DUSHANBE, February 7, Asia-Plus — The United States has provided Dushanbe with a world-class facility to investigate cases of illegal trafficking in persons (TIP).
On February 6, U.S. Ambassador Richard Hoagland and Minister of the Interior Khumdin Sharipov opened the new Ministry of the Interior analytical center with state-of-the-art computers, and the Ambassador donated 12 vehicles for the TIP investigative unit. This is a $250000 project.
Ambassador Hoagland commented that, “during the past two years, Tajikistan has done much to begin to attack the trafficking problem. It has passed a Law on Combating Trafficking, established specialized anti-trafficking police units, and created a high-level interagency anti-trafficking commission.”
The Ambassador said, “I am very pleased with our bilateral cooperation on the trafficking issue. The United States, too, takes this issue very seriously. Trafficking is so serious because it exploits and harms and targets women and children, as well as men. Trafficking is a modern form of slavery that cannot be allowed.”
The Ambassador congratulated Minister Sharipov for his Ministry’s spirit of cooperation, which is adding to the growing strategic partnership between Tajikistan and the United States.
The United States is funding additional Ministry of Interior projects, totaling $1.5 million.
