IOM, the National Centre for Human Rights, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Rodnik Social Fund held a press-conference to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime was adopted twenty years ago. Since 2008, when Kazakhstan ratified the Protocol, the Republic significantly improved its national legislation to prosecute trafficking in persons and to protect trafficking victims, the press conference heard. Still, there is a number of challenges to be addressed to eliminate trafficking in persons in Kazakhstan.

Ms. Zere Utebayeva, Head of the National Centre for Human Rights, announced that in 2020 the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Elvira Azimova will collaborate with IOM to  to identify gaps and obstacles that lead to low identification of vistims. Special emphasis will be made on trafficking of migrant workers and ineffective investigation and prosecution of labour exploitation cases.

Figures released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs show that 69 criminal cases on trafficking in persons have been already initiated this year. Ms. Shinar Kucherbayeva, Senior Police Officer of the Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, noted that along with internal trafficking there are cases of trafficking of Kazakh citizens abroad (principally to Bahrain, Republic of Korea, Turkey, and the UAE) and cases of trafficking of foreign citizens to Kazakhstan.

Since 2016 state funding has been provided in the Republic of Kazakhstan to assist victims of trafficking. There  are now 10 state-funded shelters for victims of human trafficking operated by NGOs.

“If a foreign citizen becomes a victim of trafficking in Kazakhstan, the state should be held accountable and provide protection and assistance to the victim,” said Ms. Nina Balabayeva, Director of the NGO Rodnick, who has been chosen as a Trafficking in Person Report Hero in the annual report issued by the U.S. State Department in 2020. "Today, state-funded shelters do not accept foreign citizens temporarily staying in Kazakhstan, and we need to change this approach."

In anticipation of today's press conference, partner NGOs located throughout the country held a multi-day online marathon highlighting various aspects of trafficking in persons. The purpose is to raise awareness among the population about the risks of human trafficking, as well as how to help those who have already ended up in the hands of traffickers.

This year also marks 25 years of the International Organization for Migration's programme on combating trafficking in persons. Globally IOM has assisted over 100,000 women, men, girls and boys trafficked mainly for sexual and labour exploitation. The Global Data Hub on Human Trafficking includes 175 nationalities and 164 countries of exploitation, including Kazakhstan.

From 2004 to 2019, IOM Kazakhstan has assisted almost 2,000 victims of trafficking. At the same time, IOM Missions in other Central Asian countries report higher numbers, because victims apply for assistance only upon returning to their homeland.

IOM's Sub-Regional Coordinator for Central Asia Mr. Zeynal Hajiyev concluded the press conference by noting: “This year our world faces an unprecedented threat to health and well-being of billions of people. The pandemic and ensuing economic recession have made vulnerable populations, and especially migrants, even more vulnerable to human traffickers, forcing them to accept risky offers and accept bonded working conditions. Today, IOM reaffirms its commitment to support the Government of Kazakhstan and civil society in preventing and eradicating human trafficking”.

The full video of the event cvan be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/iomcentralasia/videos/1360293037503404/

City of Dispatch: Nur-Sultan