VZCZCXRO3412
RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0313/01 0611348
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021348Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9721
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 0030
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 0062
RUEHC/USAID WASHDC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1338

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 DUSHANBE 000313 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
G/TIP FOR MEGAN HALL, G, INL, DRL, PRM, SCA/RA, SCA/CEN, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB PGOV TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN'S 2006-2007 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT 
 
REF: STATE 202745 
 
DUSHANBE 00000313  001.2 OF 008 
 
 
¶1.  Please note that Post's paragraph designation corresponds 
with reftel. 
 
OVERVIEW 
 
¶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.  The International Organization 
for Migration reports that children are trafficked internally. 
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 all 
have differing numbers.  The majority of trafficking victims are 
female, single, and aged 20 to 26. 
 
Trafficking for labor exploitation is primarily to Russia and 
the majority are unemployed males.  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. 
 
Tajikistan is not known to be a receiving country for 
trafficking victims; trafficking victims are trafficked out of 
Tajikistan. 
 
 
¶B.  Trafficking patterns as reported in section A remain the 
same.  Government and non-governmental interlocutors did not 
report a decrease in trafficking victims.  However they also did 
not see an increasing trafficking trend.  Some fear that 
Russia's new migration law may increase labor trafficking, but 
it is too early to determine. 
 
Political will to combat trafficking was strong.  The government 
is keen on securing its borders, fighting organized crime, drug 
trafficking and terrorists, and trafficking issues are 
integrated into these security concerns. Compared to previous 
years, international organizations and non-governmental 
organizations report that the government has been more 
cooperative on trafficking related projects.  They attribute the 
change to the inter-agency commission.  In 2006, the government 
also signed and enacted the national action plan and has begun 
to use it as a guide to combat trafficking. 
 
In the Ministry of Interior's investigations, the majority of 
traffickers are individuals with private links to the receiving 
country.  Traffickers are individuals and some operate in 
groups, but the Ministry of Interior declined to characterize 
them as international crime rings.  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 inter-agency commission and the International 
 
DUSHANBE 00000313  002.2 OF 008 
 
 
Organization for Migration continue to point out that the 
Trafficking In Persons Law (Article 130) is inadequate.  The 
poorly-written law's structure and gaps make it difficult to 
convict a trafficker.  A working group will be meeting in March 
2007 to draft amendments to 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 drafted a bi-lateral agreement and submitted it 
to the government of the United Arab Emirates in 2006.  However, 
Tajikistan has not received a positive response accepting the 
agreement. 
 
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 International Organization for Migration identified 
corruption as the number one barrier to anti-trafficking 
efforts.  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 
certificates provide false documents so that traffickers can 
travel with the victims and victims can travel outside of the 
country into the United Arab Emirates where the majority of 
female victims are trafficked.  The United Arab Emirates 
prohibits women from Tajikistan under 30 years of age to enter 
the United Arab Emirates without a relative or spouse escort. 
 
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-trafficking efforts including 
training government officials, equipping investigative units, 
assisting victims and educating the public.  The government has 
strong political will to combat trafficking, but must rely on 
international donors to provide these services.  The government 
has limited funds for government employee trainings and provides 
support in-kind, not in cash. 
 
¶D.  Throughout the year, during government-supported conferences 
and roundtables, government officials will issue statements and 
assessments of the situation.  Statements are available upon 
request.  The government did not issue a comprehensive report on 
trafficking in 2006. 
 
One of the biggest frustrations for international organizations 
and donor agencies is the lack of reliable information and 
statistics.  Government agencies all have varying information 
and figures.  Despite the existence of an analytical center, 
information from the center is not forthcoming.  International 
organizations point out that government officials are not well 
trained to accurately record and analyze data.  Tajik government 
bureaucracy and formalities also makes obtaining information 
difficult. 
 
 
PREVENTION 
 
¶A.  The Tajik government acknowledges that trafficking is a 
problem in Tajikistan, has strong political will at the highest 
levels of government to stop trafficking, and has taken measures 
to stop the problem.  The government has a high-level 
inter-agency commission to coordinate anti-trafficking 
activities and cooperates with international and local 
non-governmental organizations working in the field. 
 
¶B.  Several ministries and agencies in Tajikistan focus on 
trafficking in persons including the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs, the General Prosecutor's Office, the Ministry of 
Interior, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labor and 
Social Protection.  A new Anti-Corruption Agency was established 
in January 2007 to deal with corruption issues.  A special 
inter-agency commission of high-level officials from various 
ministries and President Rahmonov's administration works on 
 
DUSHANBE 00000313  003.2 OF 008 
 
 
coordinating anti-TIP efforts and serves as the focal point. 
The government's new National Action Plan outlines specific 
roles for each ministry and agency in handling TIP issues. 
Non-governmental organizations note that in 2006, since the 
National Action Plan was enacted, it has been easier to work 
with the commission and various ministries involved in 
anti-trafficking. 
 
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 Interior is responsible for 
investigations, and arrests in trafficking cases.  Tajikistan's 
police force and special police trafficking in persons units 
fall under the Ministry of Interior.  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 National Action Plan, the Ministry of Health is 
responsible for assisting in 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 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 international organizations 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. 
The government has developed its own awareness campaigns and 
provides input to the International Organization for Migration's 
campaigns.  It supports local and international non-governmental 
organizations in trafficking education. The government 
occasionally will issue press statements and relies on the media 
to disseminate its information on TIP.  The government, local 
and international NGOs also raise awareness by educating high 
school aged students about trafficking.  Education and awareness 
campaigns in the country are targeted at potential victims. 
 
¶D.  The government acknowledges that one of the primary reasons 
women are susceptible to trafficking is the lack of employment 
opportunities for them in Tajikistan.  In 2006, the government 
ran a few small economic development projects, employing women 
as beekeepers and in the food processing industry.  The 
inter-agency commission has submitted project proposals to 
international organizations to expand its employment projects 
targeted at women. 
 
¶E.  Tajik government agencies cooperate closely with the U.S. 
Embassy, other diplomatic missions, donor agencies, and 
non-governmental organizations on TIP issues and are forthcoming 
with information that they have.  The International Organization 
for Migration, the leading anti-trafficking agency in 
Tajikistan, reported an excellent working relationship with the 
government.  The International Organization for Migration has a 
signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the inter-agency 
commission on combating trafficking.  The Organization 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. 
 
 
¶F.  Each government agency that deals with trafficking 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 
trained to screen for potential traffickers and victims.  The 
State Migration Service under the Ministry of Interior, 
established a database to track trafficking acts.  The Ministry 
of Interior operated a U.S.-funded Intelligence and Analytical 
Center for Counter-Narcotics and Trafficking In Persons. 
 
¶G.  The government's chief point of contact is the head of the 
inter-agency commission, the Chief of the Department of Law and 
Order and Defense, Abdurahmon Azimov.  As opposed to previous 
years, non-governmental organizations reported that the 
 
DUSHANBE 00000313  004.2 OF 008 
 
 
inter-agency commission has been cooperative.  The National 
Action Plan outlines each agency's activities and is a focal 
point for coordination.  In November 2006, the president signed 
a decree establishing an anti-corruption agency under the 
supervision of the president's office. 
 
¶H.  The government does have a national action plan for 
2006-2010.  The inter-agency commission on trafficking consulted 
with various ministries including the Ministries of Foreign 
Affairs, Health, Interior, Security, Labor and Social Protection 
and the General Prosecutor's Office.  With U.S. funding, the 
International Organization for Migration and the American Bar 
Association/Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative advised 
and assisted in drafting the national action plan.  However, the 
non-governmental organizations noted that in the final editing 
phase, the government eliminated many of their recommendations 
including necessary legislative changes.  The government also 
omitted key deadlines set for completion of certain actions. 
 
The government has proceeded on some items under the national 
action plan including the repatriation of victims and supporting 
information awareness campaigns. 
 
 
INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS: 
 
 
¶A.  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.  Tajikistan does have a comprehensive Law of the 
Republic of Tajikistan on Combating Trafficking in Persons 
adopted August 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 traffickers of people for sexual 
exploitation and labor exploitation both range from two to 12 
years of imprisonment and/or the confiscation of property. 
 
¶D.  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. 
 
 
¶E.  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. 
 
¶F.  According to the International Organization for Migration, 
in 2006, the government prosecuted 43 cases of trafficking, nine 
of which were related to trafficking of minors and newborns 
during the first six months of the year. The rest were mostly 
related to trafficking of women abroad for commercial sexual 
exploitation. According to the Ministry of Interior, 23 criminal 
groups involved in trafficking of persons were exposed during 
the year; 13 of them were revealed as the result of 
 
DUSHANBE 00000313  005.2 OF 008 
 
 
international cooperation. 
 
With U.S. funding, specialized anti-trafficking law enforcement 
units continued to investigate reported trafficking cases, with 
43 trafficking cases launched and 61 traffickers convicted 
during the year, a dramatic increase from 27 convictions in the 
previous year. 
 
The government did not prosecute any labor trafficking cases. 
 
 
¶G.  The government identified one travel agency that served as a 
front for traffickers.  Traffickers operated individually as 
well as in organized groups.  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. 
 
Traffickers funneled 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. 
 
 
¶H.  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. 
 
¶I.  The government as well as local non-governmental 
organizations trained law enforcement agents on recognizing and 
investigating trafficking cases.  The Ministry of Interior's Law 
Enforcement Academy teaches a course on combating trafficking, 
and law enforcement agents have a practical textbook on 
recognizing and investigating trafficking.  The Ministry of 
Interior has set up special regional units to handle trafficking 
cases.  Each unit's officers are especially trained to 
investigate trafficking cases and devote their time to handling 
only trafficking issues.  The government trained judges to hear 
trafficking cases. 
 
¶J.  The government worked closely with foreign governments on 
investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases.  Tajikistan 
does not cooperate with Uzbekistan or Turkmenistan on 
anti-trafficking efforts.  Tajikistan has a good working 
relationship with Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.  In 2006, 
the government established a closer working relationship with 
the United Arab Emirates. 
 
¶K.  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 
Arab states, particularly the United Arab Emirates. 
Tajikistan's inter-agency commission on anti-TIP drafted a 
bilateral agreement to facilitate extradition of criminals and 
repatriation of victims because the United Arab Emirates is the 
largest receiving country for Tajikistan's trafficking victims. 
 
 
¶L.  The head of the inter-agency commission acknowledged 
corruption is a problem, but refused to comment specifically on 
trafficking related corruption.  The International Organization 
for Migration reported that 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 trafficking related corruption.  Overall, the government is 
 
DUSHANBE 00000313  006.2 OF 008 
 
 
keen on stopping trafficking, and there is no evidence of 
widespread institutionalized government involvement in 
trafficking. 
 
 
¶M.  The government is aware of corrupt officials and does 
prosecute them.  The General Prosecutor's Office did not provide 
specific statistics.  The president signed into effect November 
2006, a new Anti-Corruption Agency. 
 
 
¶N.  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.  According to the International 
Organization for Migration, children are trafficked internally 
primarily for labor.  As of February 2007, five children resided 
in a trafficking victims' shelter.  The children were recruited 
as beggars. 
 
¶O.  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 cooperated with the International Organization 
for Migration to run two shelters for trafficking victims.  With 
U.S. support, the shelters provided victims with medical and 
psychological assistance.  The International Organization for 
Migration also provided some victims with legal assistance. 
Although several international and local nongovernmental 
organizations assist trafficking victims, the government did not 
establish or operate any other facilities dedicated to helping 
trafficking victims other than the above-mentioned shelters. 
The shelters also provide rehabilitation services to victims 
including vocational training, and third party facilitation to 
help reunite them with their families. 
 
¶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.  The government 
did provide in-kind support such as providing facilities for 
trainings, accommodations, and waiving shelters' utility fees. 
Although it cannot provide monetary support, the government 
works closely with non-governmental organizations and the 
International Organization for Migration to assist victims. 
Government officials were usually open and receptive to 
non-governmental organizations' ideas and advice on 
anti-trafficking efforts. 
 
¶C.  Because Tajikistan is not a receiving country of trafficking 
victims, the government does not have a formal system to 
identify victims of trafficking.  However, the U.S. government 
has funded training for officers of the Ministry of Interior's 
Trafficking in Persons Unit to identify trafficking victims and 
conduct investigations.  Victims, when identified are usually 
 
DUSHANBE 00000313  007.2 OF 008 
 
 
transported to the International Organization of Migration 
shelters for care.  Border guards are also trained to identify 
trafficking victims. 
 
¶D.  Victims are not treated as criminals and their rights are 
respected.  The General Prosecutor's office did not pursue 
criminal charges against trafficking victims or issue fines. 
Victims are not detained, jailed or deported.  However, if the 
Ministry of Interior determines a trafficking victim 
participated in the trafficking process including defrauding 
government authorities, the victim may be treated as a criminal 
trafficker.  Victims who elected to reside temporarily in the 
International Organization for Migration shelters are confined 
to the shelter until the Ministry of Interior has conducted its 
investigation.  Guards stood watch at the shelter. 
 
¶E.  The government provided victims and witnesses with security 
and confidentiality, however, the government admits the 
protection is minimal.  The government does encouraged victims 
to assist in the investigation process and provide testimony 
during trials.  It ensured 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 does not operate its own shelters.  In 2006, 
the U.S. government funded the International Organization for 
Migration to run two trafficking victims shelters.  The 
government intends to open its own shelters in the future, 
according to the guidance of the Law on Combating Trafficking 
and the National Action Plan. 
 
¶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-trafficking 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 trafficking matters.  However, in 2006 
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in conjunction with the 
inter-agency commission, traveled to the United Arab Emirates to 
repatriate victims.   The interagency commission reported a good 
relationship with the United Arab Emirates government. 
 
 
¶H.  The government relied on the International Organization for 
Migration to assist victims it repatriates and place them in a 
shelter.  The shelters have trained staff to assist with the 
psychological and medical needs of the victims.  Staff also 
assisted in rehabilitating victims to re-enter society.  The 
Ministry of Health and other government agencies worked closely 
with IOM and the shelters. 
 
¶I.  The federal and local government cooperated closely with 
international organizations and NGOs on anti-TIP efforts.  The 
leading non-governmental organization on trafficking in 
Tajikistan for 2006 remained the International Organization for 
Migration.  Many other international organizations worked on 
trafficking issues as well.  Their services included training 
programs and seminars for officials and journalists to combat 
trafficking, as well as training programs targeted at potential 
victims.  They produced awareness and education campaigns on 
television and radio media.  These organizations also delivered 
lectures, held conferences, published articles, held 
competitions, produced theater shows, and employed other 
creative ideas to raise awareness.  In 2006, local NGOs ran 16 
phone hotlines specifically for trafficking victims and issues. 
 
 
 
¶2.  U.S. Embassy Dushanbe's point of contact on trafficking in 
persons is: 
 
Uyen Tang 
Political/Economic Officer 
Tel: 992-372-229-2505 
IVG: 752-2505 
Fax: 992-372-229-2050 
 
DUSHANBE 00000313  008.2 OF 008 
 
 
tangut2@state.gov 
 
¶3.  Time spent preparing this report: 
 
Pol/Econ Officers:  10 hours 
SLEA: 1 hour 
INL: 1 hour 
USAID: 1 hour 
Executive Office: 2 hours 
 
Total: 15 hours 
JACOBSON