Almaty, May 29, 2015, at the University named after D. Kunayev the Commission on Human Rights under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration in Kazakhstan presented the Special Report on combating trafficking in persons

The Special Report devoted to highlighting current issues of combating trafficking in persons, providing comprehensive analysis of the situation with the rights of victims of trafficking in Kazakhstan and ensuring their rights to access special social services was approved by a resolution № 32-47.327 of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on December 29, 2014. The Special Report gives a comparative analysis of anti-trafficking national legislation and its implementation and provides conclusions and recommendations to prevent trafficking, protect and assist victims of trafficking, strengthen prosecution and improve interaction between state bodies and civil society in the field of combating human trafficking.

The Special Report has been materialized with the support of IOM’s Development Fund and the IOM Mission in the Republic of Kazakhstan, sub regional office for Central Asia.

The event was attended by government officials and heads of NGOs from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan representatives of international agencies, members of the Commission on Human Rights and media.

During welcoming speech Mr. Sultanov, Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights under the President of Kazakhstan, mentioned the importance of the Special Report as the human trafficking is an actual problem for Kazakhstan. His words were supported by the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Mr. Zhakupov, who stressed that human trafficking is one of the most dangerous crimes on the global scale, and reported that the Ministry of Internal Affairs continues its work to combat trafficking in persons, taking into consideration the recommendations of the Special Report, as well as in line with the ministerial plan on combating trafficking in persons in close cooperation with the civil society.

Bermet Moldobaeva, IOM Counter-Trafficking Program Coordinator for Central Asia, noted that women, children and migrant workers are the most vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking and, therefore, need special attention and protection of their rights. We should continue to combine our efforts and to improve the capacity of all actors involved in the identification of vulnerable individuals and referring them for further assistance.

Secretary of the Commission on Human Rights Mr. Abishev informed that the Commission on Human Rights invited not only the representatives of the central offices of government agencies, but also the heads of departments of internal policy from nine regional Akimats and Akimat of Almaty. He stressed that the local executive authorities should pay special attention to the activities of anti-trafficking NGOs and ensure state funding for prevention of human trafficking and protection of victims of trafficking.

The participant of the event appreciated the Special Report and its recommendations. In particular, Zulfiya Baysakova, Chairman of the Association of Legal Entities "Union of Crisis Centers of Kazakhstan", stressed the importance of the document and thanked the Commission on Human Rights for the fact that the report emphasizes the enormous contribution of NGOs in the fight against trafficking and reflects various researches and monitoring reports prepared NGOs. She noted the importance of the recommendation to adopt a separate law to combat human trafficking in Kazakhstan, which would establish clear responsibilities of the relevant state authorities to enhance the state response.

Khadicha Abysheva, chairman of the NGO "Sana Sezim" in Shymkent, said that the Report has raised the important question of determining the legal status of foreign victims of trafficking and to provide the trafficking victims with necessary assistance.

The presentation of the special report was also attended by the representatives of government agencies and NGOs of Central Asian countries. In particular, Nurbyubyu Kerimova, the representative of PF "Danko" from the Kyrgyz Republic, thanked the Commission on Human Rights, for touching the issue of protection of the rights of migrant workers from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as they are particularly vulnerable in the Republic of Kazakhstan. On behalf of her delegation, she expressed the hope that the Government of Kazakhstan and as human rights organizations will continue its work on improving the national legislation to eliminate human trafficking.

The Special Report on current issues affecting human rights protection in the area of combating trafficking in persons in Kazakhstan, as well as the Special Report on the migrants’ rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan, launched in 2013 by the Commission and IOM, can be further promoted as a good practice in the region, encouraging further policy dialogue and collaboration between member states of the Almaty Process on coordinated approaches in combatting trafficking in persons.

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