Archive : Central Asia

In the first quarter of this year 39 criminal facts in connection with human trafficking were registered in Azerbaijan, the head of department for combating human trafficking of the Interior Ministry, Javad Shikhaliyev, told Trend on Friday. During the reporting period 17 victims of trafficking were found, four criminal groups engaged in human trafficking neutralized, seven people brought to criminal responsibility for these crimes.

The level of human trafficking in Afghanistan has dropped as compared to previous years, government officials said. The Commission to combat human trafficking in its first meeting that was held yesterday in Kabul said Fight against human trafficking in the country has declined the human trafficking issues. Habibullah Ghalib, Justice Minister and Head of the Commission to combat human trafficking said women and children are the real victims of human trafficking in Afghanistan. Mostly drug traffickers are involved in human trafficking, he added.

news.am on December 03, 2011 reported that Artyom Aydinyan, 31, who was wanted for trafficking, was brought to Armenia by Moscow-Yerevan flight on Friday evening. The group of Armenian policemen accompanied him. Aydinyan has been wanted since this February for human trafficking.

outlookafghanistan.net on November 27, 2011 reported that the fourth technical meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) concluded in Kabul on Saturday with the adaptation of a six-point agreement on preventing human trafficking in member states. The two-day meeting, which discussed measures to combat human trafficking and ensure the welfare of woman and children, was attended by representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, as well international organizations. Under the agreement, member states will work to control trafficking in women and children and enhance public awareness on the issue.

iwpr.net on November 21, 2011 reported that Kazakhstan’s geographical location as Central Asia’s gateway to Russia and other countries has made it a stopping-off point for people trafficking. Human rights activists say victims are often brought in from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to be transported on to destinations including Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Greece. Tackling forced labour and sexual exploitation is difficult, because few people are aware of these problems, and also because corrupt police often turn a blind eye.

pda.trend.az on October 28, 2011 reported that about 18 victims of human trafficking on their own will have been placed in safe havens in Azerbaijan this year, Deputy Interior Minister Vilayat Eyvazov to parliament on Friday. He added that each person received medical and psychological assistance. They were provided with the necessary things. During the reporting period, a lump sum was given to 26 victims of human trafficking, 18 people received assistance from the victim assistance fund, and 25 victims received assistance from the Health Ministry.

news.az on October 28, 2011 reported that Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan heard the report of the national coordinator for fight against human trafficking in its plenary meeting held on Friday. National coordinator for fight against human trafficking, First Deputy Interior Minister Vilayat Eyvazov said the law enforcement agencies identified 70 facts of human trafficking, two facts of transplantation of human organs and one fact of a forced labor over the last nine months of 2011. MP Fazil Mustafa said during the debates that not just one body, but the whole society needs to contribute to this fight. “It is reality that great part of owners of minor trade facilities in rural areas employ children aged 12 to 13 years.

news.am on October 24, 2011 reported that there were seventy cases of human trafficking registered in Azerbaijan for nine months, four criminal groupings were revealed, APA reports quoting parliamentary information on National Coordinator for Combating Human Trafficking. Seventeen people were arrested, while twenty seven victims set free.

the Kyrgyz parliament has approved a bill toughening responsibility for human trafficking in the third reading, 24.kg news agency reported. Chairman of the Kyrgyz parliamentary committee on law and order, justice and fight against corruption Turatbek Madylbekov said persons engaged in transportation, concealing, transferring, the sale and purchase of people through coercion, blackmail, fraud, deception, and kidnapping will be sentenced up to five years.

osce.org reported on September 27, 2011 that ways to prevent the trafficking of children from orphanages and special schools was the topic of an OSCE-organized discussion held in Astana today.The event aimed to raise awareness among relevant government agencies on how to improve the protection of particularly vulnerable children, such as those in orphanages and mentally disabled children.