UNODC launched regular multi-stakeholder counter-TIP coordination meetings in Uzbekistan

Trafficking in Persons (TIP) is the global threat to human dignity and the country’s security. To fight this crime, good coordination among government authorities, non-governmental, international, and donor organizations is needed.

 

In late February, UNODC in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan held the first multi-stakeholder counter-TIP coordination meeting seeking to unite government authorities, donors, international and non-governmental organizations for more efficient coordination of counter-TIP efforts in Uzbekistan. It was agreed to organize multi-stakeholder counter-TIP coordination meetings on a regular quarterly basis.

 

“This multi-stakeholder counter-TIP coordination initiative will facilitate the improvement of the efficiency and sustainability of the implemented counter-TIP activities supported by international organizations and donors and rational mobilization of resources. Furthermore, regular quarterly coordination meetings will help engage responsible practitioners and experts to review existing policies, to elaborate new documents, to identify the counter-TIP gaps and to plan and to implement a coordinated response”, said Dr. Reda Sirgediene, UNODC Regional Adviser on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants for Central Asia. “As a guardian of the UN Protocol against trafficking in persons, UNODC is committed to support the counter-TIP efforts in the region by bringing together different stakeholders and providing technical assistance”, Dr. Reda Sirgediene noted.

“The event provided strong impetus to improving the coordination of activities of state agencies, non-governmental, and international organizations in the field of combating TIP and contributed to the development of effective and close interaction among relevant stakeholders”, emphasized Mr. Narimon Rakhimov, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Combating Human Trafficking and Forced Labor, Head of the Department for Combating Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

 

The first coordination meeting gathered some 30 representatives of the Oliy Majlis (Senate), National Commission on Combating Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labor, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prosecutor General’s Office, Border Troops of the State Security Service, Supreme Court, U.S. State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), USAID, IOM, OSCE, and Winrock International.

As the guardian of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its complementary Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, the UNODC supports the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan in its efforts to strengthen the criminal justice response to trafficking in persons.

 

Strengthening the coordination of the counter-TIP efforts is one of the top priorities of the Action plan between the Republic of Uzbekistan and UNODC on countering trafficking in persons for Uzbekistan in 2022 (Roadmap), which was presented at the meeting by UNODC and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Roadmap implements the UNODC Global Programme against Trafficking in Persons and the UNODC Programme for Central Asia 2022–2025. Its implementation is supported by the U.S. State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

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For more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko (Ms.)

Communication and PR Specialist 

UNODC Criminal Justice Programme for Central Asia 

UNODC ROCA 

+996775987817 WhatsApp and cellpone 

vasilina.brazhko[at]un.org