The Kyrgyz Republic joins the Global Action against trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants

The Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was launched today in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. The GLO.ACT aims to support 13 countries in planning and implementing strategic national counter trafficking and counter smuggling efforts through prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership.

Mr. Almaz Asanbaev, Deputy Chairperson of the State Migration Service under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, emphasized: "Trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants are priority issues on the Government's agenda, which have given an impulse to the development of a strategic framework, such as the new 2017-2010 National Action Plan on Countering Trafficking in Persons of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Migration Policy Framework 2030.  We believe that activities in the framework of the GLO.ACT in the Kyrgyz Republic will contribute to the effective implementation of national programmes against trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants".  

H.E.Ambassador Cesare De Montis, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Kyrgyz Republic, said: "Addressing all forms of trafficking in human beings and fight against smuggling of migrants is a priority for the EU and its Member States. Both trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants are part of the European Agenda on Migration, the European Agenda on Security and the Partnership Framework with third countries adopted in June 2016. I hope that the GLO.ACT launched today will build positive results and substantially increase capacities of the 13 beneficiary countries, including the Kyrgyz Republic, in addressing this challenge."

According to Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia, improvement of the criminal justice response to human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants requires a comprehensive approach. "These responsive actions should be based on an effective legislation in line with the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols on trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants". Ms. Mittal reiterated the UNODC's readiness to support the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in an effective criminal justice response to trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants within the framework of the GLO.ACT.

Through its assistance to government, the GLO.ACT will also provide benefit to civil society organizations as well as victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants directly. There are six key responses included in the project: strategy and policy development; legislative assistance; capacity building; regional and trans-regional cooperation; protection and assistance to victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants; and assistance and support to children among victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants. 

The event was attended by the Vice-Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, Chairperson of the State Migration Service under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, representatives of the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour and Social Development, the Office of the General Prosecutor, civil society organizations and mass media.

The Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants is a four-year (2015-2019), €11 million joint initiative by the European Union and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The project is being implemented in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children's Fund(UNICEF) and reaches thirteen countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

Visit the GLO.ACT website @ https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/glo-act/index.html
Follow GLO.ACT on Twitter: @glo_act.