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PP RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0397/01 0591458
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 281458Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6822
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1403
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1444
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1433
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1384
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1330
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1400
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1358
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1295
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1203
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0984
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1484
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0777
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 7938
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 0011
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 0034
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY USAID
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 DUSHANBE 000397 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, G, G/TIP, INL, DRL, PRM, IWI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF ELAB KCRM KWMN KFRD ASEC
SMIG 
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN'S 2005-2006 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT 
 
REF: STATE 3836 
 
DUSHANBE 00000397  001.2 OF 012 
 
 
¶1.  The following is Embassy Dushanbe's 2005-2006 Trafficking in 
Persons Report.  Post's lettering system matches reftel's. 
 
OVERVIEW OF TAJIKISTAN'S ACTIVITIES TO ELIMINATE TRAFFICKING IN 
PERSONS 
 
¶A.  Tajikistan is an origin country for trafficking. 
International trafficking for the purposes of sexual and labor 
exploitation is a problem.  The most common destination 
countries include the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Turkey, 
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iran.  Reliable statistics do not 
exist for the number of victims trafficked.  The key 
organizations that deal with trafficking--the General 
Prosecutor's Office, the Ministry of Interior and the 
International Organization for Migration (IOM)--all have 
differing numbers.  IOM gathered the following statistics from 
other agencies: 
 
The majority of trafficking victims are female, single, and aged 
20 to 26.  IOM estimates that at least 420 women were trafficked 
to the UAE and other Arab countries for sexual exploitation in 
¶2005.  In 2005, IOM, in cooperation with the Tajik government, 
repatriated 49 women from the UAE. 
 
Trafficking for labor exploitation is primarily to Russia and 
the majority are unemployed males.   IOM and a Tajik government 
delegation visited Volgograd, Russia, in 2005 and confirmed that 
2000 men have been trafficked to Russia for labor exploitation. 
The number of victims trafficked for labor exploitation is 
unclear.  Because of the level of poverty in Tajikistan, 
according to unofficial accounts, up to one million men choose 
to go to Russia each year for work mostly in construction or 
agriculture.  Most of them are unregistered, often subjected to 
poor living conditions, and face prejudice and sometimes 
brutality from their bosses and Russian citizens in general. 
The majority of the labor migrants choose to go on their own 
will.  Although IOM does not have additional facts on male 
trafficking victims, it does know that one man was repatriated 
from UAE in 2005. 
 
IOM confirmed two children have been trafficked: one to the UAE 
for sexual exploitation and one for labor exploitation within 
Tajikistan.  Child trafficking victims usually were in the care 
of extended family. 
 
Tajikistan is not known to be a receiving country for 
trafficking victims; trafficking victims are trafficked out of 
Tajikistan.  However, there was a unique case of one man 
trafficked from Russia to Tajikistan for slavery purposes. 
 
 
¶B.  Through the assistance of international donors, in 2005 the 
Tajik government has made significant strides towards preventing 
TIP and establishing strong government institutions to fight TIP 
in the long term.  The Tajik government established an 
inter-agency high-level commission to combat TIP, increased the 
number of specialized TIP investigation units throughout the 
country, provided more training to law enforcement, and in 
February 2006 opened the Ministry of Interior's (MOI) 
Intelligence and Analytical Center for Counter-Narcotics and 
Trafficking In Persons.  Political will to combat TIP is strong, 
 
DUSHANBE 00000397  002.2 OF 012 
 
 
and President Rahmonov has made public statements condemning 
trafficking.  The government is keen on securing its borders, 
fighting organized crime, drug trafficking and terrorists, and 
TIP issues are integrated into these security concerns. 
 
In the MOI's investigations, the majority of traffickers are 
individuals with private links to the receiving country.  MOI 
believes traffickers may form organized groups, but it did not 
find evidence of significant trafficking rings in Tajikistan in 
¶2005.  The trafficking process usually starts with a recruiter 
who is a relative, neighbor or colleague of the victim.  The 
typical trafficker is a middle-aged woman.  Other facilitators 
in the process include those who organize logistics, including 
obtaining false passports and travel documents.  Collaborators 
in the receiving country prepare accommodations and use their 
connections to force the victim into work. 
 
Traffickers primarily target socially and economically 
vulnerable people in all parts of Tajikistan. Many are new 
arrivals to Dushanbe or Khujand from rural areas with little 
formal education.  The Sughd region leads the country in the 
number of trafficking cases reported.  The region's proximity to 
Kyrgyzstan makes it easy for traffickers to move victims across 
the border and on to other international points.  Approximately 
64% of the population lives under the poverty line, and 
thousands of Tajiks regularly leave the country in search of 
better income opportunities.  Many of these economic migrants, 
especially from the rural areas, become victims of cross-border 
trafficking.  Victims are typically approached either with 
offers of lucrative jobs abroad or by a direct offer to work as 
prostitutes. 
 
 
¶C.  The General Prosecutor's office and IOM pointed out that the 
Trafficking In Persons Law (Article 130) is inadequate.  In 2005 
no one was convicted under article 130.  The poorly-written 
law's structure and gaps make it difficult to convict a 
trafficker.  The General Prosecutor's office is working on 
redrafting the law. 
 
The lack of extradition agreements between Tajikistan and Arab 
countries, particularly the United Arab Emirates, where the 
largest percentage of victims are trafficked, prevents 
Tajikistan from repatriating victims and criminals.  The 
government's inter-agency commission under the Presidential 
Advisor's Office is working on drafting extradition agreements 
and establishing greater formal cooperation ties between 
Tajikistan and the U.A.E. 
 
On the other hand, Tajikistan's close relationship with other 
Commonwealth of Independent States countries affords it a loose 
travel regime.  Tajik citizens are not required to obtain 
passports for international travel to countries like Kyrgyzstan, 
where increasingly more victims are trafficked.  Because of 
tighter Tajik travel restrictions, traffickers are electing to 
take victims across the border to Kyrgyzstan by road and fly to 
the U.A.E. and other destinations via Osh. 
 
The government acknowledges that government officials do aid 
traffickers for money.  Some passport officials issue illegal 
passports so victims can travel outside Central Asia and Russia; 
employees responsible for issuing birth and marriage 
 
DUSHANBE 00000397  003.2 OF 012 
 
 
certificates provide false documents so that traffickers can 
travel with the victims and victims can travel outside of the 
country into the U.A.E., where the majority of female victims 
are trafficked.  The UAE prohibits women from Tajikistan under 
30 years of age to enter the UAE without a relative or spouse 
escort.  The General Prosecutor's office did not maintain 
specific records on corrupt bureaucrats involved in TIP, but 
estimated that the office prosecuted two or three corrupt 
bureaucrats in 2005. 
 
Tajikistan has received millions of dollars from donor countries 
and agencies in the fight against trafficking in persons.  Most 
of the aid has gone into anti-TIP efforts including training 
government officials, equipping investigative units, assisting 
victims and educating the public.  The government has strong 
political will to combat TIP, but must rely on international 
donors to provide these services. 
 
 
¶D.  Each ministry or government agency collects data and has one 
or two people responsible for analyzing the data.  There is no 
central inter-agency government database.  The State Migration 
Service, with the help of IOM, in early 2006 established a 
database to track trafficking acts.  A Data Analysis Center in 
the State Border Protection Committee at Dushanbe Airport 
monitors travelers' data in and out of Tajikistan.  IOM also 
collects data from various agencies for its own analysis; 
however,  they feel  hindered by unreliable data.  The 
government shares information with the media which publishes 
TIP-related news items on a regular basis,  but to date has not 
published in-depth analytical reports.  In February 2006, with 
U.S. funding, the Ministry of Interior opened an Intelligence 
and Analytical Center for Counter-Narcotics and Trafficking In 
Persons.  This center will be a central point for trafficking 
data collection and analysis.  The General Prosecutor's Office 
noted they are drafting their own TIP analysis. 
 
 
PREVENTION 
 
¶A.  The Tajik government acknowledges that trafficking is a 
problem in Tajikistan, has strong political will to stop 
trafficking, and has taken measures to stop the problem.  The 
government has a high-level inter-agency commission to 
coordinate anti-TIP activities. 
 
 
¶B.  Several ministries and agencies in Tajikistan focus on TIP. 
Although the government institutions communicate  with each 
other and NGOs, there has been a lack of true coordination, and 
no agency has taken the lead in handling anti-TIP efforts.  The 
government's new National Action Plan outlines specific roles 
for each ministry and agency in handling TIP issues. 
 
A special inter-agency commission of high-level officials from 
various ministries and President Rahmonov's administration works 
on coordinating anti-TIP efforts.  However, the MOI sees the 
Commission's role less focused on coordination, but rather on 
assisting with victim repatriation.  The Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs takes the lead on working with countries like the U.A.E. 
to try to repatriate victims, establish extradition agreements 
and cooperation with government agencies.   The Ministry of 
 
DUSHANBE 00000397  004.2 OF 012 
 
 
Interior is responsible for investigations, and arrests in 
trafficking cases.  Tajikistan's police force and special police 
TIP units fall under the MOI.  The General Prosecutors Office, 
working with the judicial system, is responsible for prosecuting 
and sentencing TIP violators.  The Ministry of Labor and Social 
Protection takes the lead on labor migration, and under the new 
National Action Plan, the Ministry of Health will have a larger 
role in assisting the rehabilitation of victims.  Other 
ministries and agencies working in trafficking problems include 
the State Border Protection Committee, Parliament's Committee 
for Women and Family Affairs and Committee on Constitutional 
Legality, Legislation and Human Rights, and the Ministry of 
Security. 
 
 
¶C.  The government has developed its own awareness campaigns and 
provides input to IOM's campaigns.  It supports local and 
international NGOs in TIP education. The government occasionally 
will issue press statements and relies on the media to 
disseminate its information on TIP.  There is no explicit 
information campaign.  During the year, IOM ran TIP awareness 
campaigns throughout the country.  The government, local and 
international NGOs also raise awareness by educating high school 
aged students about TIP.  Education and awareness campaigns in 
the country are targeted at potential victims. 
 
 
¶D.  Beginning in March of 2005, the government established a 
24-hour telephone hotline with trained operators to provide 
information and counsel callers on TIP.   The government has 
conducted conferences, roundtables and seminars to train 
trainers how to educate people about the dangers of TIP.  Local 
and international NGOs run programs and training programs to 
empower women.  Specifically, the government has worked with 
CARE International and USAID to address the failing education 
system and decreasing school attendance of girls, recognizing 
that these factors will exacerbate poverty and increase the 
likelihood of trafficking. 
 
 
¶E.  Please note that reftel omitted paragraph E. 
 
 
¶F.  Tajik government agencies, particularly the Ministry of 
Interior and Ministry of Labor, cooperate closely with the U.S. 
Embassy, other diplomatic missions, donor agencies, and NGOs on 
TIP issues and are forthcoming with information.  IOM, the 
leading anti-TIP agency in Tajikistan, reported an excellent 
working relationship with the government.  In February 2006, IOM 
signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the inter-agency 
commission on combating TIP.  IOM has a close working 
relationship with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of 
Interior, Ministry of Security, Ministry of Labor and Social 
Protection and General Prosecutor's Office.  Similarly, within 
the government, ministries and agencies work closely and are 
open with information. 
 
 
¶G.  Each government agency that deals with TIP has at least one 
or two people responsible for collecting and analyzing the 
agency's data.  Border guards are stationed in Dushanbe's 
airports and along border checkpoints.  Border guards are 
 
DUSHANBE 00000397  005.2 OF 012 
 
 
trained to screen for potential traffickers and victims.  A Data 
Analysis Center in the State Border Protection Committee at 
Dushanbe Airport monitors travelers' data in and out of 
Tajikistan.  The State Migration Service, with the help of IOM, 
in early 2006, established a database to track trafficking acts. 
 In February 2006, the MOI opened a U.S.-funded Intelligence and 
Analytical Center for Counter-Narcotics and Trafficking In 
Persons. 
 
 
¶H.  Government agencies work closely together on TIP issues on 
an ad-hoc basis.  An inter-agency commission for combating TIP 
is supposed to coordinate the ministries' TIP activities. 
Officials from the President's Office sit on the commission 
along with senior officials from the ministries that deal with 
TIP.  Based on discussions with various agencies, the commission 
focuses more on extradition and inter-government relations than 
being a coordination unit or internal center for information. 
Its coordination role is implicit in that it is housed under the 
President's Advisors' Office which is in charge of all 
government ministries and agencies.  The government's chief 
point of contact would be the head of the inter-agency 
commission's head, the Chief of the Department of Law and Order 
and Defense, Abdurahmon Azimov.  The National Action Plan, which 
the government is expected to adopt this year, outlines each 
agency's activities and is a focal point for coordination.  The 
government had set up a separate anti-corruption task force in 
June 2004 within the General Prosecutor's Office. 
 
 
¶I.  Please note that reftel omitted paragraph I. 
 
 
¶J.  The government, with heavy IOM input, drafted a National 
Action Plan in 2005 for combating TIP for 2006-2010.  It is 
currently in the approval process.  The various ministries and 
agencies involved in the National Action Plan have cleared on 
it, and the Plan is now being sent through the President's 
Administration for President Rahmonov's signature.  The Plan 
serves as a legally binding document that commits each agency to 
realizing its goals outlined in the National Action Plan.  The 
Plan coordinates the government's action and clarifies its 
goals.  The Plan will assist government agencies and 
organizations working with the government to implement projects 
in line with Tajikistan's anti-TIP policy.  Government agencies 
with a role in the National Action Plan include the Ministry of 
Interior, Ministry of Security, the State Border Protection 
Committee (Border Guards), the General Prosecutor's Office, the 
Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, and the Ministry of 
Defense, in cooperation with IOM. 
 
 
INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS 
 
¶A.  The government did not introduce or amend TIP-related laws 
in 2005.  Tajikistan does have an article in its criminal code 
specifically for human trafficking-article 130.1.  Tajikistan's 
trafficking laws do not differentiate between trafficking for 
sexual exploitation and trafficking for non-sexual purposes such 
as forced labor.  The country does not have a law against 
slavery.  The following is the comprehensive Law of the Republic 
of Tajikistan on Combating Trafficking in Persons adopted August 
 
DUSHANBE 00000397  006.2 OF 012 
 
 
2004; traffickers are prosecuted under the articles of the 
following criminal codes:  122 (Coercion for removal of human 
organs and tissues for transplantation), 130 (Kidnapping), 130.1 
(Human trafficking), 131 (Illegal imprisonment), 132 
(Recruitment of people for exploitation), 134 (Coercion), 138 
(Rape), 139 (Sexual abuse), 140 (Compulsion for sexual 
activities), 141 (Sexual intercourse or other sexual activities 
with persons under 16), 142 (Lecherous actions), 149 (Incorrect 
limitation of migration, freedom of choosing place of residence, 
emigration and returning of a citizen), 167 (Trafficking 
minors), 171 (Substitution of child), 172 (Illegal adoption), 
238 (Involvement in prostitution), 239 (Establishment or keeping 
of dens, procuring or pimping), 335 (Illegal crossing of state 
border), 336 (Violation of state border regulations), 339 (Theft 
or damaging documents, stamps, seals), 340 (Forgery, 
manufacturing or sale of forged documents, state decorations, 
stamps, seals, letterheads), 401 (Recruitment). 
 
 
¶B.  The penalty for traffickers of people for sexual 
exploitation and labor exploitation both range from two to 12 
years of imprisonment and/or the confiscation of property. 
 
 
¶C.  The penalty for rape ranges from 12 to 20 years 
imprisonment.  Overall, the prison term starts off at a longer 
time period and the maximum penalty is lengthier than the two to 
12 years of imprisonment for sex trafficking.  The ultimate 
penalty for rape of a minor is execution, although the 
government observes an EU-requested moratorium on capital 
punishment. 
 
 
¶D.  Prostitution and running brothels are illegal in Tajikistan 
according to criminal codes 238 (Involvement in prostitution) 
and 239 (Establishment or keeping of dens, procuring or 
pimping).  The laws are enforced and are often used to punish 
traffickers. 
 
 
¶E.  The General Prosecutor's office and IOM pointed out that the 
anti-TIP law (article 130.1 on human trafficking) adopted in 
2004 is inadequate.  In 2005 no one was convicted under the law. 
 The poorly written law's structure and gaps make it difficult 
to convict a trafficker under that specific law.  However, 
traffickers are convicted with other crimes mentioned in 23 A. 
Plea bargains are not permitted and fines are not a part of the 
punishment.  The General Prosecutor's office reported that the 
average sentencing for trafficking-related crimes ranges from 
five to 12 years.  Convicted traffickers are imprisoned and 
serve their terms; however, each case is reviewed periodically, 
and some may be released after an assessment of their behavior 
and activities while in prison. 
 
The following are the latest statistics from the General 
Prosecutor's office as of February 24, 2006.  Please note that 
government statistics are known to be inconsistent.  Statistics 
from the General Prosecutor's office, IOM and media reports 
differ. 
 
In 2005, 81 trafficking cases were opened for investigation.  Of 
these cases, 72 were for sexual exploitation, and 9 were for the 
 
DUSHANBE 00000397  007.2 OF 012 
 
 
exploitation of minors. 
 
The General Prosecutor's office prosecuted 57 of the cases 
opened for investigation, involving 86 victims.  At the 
beginning of 2006, 17 of those cases are still in the judicial 
process.  In 2005, out of the 57 cases that went to court, 28 
cases resulted in convictions. 
 
The Tajik government named 18 people on a wanted list for 
trafficking.  Those 18 are known to be residing in the U.A.E. 
The government also knows of at least 16 victims who remain in 
the U.A.E. 
 
 
¶F.  The government has not identified any travel agencies, 
marriage brokers or other commercial entities serve as a front 
for trafficking.  Most traffickers are individuals with local 
and international partners.  However, the Ministry of Interior 
does not characterize them as organized crime rings or 
established networks.  The typical trafficker is a middle-aged 
woman with contacts in government agencies that illegally issue 
her false documents, and a partner in the receiving country who 
picks up the victim at the airport and arranges a job for the 
victim. 
 
Media reports quote the Sughd region's Prosecutor linking 
trafficking rings to financing terrorist organizations; however, 
Tajikistan's General Prosecutor's office and the Ministry of 
Interior deny established links between traffickers and 
terrorist organizations.  The General Prosecutor's office's data 
shows that traffickers funnel revenue back into private 
businesses, to purchase property or construct homes.  The 
government finds it difficult to track the money flow because 
traffickers do not use the banking system.  Sometimes 
trafficking payments are in the form of commodities instead of 
cash. 
 
 
¶G.  The General Prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Interior 
both actively investigate trafficking cases.  The Ministry of 
Interior occasionally uses undercover agents, but did not report 
using electronic surveillance. The General Prosecutor's office 
does not provide immunity for suspects that cooperate with the 
government. 
 
 
¶H.  The government as well as local NGOs train law enforcement 
agents on recognizing and investigating TIP cases.  The Ministry 
of Interior's Law Enforcement Academy teaches a course on 
combating TIP, and law enforcement agents have a practical 
textbook on recognizing and investigating TIP.  The Deputy 
Prosecutor General remarked that the office's staff needed more 
training on how to properly prosecute TIP cases.  The Ministry 
of Interior has set up special regional units to handle TIP 
cases.  Each unit's officers are especially trained to 
investigate TIP cases and devote their time to handling only TIP 
issues. 
 
 
¶I.  The General Prosecutor's office said it works closely with 
foreign governments on investigation and prosecution process. 
However, the Ministry of Interior, as a law enforcement agency, 
 
DUSHANBE 00000397  008.2 OF 012 
 
 
does not cooperate with governments abroad.  Neither agency was 
able to provide information on the number of cooperative 
international investigations.  Both agencies noted that not all 
countries cooperated fully with Tajikistan on TIP issues. 
Tajikistan does not cooperate with Uzbekistan or Turkmenistan on 
anti-TIP efforts.  Tajikistan has a good working relationship 
with Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.  Although the majority 
of the victims are trafficked to Arab countries, the government 
admits it does not have a strong relationship with authorities 
in countries like the U.A.E.  One prime example is that when 
delegates from Tajikistan traveled to the U.A.E. in an attempt 
to repatriate victims, the delegates found local authorities to 
be uncooperative.  It took a letter from President Rahmonov to 
his counterpart in the U.A.E. to repatriate the victims.  The 
inter-agency commission in Tajikistan is working to strengthen 
relations with the Arab countries on anti-TIP matters. 
 
 
¶J.  The General Prosecutor's office reported that no countries 
have made extradition requests of the Tajik government. 
Tajikistan is a party to the 1993 Minsk Convention and operates 
under the convention's guidelines.  Tajikistan does not have a 
specific law prohibiting it from extraditing its own nationals. 
It does not plan to establish a law and chooses to operate under 
the guidance of the Minsk Convention.   The General Prosecutor's 
office said that if an extradition request were granted and the 
two countries' Ministries of Justice reached an agreement, it 
would comply as per the Minsk Convention. 
 
The government of Tajikistan does not have extradition 
agreements, even on a bilateral level, with the governments of 
the Arab states, particularly the U.A.E.  Tajikistan's 
inter-agency commission on anti-TIP is working on drafting a 
bilateral agreement to facilitate extradition of criminals and 
repatriation of victims because the U.A.E. is the largest 
receiving country for Tajikistan's trafficking victims. 
 
 
¶K.  Some government officials responsible for issuing passports 
and marriage and birth certificates are known for providing 
traffickers with false documentation to facilitate traveling. 
This occurs on a bureaucratic level.  No senior officials have 
been identified with TIP related corruption.  Overall, the 
government is keen on stopping trafficking, and there exits no 
evidence of widespread institutionalized government involvement 
in TIP. 
 
 
¶L.  The government is aware of corrupt officials and does 
prosecute them.  The General Prosecutor's Office could not 
provide specific statistics, but did say that two or three 
officials were prosecuted and convicted in 2005 for issuing 
false documents for TIP cases. 
 
 
¶M.  Tajikistan does not have an identified child sex tourism 
problem either as a source or destination country.  Although 
children have been trafficked, the majority of sex trafficking 
cases involve women.  Child sexual abuse laws do have 
extraterritorial coverage. 
 
 
 
DUSHANBE 00000397  009.2 OF 012 
 
 
¶N.  Tajikistan ratified ILO Convention 182 concerning the 
prohibition and immediate action for the elimination of the 
worst forms of child labor June 8, 2005. 
 
Tajikistan has acceded to ILO Convention 29 and 105 on forced or 
compulsory labor November 26, 1993 and September 23, 1999 
respectively. 
 
Tajikistan acceded to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on 
the Rights of the Child (CRC) on the sale of children, child 
prostitution, and child pornography August 5, 2002. 
 
Tajikistan acceded to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and 
Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, 
supplementing the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized 
Crime July 8, 2002. 
 
 
PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS: 
 
¶A.  In theory, the TIP law protects victims but in practice, a 
significant lack of resources hinders the government's ability 
to provide protection.  (Relevant legislation includes: Article 
13 "Specialized institutions rendering support and assistance to 
victims of human trafficking", Article 14 "Centers for support 
and assistance to victims of human trafficking", Article 16 
"Social rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking", Article 
17 "Measures on protection of victims of human trafficking", 
Article 18 "Obligations of diplomatic representations and 
consular offices of the Republic of Tajikistan on rendering 
assistance to and protection of victims of human trafficking", 
Article 20 "State guarantees to victims of human trafficking.") 
 
The government does not deport victims; they are free to travel 
within Tajikistan and outside the country if they choose.  The 
government relies on IOM to assist victims after they return to 
Tajikistan.  IOM has two rented two apartments to serve as 
victim shelters.  Working with the Tajik government and aided 
with funding from the United States, IOM is constructing a 
shelter for victims.  Under the soon-to-be implemented National 
Action Plan, the Ministry of Health will provide psychological 
and medical services to victims and will work with IOM's future 
shelter.  Currently, there are no health-care facilities 
reserved for victims. 
 
 
¶B.  The government does not provide financial support to local 
or domestic NGOs; Tajikistan relies on foreign NGOs to provide 
the country services and financial assistance.  Although it 
cannot provide monetary support, the government works closely 
with NGOs and IOM to assist victims. Government officials are 
open and receptive to NGOs' ideas and advice on anti-TIP 
efforts.  The government worked closely with IOM to identify and 
procure land for a victims' shelter.  Under the future National 
Action Plan, the Ministry of Health will work with NGOs and IOM 
to provide victims rehabilitation services. 
 
 
¶C.  The government relies on NGOs such as IOM to take care of 
victims after their repatriation and during the rehabilitation 
process.  The Ministry of Interior reported that it does provide 
victims security if requested and deemed necessary, especially 
 
DUSHANBE 00000397  010.2 OF 012 
 
 
while they are trial witnesses.  The General Prosecutor's office 
keeps their confidentiality.  IOM, in working with the 
government, has set up a shelter for victims and plans to build 
more.  The future National Action Plan tasks the Ministry of 
Health with providing medical and psychological treatment for 
victims. 
 
 
¶D.  Victims are not treated as criminals and their rights are 
respected.  The General Prosecutor's office did not pursue 
criminal charges against TIP victims or issue fines.  Victims 
are not detained, jailed or deported.  They may reside wherever 
they choose. 
 
 
¶E.  The government does encourage victims to assist in the 
investigation process and provide testimony during trials.  It 
ensures the victim's confidentiality and offers closed trials. 
Victims are permitted to obtain other employment or leave the 
country after testifying if they choose, however there is no 
restitution program.  If victims move, they leave their city or 
region, but usually not the country.  Victims may file civil 
suits and seek other legal of financial redress against the 
traffickers. 
 
 
¶F.  The government provides victims and witnesses with security 
and confidentiality, however even the government admits the 
protection is minimal.  The government refers victims to IOM if 
they require shelter.  IOM has temporarily rented two apartments 
to serve as shelters for victims.  The government as of now 
relies on IOM to assist in victim rehabilitation, but under the 
new National Action Plan which is set to be approved this year, 
the government through the Ministry of Health and the Ministry 
of Labor and Social Protection will take on greater 
responsibilities.  Currently, the Ministry of Labor and Social 
Protection places child victims in orphanages for care. 
 
 
¶G.  The government does investigate trafficking in children. 
Law enforcement agents are not given specialized training in 
trafficking in children.  However, the government established an 
anti-Tip investigation unit specifically to combat trafficking 
in children.  Trafficked children are placed into orphanages 
upon their repatriation or return to Tajikistan. 
 
There is no special training for staff in Tajikistan's embassies 
and consulates abroad on TIP matters.  However, the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs, in conjunction with the inter-agency on 
combating TIP, occasionally makes trips to the U.A.E. and other 
countries in an attempt to repatriate victims or resolve TIP 
issues. 
 
 
¶H.  The government relies on IOM to assist victims it 
repatriates.  IOM places victims in a shelter.  IOM has set up 
two shelters temporarily and is working with the government 
through funding from the United States to build a permanent 
structure to serve as a shelter.  IOM envisions the shelter will 
have trained staff to assist with the psychological and medical 
needs of the victims.  Staff will also assist in rehabilitating 
victims to re-enter society.  The Ministry of Health and other 
 
DUSHANBE 00000397  011.2 OF 012 
 
 
government agencies will work closely with IOM and the shelter. 
 
 
¶I.  The federal and local government cooperate closely with 
international organizations and NGOs on anti-TIP efforts.  The 
leading NGO on TIP in Tajikistan is IOM.  Many other 
international organizations work on TIP as well, including the 
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the 
Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency.  Their 
services include training programs and seminars for officials 
and journalists to combat TIP, as well as training programs 
targeted at potential victims.  They produce awareness and 
education campaigns on television and radio media.  These 
organizations also deliver lectures, hold conferences, and 
publish articles, hold competitions, produce theater shows, and 
employ other creative ideas to raise awareness. 
 
 
¶2.  HEROES 
 
Many international organizations, local NGOs and government 
agencies work hard to fight trafficking in Tajikistan, including 
several dedicated individuals: but this year, Post would like to 
nominate an organization that has done an excellent job 
combating TIP. 
 
International Organization for Migration's Local Staff 
 
Thanks to United States assistance, IOM has been a driving force 
within Tajikistan towards combating TIP by training government 
officials, raising awareness among the population and providing 
victims assistance.  With U.S. funding, IOM established the 
first shelters in Tajikistan for trafficking victims.  The staff 
has drafted the National Action Plan for 2006-2010 and has 
worked closely with the government to implement TIP programming. 
 In February 2006, IOM signed a Memorandum of Understanding with 
the inter-ministerial commission on countering TIP.  In 
addition, they advise on trafficking laws, including pointing 
out its discrepancies, leading the government to implement 
changes.  Officials from several government agencies respect IOM 
staff and recognize them as the leading anti-TIP organization. 
Officials often praise IOM's local staff for their initiatives 
in all spheres of anti-TIP efforts, their responsiveness to 
Tajikistan's needs, and their media resourcefulness. 
 
 
¶3.  BEST PRACTICES 
 
Tajikistan has set up special anti-TIP units in regions 
throughout the country.  The anti-TIP units are law enforcement 
bodies, groups of two to four police investigators, including 
women investigators, who are specially trained to look out for 
possible trafficking crimes and investigate them.  The anti-TIP 
unit models have been successful, and the government wants to 
expand them to all regions and even the district and local 
levels.  An increased number of anti-TIP units has led to a 
significant number of TIP cases reported and investigated.  In 
particular, the Sughd region's anti-TIP unit, which consists of 
four officers, has received awards and commendations from the 
General Prosecutor for itsaggressive investigation. 
 
 
 
DUSHANBE 00000397  012.2 OF 012 
 
 
¶4.  U.S. Embassy Dushanbe's point of contact on trafficking in 
persons is: 
 
Uyen Tang 
Political/Economic Officer 
Tel: 992-372-21-03-52 ext. 2106 
IVG: 752-2106 
Fax: 992-372-21-03-62 
tangut2@state.gov 
 
 
¶5.  Time spent preparing this report: 
 
Pol/Econ Officer: 17 hours 
SLEA: 0.5 hour 
Executive Office- 2 hour 
 
Total: 19.5 hours 
HOAGLAND