UNODC convened an international conference “Strengthening National and International Partnerships in Combating Trafficking in Persons” in Tashkent, Uzbekistan 

  

On July 28, 2022, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in partnership with the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labour, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Winrock International organized an international conference “Strengthening National and International Partnerships in Combating Trafficking in Persons”, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (International Conference).       

 

The International Conference was dedicated to the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, which is marked annually on 30 July. The theme of this year's World Day against Trafficking in Persons, "Use and abuse of technology", aims to highlight the role of technology as a tool that can both facilitate and hinder human trafficking.

The International Conference contributed to the exchange and promotion of best practices in the field of combating human trafficking, to the development of referral mechanisms for victims of trafficking and regional partnerships in the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of trafficking in persons crimes and to introducing new methods and technologies in this field. Discussions also focused on strengthening the role of border guard agencies in tackling trafficking in persons.

Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative to Central Asia in her opening speech noted: “This conference is another step towards a regional approach to tackling trafficking in persons. National authorities, civil society, international organizations in the region and beyond need to work together”. 

“This conference reflects strong commitment and dedication of Central Asian states to eradicate trafficking in persons. Large-scale reforms were introduced in Uzbekistan to prevent and put an end to trafficking in persons and forced labour” emphasized Ms. Tanzila Narbaeva, Chairperson of the Senate and the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labour of the Republic of Uzbekistan, National Rapporteur on Combating Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labour, in her opening speech.

Ms. Ghada Waly, UNODC Executive Director in her video message called on the governments of the Central Asian states to counter the threat of trafficking in persons through a strong political response at the regional and international levels and commitment to the implementation of the Bukhara Declaration expressed by the participants of the international conference, which she attended in November 2021. She also called on the law enforcement and judicial authorities of the region to  continue pro-actively investigating trafficking in persons cases and expressed UNODC‘s readiness to facilitate the necessary international cooperation, including with the support of the UNODC Regional Adviser on Countering Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants for Central Asia, based in Tashkent.

During the conference, Dr. Reda Sirgediene, UNODC Regional Adviser on Countering Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants for Central Asia mentioned: “UNODC continues supporting responsible national authorities of Uzbekistan in enhancing the capacity to detect and investigate trafficking in persons crimes and to identify and refer for assistance victims of trafficking. We are trying to reach out to every responsible practitioner throughout Uzbekistan to facilitate capacity building and skills development. Law enforcement, judiciary and other practitioners need to have a shared understanding of trafficking in persons and unified approach to addressing it. Hence, UNODC is supporting partners to develop and adopt holistic and comprehensive strategies in this area.

The event brought together over 70 participants, including internal affairs and border guard officers, prosecutors, judges, civil society representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as France, India, and the USA, in addition to representatives of international organizations.

The International Conference was funded by the US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). 

 

For more information please contact:

 

Arifa Fatikhova

Communications and External Relations Officer

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Regional Office for Central Asia

Mobile: (+998 93) 505-05-58 | Email: arifa.fatikhova[a]un.org