Counter Trafficking

IOM Tajikistan has realized the following counter trafficking projects:

Technical Assistance to the Government of Tajikistan on Combating Trafficking in Persons
Dates: May 2009-April 2011
Funded by: US Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)

This project builds upon the achievements of previous counter-trafficking initiatives of IOM in Tajikistan and is designed to further assist the Government of Tajikistan (GoT) to strengthen national capacities for education and training of present and future staff from the relevant law enforcement agencies, justice system and executive authorities to fight against human trafficking and increase detection, investigation, and prosecution human trafficking crimes in Tajikistan. Through the development of concrete recommendations and customized training, the project will contribute to GoT efforts to develop effective mechanisms and operational capacities to streamline procedures regulating investigation and prosecution of TiP related crimes. The project will help the GoT harmonize the interagency system in Tajikistan to combat human trafficking and establish a sustainable training framework for relevant state authorities.

The project objectives will be achieved through:

A series of customised trainings, including study tours to countries with well-established systems for combating TiP, round tables and conferences for relevant authorities on specifics and trends of migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings and best practices in combating TiP
Modifying the curriculum of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Academy and other respective law enforcements training centers (Judiciary Training Center, General Prosecutor’s office training centers) in counter trafficking issues (investigation, detection and prosecution methodology and system)
Assisting the Inter-Ministerial Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (IMCTHB) to develop and publish statistical and analytical reports on TiP in Tajikistan
Strengthening the capacity of the National Training Centre for Combating Human Trafficking (NTC) under the Law Faculty of the Tajik State University to create a unified database for counter-trafficking research, national and international legislation and other relevant information, and to design and deliver an up-to-date training curriculum.

Combating Trafficking in Persons in Central Asia (Tajikistan Component)
Dates: Phase 1: January 2006-June 2008; Phase 2: June 2008- 2010
Funded by: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

This project is directed at: a) prevention; b) protection; c) prosecution; d) rehabilitation; and e) reintegration

Main developments:

64 minor VoTs received IOM assistance in the Shelter for Minor Victims of Trafficking in Khujand since 2006. All criminal cases were instituted in accordance with the Article 130.1 “Trafficking in Persons”, Article 132 “Recruitment with the purpose of exploitation”, Article 134 “Compulsion”, Article 138 “Rape”, Article 140 “Compulsion to sexual activities”, Article 149 “Limitation of freedom of choosing a place of residence, departure outside of the Republic, and return of a citizen”, Article 238 “Involving in prostitution”, and Article 339 “Illegal requisitioning or damage of documents” of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan
IOM’s partner NGOs (15) representing all districts of Tajikistan have held counter trafficking seminars, meetings, round tables, mobile cinema tours, mini-theater plays for the target at-risk groups and Tajikistan’s population as a whole
5631 calls were received by the counter trafficking hotlines at the IOM CT Unit and its NGO partners in Tajikistan between January 2006 and June 2009
As part of the information campaign, IOM developed two anti-trafficking banners with IOM’s hotline numbers and displayed them at the Dushanbe railway station and airport
The IOM CT team and professional trainers conducted a capacity-building training for 35 NGO-partners and shelter staff
IOM anti-TIP country team organized a two-day Coordination Workshop with the directors and project coordinators of IOM’s partner associations (PAs), including 26 participants in total
IOM Dushanbe conducted a training on “Methodology of Conducting Vocational Trainings for Vulnerable Groups” at the IOM office. Participants included IOM partner NGOs and staff members from the IOM shelters (30 in total). The training was led by counter-trafficking expert Yekaterina Badikova from Kazakhstan.
Five (5) new CT PSAs have been developed (two for TV and three for radio) and continue to be broadcast on TV-1 and Radio “Imruz.”

Central Asian Partnership Group
Dates: January 2007-June 2009
Funded by: Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA)

This project aimed to promote human, refugee and migrants’ rights in Central Asia. Objectives were to enhance the capacity of Central Asian national governments and NGOs, and to strengthen the state-civic dialogue.

Main developments:

IOM rendered support to the Centre for Socio-Economic Development and Human Rights Protection IMRAN for providing legal assistance to a total of 187 beneficiaries
6 NGOs (3 from Tajikistan and 3 from Kyrgyzstan) were awarded small grants. Tajik TV Company “CM-1” and the Kyrgyz Tele/radio-station «Dastan-TV» developed and produced a total of 12 special reports on labor migrant issues. Tajik Association of the Young Lawyers «Amparo» and broadcasting company «Salam» in Kyrgyzstan developed and published informational materials, and distributed them in air and rail stations and through mobile consultations to 2975 beneficiaries in Tajikistan and 3,400 in Kyrgyzstan. Tajik NGO “Youth and Civilization” and Kyrgyz Center for “Human Rights and Democracy” conducted capacity building trainings and workshops, research programs and International Youth Debates on “Labor Migration” and Model UN for students of Tajik and Kyrgyz universities
IOM developed tools in partnership with NGO “Human Rights Center” to conduct a survey on migration data sharing mechanisms. The results were presented in the roundtable held in Dushanbe in May, 2009
Technical support was delivered to the Migration Service to assist in data sharing (including 5 sets of computers, 5 scanners, 5 printers and an internet connection server)
A state-civic expert group was established between Tajikistan government offices and local NGOs working on migration related issues
IOM organized a one-day state-civic roundtable on cooperation between the entities of migration processes in elaboration of labour migration foreign strategy in Tajikistan. Topics included improving the legislation base, the impact of financial crisis, and transnational cooperation
The IOM organized an international forum on combating irregular migration, protecting the rights of migrants and fighting against trafficking human beings in Kairakkum, from 16-18 Sept. 2008. 24 NGO representatives from Central Asia and the Russian Federation participated in the Forum
IOM organized a study tour to Moscow on 7-14 Sept. 2008 for state and civic partners from Tajikistan to enhance the cooperation of State structures and NGOs from Tajikistan with Russian authorities on migration issues, protection of the rights of migrants and counter trafficking.

Combating Trafficking in Persons in Tajikistan - Shelter for Assistance to Victims
Dates: October 2005 - December, 2008; a no-cost extension request was submitted to the donor.
Funded by: US Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)

This project aimed to enhance legislation on counter trafficking in person in Tajikistan and to assist victims of trafficking (VoTs) in their voluntary return to their country of origin and provide them psychological, medical, legal and other kinds of assistance. The core elements of the project were: a) prevention; b) protection; c) prosecution; d) rehabilitation and e) reintegration.

Main developments:

121 VoTs have received IOM assistance since October 2005. All victims received medical, psychological, social and legal assistance at the Rehabilitation Centre in Dushanbe. Every victim is being treated in accordance with a specially-developed, individual Rehabilitation Plan
All victims were successfully reintegrated and were offered various work opportunities. Some victims are attending vocational training courses in sewing and cooking
The Rehabilitation Centre in Dushanbe has been provided with modern equipment for victims’ effective rehabilitation, such as gym equipment and sewing machines etc
A training on victim identification and repatriation mechanisms was conducted for official Tajik MFA representatives (consuls) from 13 countries in Dushanbe, in December, 2008
A capacity building study-tour was organized for the IOM and Shelter staff to Moldova (May, 2007) Kazakhstan (in November, 2007) and Ukraine (in December, 2008).

Technical Assistance to the Government of Tajikistan on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings
Dates: October 2005 - December, 2007
Funded by: US Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)

This project aimed to enhance legislation on counter trafficking in person in Tajikistan.

Main developments:

A Memorandum of Cooperation with Government of Tajikistan was signed in February, 2006
The State Complex Program on Combating Trafficking in Persons for 2006-2010 was developed and adopted by the government of Tajikistan in May, 2006
A series of specialized trainings on counter-trafficking was conducted for prosecutors (80) and judges (240) in Tajikistan in 2006
Educational manuals were developed for law enforcement agencies in Tajikistan in 2006
The First Commentary to the Law on combating trafficking in persons was developed and published by the IOM Anti-trafficking Department in cooperation with the Inter-ministerial Commission in November, 2007
A Memorandum of Cooperation between IOM and Faculty of Law of Tajik State National University was signed at opening of the first National Training Center on TiPs
The first National Training Center on TiPs was opened at the Faculty of Law of Tajik State National University in January, 2008
A new program for a special course on TiPs in the Faculty of Law was developed put into use
The Inter-ministerial Commission on Combating Trafficking in Persons in cooperation with IOM drafted the «Standard Regulation on Support and Assistance Centers for Victims of Trafficking» approved by the Government of Tajikistan. The final version of the «Standard Regulation» was adopted by the Parliament of Tajikistan with the support of IOM on October, 1, 2007.

Combating Trafficking in Persons in Tajikistan: Educational Prevention
Dates: October 2003 – October 2005
Funded by: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)

This project aimed to increase the anti-trafficking awareness and preventive capacity of NGOs, governmental and private educational institutions and mass media institutions in undertaking related information campaigns and protecting victims through a network of victims advocacy NGOs. By increasing the capacity of local civil actors to provide advice, services and a supportive environment for victims of trafficking in their communities, the project aimed to achieve long-term sustainability.

Main developments:

The capacity of 11 NGO partners and four student initiative groups was increased on trafficking issues. Now, these NGOs are participating in grant receiving competitions.
IOM manual “Myths and Realities of Jobs Abroad” for trainers was created
3 roundtables with teaching staff of educational establishments were held in Khujand (Sogd oblast), Kurgan Tube (Khatlon oblast) and Dushanbe
5 students initiative groups organized their own NGO and chose counter trafficking activities as a priority
A regional counter trafficking network was organized between 17 local NGO partners
300 000 brochures, 10 000 posters and 5 000 special flyers were designed, printed and distributed among the population
800 CDs with an attached brochure and 500 audio cassettes were developed and distributed among population throughout Tajikistan
NGO partners were invited by international organizations to conduct sessions on migration and trafficking issues at various youth forums organized by Mercy Corps, IFES, and ABA/CEELI
Two National Conferences on Combating Trafficking in Persons were conducted
Two National Congresses of Youth of Tajikistan were held in Dushanbe
The Youth Movement of Volunteers of Tajikistan was created
The first project of Youth Movement of Volunteers of Tajikistan (which joined all 5 student initiatives groups) was supported
Partners trained more than 500 volunteers all over Tajikistan
A feature film based on the real story of a victim of trafficking was produced
Research on the results of two years of information campaigning was conducted in Tajikistan.

Capacity Building for Prosecution of Trafficking in Persons in Tajikistan
Dates: 2003-2004
Funded by: US Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)

This programme aimed at stemming the key causes of trafficking in persons (TiP) from Tajikistan by enhancing law enforcement capacity to investigate and apprehend human trafficking-related crimes.

Main developments:

A special Ministry of Interior (MoI) unit on combating kidnapping, human trafficking and racket was established within UBOP MoI Tajikistan in the framework of the MoI and IOM Cooperation Agreement in May, 2004
On July 15th 2004, the Tajik Lower House of Parliament passed a law “On Combating Trafficking in Persons” (#47). This law was the result of a process initiated by the IOM, which was supported by international experts and done in close cooperation with the Executive Office of the President of Tajikistan
A special training on combating human trafficking was conducted for more than 40 police officers and 18 border guards
Fourteen Tajik government officials and two IOM staff were sent to conferences in Kiev and Oslo to establish contacts and gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of cooperation available to police forces worldwide for the fight against trafficking
A training manual for police officers was adapted to Tajikistan’s environment. This manual serves as the basis for the course on trafficking that is being taught at the Police Academy. IOM published more than 1,500 copies
IOM provided technical support to the Police Academy including one computer, one printer, a video recorder and a TV set to enable the aforementioned course to be conducted more efficiently
A study tour to Ukraine, organized in November 2004, enabled law enforcement officials to learn from the experiences of their Ukrainian colleagues in combating TiPs, as well as establishing rapport with them for future cooperation
A database on TiPs was established which enables IOM staff to better evaluate the situation on TiPs, to identify methods of trafficking recruitment in Tajikistan, and to determine trends in TiPs in Tajikistan. More then 75 TiPs cases were registered in the database.