2006年VOA标准英语-Opium Trade in Afghanistan Linked to Human Traf

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
04 September 2006

The Geneva-based International Organization for Migration¹ says there is a connection between the illegal trade of drugs in Afghanistan and human trafficking. IOM is holding a three-day workshop in the Afghan capital, Kabul, to make government officials more aware of the problem and the need for them to take action.

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The International Organization for Migration says given the scale of problems facing Afghanistan, human trafficking does not come out on top. But the organization notes that larger issues like the ongoing² insurgency³, illegal drugs, and massive poverty help create the conditions in which human trafficking thrive. 

Young Afghan farmers gather poppies in their field in Zadi Dusht district of Kandahar, Afghanistan (File photo)

Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of opium⁴. A new U.N. report shows opium cultivation⁵ has been rising sharply.

The Head of IOM's Counter Trafficking Department, Richard Danziguer, tells VOA there is a link between various forms of organized crime, such as the illegal drug trade and human trafficking.

"When there is criminal activity, especially drug trafficking, weapon trafficking, often we will find there is a link to human trafficking as well," he said. "And, then some people actually are forced into working for the opium godfathers, if you will, working as practically slave labor⁶ in the fields cultivating the poppy."

According to the 2006 State Department Report on Trafficking in Persons, Afghanistan is a source country for women and children.

The IOM says children are trafficked within the country to work as beggars or as bonded⁷ labor in the brick kiln⁸ and carpet making industries. It says women and girls are kidnapped or sold for forced marriages. They are pushed into prostitution and sometimes used to settle debts or to resolve conflicts.

Internationally, IOM says Afghan women and girls are being trafficked primarily to Iran, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.

Danziguer says it is very difficult to get figures on how many people are trafficked because it is an illicit⁹ activity and few victims are identified or come forward.

"Any of the global figures you may have heard which range from 600,000 to several million-none of them are scientific figures and this is one of the issues, we along with other organizations, are constantly trying to get a handle on how we can get a better idea of what the scale of the problem is-first of all at the global level and, of course, the national levels as well," he said.

IOM says it will take years to tackle the root causes of human trafficking, such as poverty. But it notes there are measures governments can take to address the problem in the short term.

For example, it says government officials at all levels must be made aware of the problem and law enforcement officers must be taught how to identify trafficking and how to investigate cases. It says families must be educated about the potential dangers of going abroad for work and women must learn that they have human rights that must be respected.

1 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

4 opium   

n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的

参考例句：

• That man gave her a dose of opium.那男人给了她一剂鸦片。
• Opium is classed under the head of narcotic.鸦片是归入麻醉剂一类的东西。

5 cultivation   

n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成

参考例句：

• The cultivation in good taste is our main objective.培养高雅情趣是我们的主要目标。
• The land is not fertile enough to repay cultivation.这块土地不够肥沃，不值得耕种。

6 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

7 bonded   

n.有担保的，保税的，粘合的

参考例句：

• The whisky was taken to bonded warehouses at Port Dundee.威士忌酒已送到邓迪港的保稅仓库。
• This adhesive must be applied to both surfaces which are to be bonded together.要粘接的两个面都必须涂上这种黏合剂。

8 kiln   

n.（砖、石灰等）窑，炉；v.烧窑

参考例句：

• That morning we fired our first kiln of charcoal.那天上午，我们烧了我们的第一窑木炭。
• Bricks are baked in a kiln.砖是在窑里烧成的。

9 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。