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The U.S. State Department release annual report on the fight against human trafficking

01 July 2016 00:04 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. “Azerbaijani men and boys are subjected to forced labor in Turkey, Russia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Azerbaijan”, it was noted in the annual report of the U.S. State Department on the fight against human trafficking.

It was reported that women and children from Azerbaijan are subjected to sex trafficking within the country and in Turkey, Russia, and UAE. “Azerbaijan is a destination country for sex and labor trafficking victims from Turkey, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and, in previous years, China and Russia”.

Noted that the Government of Azerbaijan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so: “During the reporting period, the government increased the number of trafficking investigations, maintained strong prosecution and conviction rates, and handed down severe sentences for labor and sex traffickers”.

The U.S. State Department revealed its recommendations for Azerbaijan: “Proactively investigate potential trafficking cases, particularly situations of potential forced labor; vigorously investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses and convict and punish trafficking offenders; create standard operating procedures to implement the national referral mechanism and formalize the role of NGOs and other stakeholders in the referral process”.

It was noted in the report that Azerbaijani government increased efforts to identify and assist victims, although funding for NGOs remained insufficient for the third consecutive year.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs’ (MIA) AntiTrafficking Department (ATD) continued to run a shelter in Baku. “However, the shelter was heavily guarded and victims, including adults, did not have freedom of movement. Experts reported the shelters lacked specialized care for victims. In 2015, the government certified 63 trafficking victims, of which 56 were women, six were men, and one was a child, compared with 54 victims certified in the previous reporting period. Of the 56 women certified, 53 were sex trafficking victims and three were labor trafficking victims. All six men certified were labor trafficking victims and one child was a sex trafficking victim. Of the 63 certified victims, 49 were Azerbaijani citizens exploited abroad, 38 in Turkey, eight in UAE, and three in Russia; the government referred 48 to the MIA-run shelter, where they received legal, medical, and psychological support. The government provided 63 victims with a one-time allowance of 400 manat ($245)”.