UNODC Executive Director Contributed to the Discussion on Combating Trafficking in Persons in Central Asia

UNODC’s latest Global Report on Trafficking in Persons found that migrants make up more than one-third of the total share of detected victims globally. To confront this transnational threat, we need effective international cooperation and strong, wide-ranging partnerships, uniting action across countries of origin, transit, and destination. The Central Asian region is one the locations in the world where illicit human trafficking remains an acute issue and governments need to take cohesive measures to eliminate the phenomenon.

Organized jointly with "Istiqbolli Avlod" (a non-governmental organization), the Uzbek National Commission on Combating Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labor, the Uzbek Ministry of Internal Affairs, the General Prosecutor's Office and the Supreme Court, US Embassy in Tashkent, and Winrock International with financial support from the US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), UNODC held an international conference, "Strengthening the national and international partnership in combating trafficking in persons,” with the participation of UNODC Executive Director Ms. Ghada Waly.

The conference became a platform for discussion of the current situation in the fight against trafficking in persons in Central Asia for 60 participants from Central Asia.

Addressing the conference participants, Ms. Tanzilya Narbaeva, Chairperson of the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labor of the Republic of Uzbekistan said, “The state policy in the field of combating trafficking in persons is based on such fundamental principles as legality, inevitability from responsibility, inadmissibility of discrimination of trafficking in persons victims, social partnership. Concrete progress has been made in the area of ​​combating human trafficking and forced labor. [...]. Thus in 2021, 14 normative legal acts, a new version of the Law on Combating Trafficking in Persons were adopted. Referral mechanism for identification of trafficking in persons victims has been approved. I would like to especially thank the UNODC experts for their participation in the development of these regulatory legal acts in accordance with international standards”.

 

"Through joint work between governments, international organizations, and civil society, we can build regional capacities to advance victim-centred and human rights-based approaches to countering trafficking in persons, including detection, investigation, and prosecution, as well as referral of victims", said Ms. Ghada Waly in her speech.

Uzbekistan has taken consistent measures to develop international and regional cooperation in combatting human trafficking, improve national legislation and mechanisms. In 2019, at the initiative of the Uzbek president, the National Commission on Combating Trafficking in persons and Forced Labor was established. The government has taken several practical steps aimed at the effective implementation of international obligations in the above area, arising from international legal acts and generally accepted world standards.

Additionally, Uzbekistan has ratified several international standards in the field of combating trafficking in persons, including the ratification of the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others, as well as the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime in 2003.

The conference gave an additional impetus to the fight against trafficking in persons in all its manifestations and contributed to the development of approaches to interaction between NGOs and government agencies for the prevention, detection and disclosure of crimes, and assistance to victims of human trafficking both in Uzbekistan and the region.

As guardian of the UN Protocol against trafficking in persons, UNODC is committed to bringing together different stakeholders and providing technical assistance to prevent and counter trafficking in persons in the region.

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For all inquiries, contact Vasilina Brazhko (Ms.)

Communication and PR Specialist at

UNODC in Central Asia

+996775987817 WhatsApp

Vasilina.brazhko [at] un.org