DUSHANBE, March 2, 2012, Asia-Plus – On Friday March 2, the United States, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Inter-Ministerial Commission for Combating Trafficking in Persons of Tajikistan 2 hosted a regional meeting of representatives of 27 Central Asian counter-trafficking nongovernmental and public organizations, the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe.
The event focused on the identification, rehabilitation, and reintegration into home communities for men who have been trafficked for labor exploitation.
Trafficking in persons is one of the most serious problems caused by irregular migration. According to IOM information on the scale of human trafficking in the region, almost 91% of cases of human trafficking involve labor exploitation. Roughly 69% of human trafficking victims are men, who often work in slave-like conditions. The focus of this event was to discuss human trafficking for labor exploitation with representatives of nongovernmental and public organizations that are working to combat human trafficking in the region.
Through discussions and working groups facilitated by international experts the participants gained skills on the identification of victims, how to prepare effective prevention strategies, and how to provide assistance to the victims of labor exploitation as they reintegrate into their communities.
The event was funded by a regional United States Agency for International Development (USAID) project to combat trafficking in persons. In close partnership with local NGOs, the project supports Tajikistan’s efforts to protect trafficking victims, and prevent future instances of trafficking. In order to provide information on the risks of trafficking and available assistance to the victims of trafficking, the project supports hotlines throughout the country. The hotline service in Dushanbe can be reached at 918-85-34-34.
The Counter-Trafficking Project is one of the many assistance projects supported by the American people through the USAID. Since 1992, the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe has provided $984 million in programs that support Tajikistan’s democratic institutions, health care, education, and economic growth.
