Survival of a fortuneless fortuneteller

Pages: 190-197
Anwaar Mohyuddin and Hafeez-ur-Rehman Chaudhry (Department of Anthropology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan)

The main objective of this study was to have an in-depth understanding about the professional baggers who have been praying and forecasting the fortunes against the alms. This profession creates a demand for women and children trafficking. An attempt has been made to understand the overall demand side of trafficking in this region, that is, the specific destinations and sectors in which the victims of trafficking are engaged, abused, exploited and the underlying dynamics of each of those sectors; the employers who engage such trafficked children in WFCL; the clients of CSEC including the pedophiles; the third parties involved in this crime; how different socio-economic, developmental, labor and migration issues act in shaping the demand side of trafficking; and the overall state policy, legal and socio-cultural context that allows and nurture the use of trafficked victims. The study makes recommendations for action/consideration by constituent entities, the United Nations system and civil society, including remedies and preventive and rehabilitative measures, at the national and international levels. It is hoped that the study will be a dynamic force for change and by fostering advocacy for, and promoting proven interventions to prevent violence against women and children, and will be a catalyst for the mobilization of resources and political will at the international and national levels that are required to address the problem. It also expected that the study will stimulate the creation of networks and partnerships directed at the elimination of violence against women and children.