07.09.2012, 13:41 15928

Human trafficking on the rise in Kazakhstan

the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with 18 NGO partners in the regions identified 248 victims, 126 of whom were victims of forced labor in Kazakhstan.

Astana. September 7. Kazakhstan Today - The number of victims of human trafficking is growing in Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Today reports.

"From August 2011 to August 2012 the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with 18 NGO partners in the regions identified 248 victims, 126 of whom were victims of forced labor in Kazakhstan. All identified persons received psychological, medical and legal assistance; some victims were placed in shelters for the passage of the IOM rehabilitation program. Foreign nationals were ensured safe return to their homes," the report says.

This year the number of trafficking victims increased compared to the first half of 2011, when 92 victims of trafficking were identified. Only in August 2012, 107 victims were registered. In total from 2004 to August 2012 there were identified 858 victims of human trafficking in Kazakhstan.

Human trafficking is a serious violation of human rights, which is consists in the exploitation of people in various forms, such as labor exploitation, forced labor, slave labor and sexual exploitation. Human trafficking takes the third place in returns, after arms and drugs, and an organized crime, the report says.

In Kazakhstan trafficking for labor and sexual exploitation is prohibited in accordance with Articles 128 and 133, 125 (3b), 126 (3b), 270 and 132-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and carry a punishment of up to 15 years' imprisonment. "This punishment is sufficiently stringent and commensurate with penalties for other grave crimes, such as rape," the IOM stated.

As IOM also reported, to date, in Kazakhstan there are four Shelters - rehabilitation centers for victims of human trafficking, one of which is funded under the pilot project of the Ministry of Justice, and the three are supported by IOM. Shelters provide safe habitation for victims of human trafficking for the duration of criminal investigations, document recovery, and the passage of rehabilitation services.

In addition, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in partnership with the IOM in 2006 launched a National toll-free hotline 11616, which operates around the clock. Every person who becomes aware of facts of presupposed trafficking or exploitation may report anonymously to the hotline, the IOM said.

This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.

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