Regional conference on improving model of assistance and social reintegration for human trafficking victims takes place in Baku

The conference will last for two days. Head of Azerbaijan office of IOM Vasili Yujanin said the aim of the conference is to support the struggle of Azerbaijani government against human trafficking, assist in establishing mechanism of national direction, implementing the National Action Plan on combating human trafficking. The conference also aims to unite the efforts of the nongovernmental organizations and exchange experience.

Section chief of Interior Ministry’s Department to Combat Human Trafficking Shahin Gojayev said Azerbaijan joined Convention against Transnational Organized Crime in 2003 ad the National Action Plan on combating human trafficking came into force in 2004. Gojayev said the second phase of the National Action Plan covering 2009-2013 began in February. The mechanisms of national direction – concerning the human trafficking victims have been prepared and presented to Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers. According to Gojayev, uninterrupted hotline service and safe shelter-care facilities are operating for human trafficking victims, Interior Ministry allocates on average AZN 52,000 every year to provide the victims with food products, medical devices. Grant worth AZN 83,000 has been allocated through the Council of State Support for NGOs to the nongovernmental organizations combating corruption and human trafficking.

Representative of the U.S. embassy in Azerbaijan Peter Strasse mentioned the report on trafficking in persons released by the Department of State last month.
“Women and children are trafficked from Azerbaijan mainly to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates for sexual exploitation, to Russia for forced labor. Azerbaijan is also a transit country to traffic persons from Moldova, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Very few women are trafficked from Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan for sexual exploitation,” he said.

/APA/