the reporting period. Attempts to seek redress are impeded in part because an Afghan victim would be in grave danger for simply identifying his or her assailant. Prevention During the reporting period, the Government of Afghanistan made no discernible progress in preventing human trafficking. In 2007, a new department for the fight against human trafficking was established within the Criminal Investigation Directorate as a coordinating unit. The MOWA Initiative to Strengthen Policy and Advocacy through Communications and Institution Building launched and partially funded a public information campaign with foreign donor support. The campaign consisted of billboards, radio spots, and a short radio drama series on trafficking, and targeted all 34 provinces. Monitoring reports confirmed increased awareness of trafficking issues. The ANP worked to improve its age verification procedures in order to eliminate child soldiers from its ranks. While the government issued some birth certificates and marriage certificates, many citizens in rural areas do not request or obtain these documents; fewer than ten percent of children are registered at birth. The government did not take steps to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts or forced labor during the reporting period. In December 2009, the Monitoring, Reporting and Response Steering Committee was formed to write an action plan for the government's work with UN Task Forces on Trafficking and Children in Armed Conflict; this action plan has not been completed to date. Afghanistan is not a party to the 2000 UN TIP Protocol. In 2008, the Afghan government passed a law to combat kidnapping and human trafficking, which provides for life imprisonment for sex trafficking and 8–15 years for labor trafficking. In 2017, the Afghan president signed a new penal code that bans and punishes Baja-Bazi. In 2018, a referral network of NGO's and media (ANCTIP) was founded to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling in Afghanistan. The aim is to support the 2017 law against human trafficking. See also Child slavery Commercial sexual exploitation of children Exploitation of labour Slavery Sexual slavery Hate crime Human rights Human trafficking War economy Women in Islam Islam and children War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) References