID Mission Director Herbert Smith. “It is important to focus on the rights and needs of victims in the fight against trafficking in persons.”

During a regional NGO forum in Dushanbe, Tajikistan in June 2017, Afghan NGOs working to prevent trafficking in persons and assist victims agreed to coordinate and consolidate efforts in the fight against trafficking. The forum initiated the process of setting up a national network. The network will share information and collaborate with countries bordering Afghanistan to eliminate trafficking across international borders.

“Our role is to advocate to [the] Afghan government the importance and urgent need to implement the new law to prevent trafficking, to protect the victims and to prosecute the traffickers’ said Mohammad Shoaib Nasiri, National Coordinator of ANCTIP.

At the launching event, His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan said, “The Afghan government is committed to counter human trafficking; there is still much to be done. It is crucial now more than ever to cooperate, coordinate, and share responsibility in the fight against human trafficking.” He emphasized the need for all stakeholders responding to human trafficking in Afghanistan to work together to build and sustain the referral network.

Organization of Fast Relief and Development (OFRD) successfully conducted 2nd Action Coordination Group (ACG) where more than 30 Participants took part from CSOs, Government officials, and Community people on Monday 23 December 2019 at OFRD conference hall.
The event was comprised of different sessions including video display, Open discussion among panel and participants and group work.
A brief presentation regarding mining has been presented by OFRD program officer. after that, a brief discussion took place among all the participants and share their concerns regarding all aspects of mining on how to work for people to live in a safe environment in mining areas, at the end a group work was held and each group presented information as per the group work selected issues about mining.

 Organization of Fast Relief and Development (OFRD) successfully conducted Kabul Province 1st Action coordination Group (ACG) meeting with the participation of high-level Government officials, CSO’s and community representatives at OFRD Conference hall.

The ACG Meeting provided an opportunity to undertake, a thorough review of the coordination and cooperation level between Government, CSOs and community people. The Meeting also discussed how to increase the coordination in mobilizing the network experience and encouraging the exchange of expertise and supporting capacity building at the provincial level for bringing positive changes in mining.

The event was comprised of different sessions including video display, presentation, open discussion among panel and participants and group work. In the sessions, there was an open dialogue among the participants, the converse over among the participants made the discussion more remarkable and valuable. Participants have given better concepts and views regarding the subject.

Cordaid’s Strategic Partnership on lobby & Advocacy (SPLA) programme conducted a national workshop on extractives, conflict and fragility from 28 to 29 August 2019. Its participants included civil society organizations (CSOs) and the workshop was held at Cordaid’s Enterprise Academy. This workshop focused on finding the linkages between extractives, conflict and fragility that are relevant to civil society organizations and partners operating in the extractives sector. The workshop participants discussed the main challenges, issues and problems associated with conflict and fragility and brainstormed advocacy efforts including the formulation of recommendations to be shared with national and international policymakers. The workshop suggested to use the recommended ideas as input for the 2020 strategic action plan and share them with politicians and all involved actors to help build a better social contract. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs finances the SPLA project, which includes four trajectories and is implemented in close collaboration with the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kabul. The extractives trajectory of the SPLA aims to strengthen civil society engagement towards extractives and to restore the social contract in fragile states.

OFRD successfully conducted Badakhshan Province 1st Action coordination Group (ACG) meeting with the participation of high level Government officials from Badakhshan province, Director of CSO organizations in Badakhshan, High level officials from governor office and community representatives.

The ACG Meeting provided an opportunity to undertake, a thorough review of the coordination and cooperation level in between Government, CSOs and community people. The Meeting also discussed how to increase the coordination in mobilizing the network experience and encouraging the exchange of expertise and supporting capacity building at the provincial level for bringing positive changes in mining.

The event was comprised of different sessions including video display, presentation, open discussion among panel and participants and group work. In the sessions, there was an open dialogue among the participants, the converse over among the participants made the discussion more remarkable and valuable. Participants have given better concepts and views regarding the subject.

Organization of Fast Relief and Development (OFRD) Badakhshan Provincial office Team successfully conducted Action Coordination Group (ACG) On Tuesday 10-Dec-2019.

In this program more than 40 participants from both Male and Female participated, the event was very productive and consequent, Firstly OFRD Team welcomed the Guests & Participants to the Action Coordination Group (ACG), Then the event started by the recitation of Holy Quran by one of the participants.

After Holy Quran recitation, the participants watched a short documentary regarding Mining and after Watching a documentary, Sayed Akbar Quraishi (OFRD Provincial Program Officer) presented the Presentation and talked about the goals of the conducted event.

Then the speakers and some of the participants talked about the importance of Mining to the participants, the Speakers were from different directorates, Society, Badakhshan Provincial Council members, Youth affairs deputy, People’s elders, Community People as well, everyone is talked about the importance, problems, Challenges of the event which exist in Mining extraction.

One of the community elder and civil society activist added.

It is the first time that I see such a program which is conducted in Badakhshan, it’s completely new and useful as well. As I know, Badakhshan is one of the Provinces which have more mines but the people live in poverty, the government should pay attention to this province. if the government tries to use these natural resources, it can decrease the amounts of poverty in the country, so thanks from OFRD leadership for conducted such events and we hope that such kind of events also conducted in districts as well for purpose of raising public awareness.

One of the representative of DoMP explained the situation of Mines and illegal extraction which caused the government can’t use these resources as well as possible.

and also the Speakers and Participants appreciated OFRD leadership for conducting such events and emphasized for continuing the conducted programs and also told It’s completely useful for public awareness.

Organization of Fast Relief & Development (OFRD) Badakhshan office Team successfully conducted Community Meeting program On Wednesday 04-Dec-2019.

In this event more than 50 participants from both Male and Female participated, the Event started with the recitation of Holy Quran.

After the Holy Quran recitation, the participants watched a short documentary regarding Mining, after Watching a documentary, Sayed Akbar Quraishi (OFRD Provincial Program Officer ) presented the Presentation and talked about the goals of the conducted event.

Then the speakers talked about the importance of Mining to the participants, the Speakers were from different directorates, Civil Society, BDK Provincial Council members, Youth affairs deputy, People’s elders, Community People as well, every participant talked about the importance, problems and Challenges of such events regarding mining, and also the Speakers and Participants appreciated OFRD leadership for conducting such events and emphasized for continuing of the conducted programs and added we have been not seen such events in the past in Badakhshan about Mining and also they add that these kinds of events completely useful for public awareness.

It’s worth mention-able our event was broadcasted by RTA television and two Local Radio as well.