VZCZCXRO4112
RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHPW RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHEK #0211/01 0601138
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291138Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0750
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 0113
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 0718
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 0073
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 0112
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2429
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0651
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0026
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 0035
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0185
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 0129
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 17 BISHKEK 000211 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR G/TIP, G, DRL, INL, PRM, SCA/RA, 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN ELAB SMIG KFRD PREF ASEC KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZSTAN 2008 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT 
 
Ref: State 2731 
 
BISHKEK 00000211  001.6 OF 017 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Following is Embassy Bishkek's 2008 Trafficking in 
Persons report. The report follows the response format 
outlined in reftel. 
 
U.S. Embassy Bishkek trafficking point of contact: 
Valerie J. Chittenden, Consul 
Tel: (996-312) 551-241 x 4441 
Fax: (996-312) 551-264 
Email: ChittendenVJ@state.gov 
Number of hours spent on report preparation: CONS Section: 80; P/E 
Section: 6. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Begin text: 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
¶1. Overview of a country's activities to eliminate 
trafficking in persons: 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶A. Is the country a country of origin, transit, and/or 
destination for internationally trafficked men, women, or 
children? 
 
Kyrgyzstan is a country of origin and transit, and, to a lesser 
degree, destination for internationally trafficked 
people. Internal trafficking for both labor and sexual 
exploitation also occurs, generally from poor rural areas to larger 
cities such as Bishkek in the north and Osh in the south. 
 
There are no areas within the country that are outside of 
government control. The Government has been taking steps 
during the reporting period to address the issue of 
trafficking in persons. 
 
Reliable data on the number of people trafficked is 
unavailable because no baseline study has been conducted 
since 1999. The International Organization of Migration (IOM) and 
the Kyrgyz State Committee on Migration and employment (SCME) gather 
trafficking information in their efforts to combat it. However, both 
NGOs and government officials estimate that there are up to 4,000 
Kyrgyz women working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the sex 
industry. Most of these women are presumed to be victims of 
trafficking, although no reliable studies on the actual number of 
trafficking victims has been conducted. A significant number of 
trafficking victims are also presumed to be working in Kazakhstan 
and Russia, where large numbers of Kyrgyz labor migrants work on 
farms (in Kazakhstan) and in trading, construction, and factories 
(in Russia). By various estimates, the number of Kyrgyz labor 
migrants currently working in Kazakhstan range from 30,000-300,000, 
depending on the season. Another 250,000-400,000 Kyrgyz citizens are 
estimated to be working in Russia. The bulk of these are economic 
migrants, given the high unemployment and relatively stagnant 
economy in Kyrgyzstan, and are not trafficked. The precise number of 
those Kyrgyz citizens working in Russia and Kazakhstan who may be 
victims of trafficking is, however, unknown. According to the SCME 
offices in Russia, they assisted 4,000 Kyrgyz citizens recoup 
approximately 120 million rubles ($4.8 million US) worth of salaries 
that had been illegally withheld by Russian employers. Numerous 
government officials and NGOs have noted, however, that the large 
numbers of Kyrgyz citizens working in Kazakhstan and Russia is a net 
positive for the country since it significantly reduces the number 
of unemployed people in Kyrgyzstan and at the same time provides 
much needed remittances to the families of migrant workers. Local 
press reports indicate that the total amount of money remitted from 
Kyrgyz citizens abroad was $710 million for the first seven months 
of 2007. Most Kyrgyz citizens working in Kazakhstan, and to a lesser 
extent in Russia, do so on a seasonal basis, usually returning to 
Kyrgyzstan for the winter. 
 
Residents of poor rural areas of the country, particularly in the 
south, are most vulnerable to labor trafficking to 
 
BISHKEK 00000211  002.4 OF 017 
 
 
Kazakhstan and Russia. Poor ethnic Kyrgyz women from impoverished 
areas are the most frequent victims of sexual 
trafficking. Golden Goal, an anti-trafficking NGO in Osh reported 
that there were 331 victims of trafficking in southern Kyrgyzstan in 
¶2007. 
 
¶B. Please provide a general overview of the trafficking 
situation in the country and any changes since the last TIP 
Report 
 
Both NGOS and representatives from the Kyrgyz government 
characterize TIP as remaining a steady problem during the reporting 
period. While there were no significant increases or decreases, 
there was marked activity in prosecuting TIP cases. In October 2007, 
the former Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Migration and 
Employment announced that 33 cases of human trafficking had been 
solved during 2007. According to the Prosecutor's office, there have 
been 23 convictions in cases involving trafficking in persons. 
Prosecution and conviction statistics such as the above were not 
available for the previous report. Additionally the State Committee 
on Migration and Employment has renewed its efforts to revise the 
National Action Plan against trafficking in persons. 
 
 
Victims are trafficked from all areas of the country, with southern 
Kyrgyzstan in particular being the largest source area for 
trafficking victims; the majority of trafficking victims were 
believed to be victims of labor trafficking. International 
Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that about 70 percent of 
TIP victims are from the southern provinces of Batken, Jalalabad, 
and Osh, where unemployment rates are the highest. According to IOM, 
NGOs, and the government, most frequently individuals are trafficked 
to Kazakhstan (to work in the agricultural sector, mostly on tobacco 
fields), Russia (industry, commerce, construction) and China (bonded 
labor); and to the UAE, China, South Korea, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, 
Thailand, Germany, and Syria for sexual exploitation. IOM estimates 
that up to 4,000 Kyrgyz women work in the UAE as prostitutes; 
however, it is uncertain how many of those women were trafficked. 
 
Populations targeted by traffickers include women of both 
Slavic and Central Asian (Kyrgyz, Tajik and Uzbek) 
ethnicities, especially in the 18-25 age group. Unemployed 
poor people, particularly from southern Kyrgyzstan and rural areas, 
are also heavily targeted for seasonal agricultural work in 
Kazakhstan and for construction and industrial sector work in 
Russia. Press reports during the reporting period indicate that 
traffickers range from individuals or family-based syndicates to 
well-organized groups. 
 
Kyrgyzstan is a transit country for smaller numbers of 
trafficking victims from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, 
Turkmenistan, and South Asia to Russia, the UAE, Turkey and both 
Eastern and Western Europe. In 2006 in a widely reported trafficking 
case, 86 Uzbek women on one charter flight were interdicted while 
traveling to the UAE with false travel documents. During the past 
year Kyrgyzstan, particularly the city of Osh, was a destination and 
transit point for women trafficked from Uzbekistan for purposes of 
sexual exploitation. 
 
The number of people working illegally in Russia and 
Kazakhstan has been declining during the last four years as channels 
for legal labor migration expanded due to bilateral agreements on 
labor migration with these two countries. In 2005, Russia passed 
legislation giving a preferential treatment to Kyrgyz citizen 
workers in Russia. The Kyrgyz government had worked closely with the 
Russian government to secure passage of the measure as a means of 
better protecting Kyrgyz workers in Russia. In 2006, the Kyrgyz 
government reached an agreement with Russian authorities simplifying 
rules for crossing the Russian border: starting Nov. 1, 2007, Kyrgyz 
citizens were authorized visa-free passage across the border using 
their domestic passport or identification card. Additionally, the 
SCME has worked to develop electronic means for Kyrgyz workers to 
receive their salary - in order to ease remittances back to 
 
BISHKEK 00000211  003.4 OF 017 
 
 
Kyrgyzstan but also to decrease vulnerability to robbery and forced 
labor. 
 
NGOs and the Kazakh government reported an increase in the flow of 
legal labor migrants from Kyrgyzstan during the past three years, 
especially in spring and summer. The number of officially registered 
Kyrgyz migrants in Kazakhstan has increased by 30 percent. According 
to IOM's Bishkek office, approximately 70 percent of Kyrgyz migrants 
to Kazakhstan work on a contractual basis, with the other 30 percent 
working with only verbal contracts. Most Kyrgyz migrants work as 
traders at markets or perform unskilled labor in the agricultural 
and construction sectors of Kazakhstan; a smaller group includes 
young people working in the IT sector, consulting companies and 
businesses requiring special skills. 
 
In February 2007, the government announced the decision of 
the South Korean government to include Kyrgyzstan on its 
official list of countries exporting labor into the country, 
allowing Kyrgyz labor migrants to work legally in Korea. Previously, 
Kyrgyzstan had a quota of 400 labor migrants, but the actual number 
was thought to be much higher. Despite these new legal protections, 
the SCME reported several cases of trafficking including one group 
of athletes who are currently awaiting repatriation from South 
Korea. 
 
NGOs and government sources reported that agencies offering 
employment abroad, travel, and modeling contracts often serve as 
fronts for trafficking operations. NGOs and the government also 
cited agencies that promote work or marriage abroad as the main 
conduits for trafficking victims for sexual exploitation. Such 
companies place advertisements in the media about marriage to 
foreigners, high salaries working in restaurants or as domestic 
servants to lure recruits. Women trafficked into prostitution are 
frequently recruited by former trafficking victims themselves, who 
now work for or become traffickers. 
 
Recruiters for labor migrants often go to villages where jobs are 
scarce and call out for recruits over loudspeakers. Recruits are 
then bused to Kazakhstan for work on farms. Agricultural workers are 
also often recruited by word of mouth after recruiters spread rumors 
of lucrative work abroad. An unknown number of these labor migrants 
may become trafficking victims. 
 
Traffickers usually provide travel documents, including 
passports and visas. In the case of women trafficked to the 
UAE, traffickers provide forged travel documents indicating 
an older age for the victims in an effort to bypass the UAE 
regulations. 
 
In the past there were reports of blank Kyrgyz passports 
being stolen from passport agencies here. Later, investigation of 
several TIP cases revealed that traffickers used the stolen 
passports. The availability for purchase of Kyrgyz passports led to 
the US government ceasing to recognize it as a travel document in 
¶2004. Not only was the pre-2004 passport widely sold, but the lack 
of security features led to rampant forgery. While the US and the UK 
do not recognize this passport and the Kyrgyz government has ceased 
to issue it, the pre-2004 passport is still accepted for travel to 
most Schengen countries and the UAE until 2010. 
 
Bride kidnapping is also part of the trafficking problem in 
the Kyrgyz Republic because it involves, in many cases, 
forced marriage and movement - even if it only occurs within the 
same oblast or town. Increased reports of bride kidnappings have 
been attributed to a weak economy, as young men cannot afford to 
marry according to traditional practices. Bride kidnapping is 
considered to be a part of Kyrgyz culture even though it only 
reportedly became prevalent in the last 200 years. A 2003 study 
indicated that the problem is particularly severe in northern 
Kyrgyzstan. Research indicates that up to one-third of ethnic Kyrgyz 
women in northern Kyrgyzstan may be married against their will as a 
result of bride kidnapping. Another 20 percent of marriages among 
ethnic Kyrgyz are the result of consensual bride kidnapping, which 
 
BISHKEK 00000211  004.4 OF 017 
 
 
is done by some out of respect for tradition. During the past 
reporting period, a US citizen was the victim of bride kidnapping 
and was held against her will for several days before she escaped. 
While it is typical for a group of young men to actually perform the 
kidnapping, it is not unusual for female relatives to assist them - 
sometimes urging the "bride" to just give in. According to NGOs 
(Healthy Generation and Spravedlivost), seven out of ten couples 
married through bride kidnapping eventually get divorced. Women who 
refuse to acquiesce can face rejection from their families, and 
intense ostracism - thus making them a vulnerable part of the 
population. 
 
¶C. Which government agencies are involved in anti- 
trafficking efforts and which agency, if any, has the lead? 
 
The Office of the Prosecutor General, the Ministry of Internal 
Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Security 
Service, the National Border Service, the Customs Agency, the 
Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the Ministry of Education, 
the Ministry of Health, and local administrations are all involved 
with anti-trafficking efforts. The law on Prevention and Combating 
Trafficking in Persons, adopted in 2005, specifically states the 
role of each Ministry and office in combating TIP. The National 
Council on Fighting Human Trafficking was the leading government 
organization in fighting TIP. However the State Committee on 
Migration and Employment (SCME) is the only agency that has adequate 
staffing and works continuously on TIP. The Committee has regional 
offices in all seven oblasts and in Bishkek. The National Council is 
scheduled to meet annually but has not done so for the past three 
years. 
 
¶D. What are the limitations on the government's ability 
to address this problem in practice? 
 
The government's ability to address TIP was limited by 
significant changes that followed the "Tulip Revolution" of 
March 2005. Changes in the structure of the government, a 
high turnover of individuals responsible for conducting/coordinating 
anti-TIP activities, and the lack of staff with experience in 
dealing with TIP issues delayed 
anti-TIP activities at that time. Kyrgyzstan adopted a new 
constitution in October 2007.  There were pre-term parliamentary 
elections and a new prime minister and cabinet were appointed in 
December 2007. Inadequate funding of law enforcement agencies and 
low salaries of law enforcement officers, coupled with corruption 
also weakened the government's ability to address the problem. 
 
Resources to aid victims were also scarce. The government 
continued to provide space free of charge to the Sezim 
shelter in Bishkek, which offers shelter both to TIP victims and 
victims of domestic violence. In 2003, the Mayor's Office in Osh 
provided a building for the shelter for trafficked and abused women. 
In 2006, local authorities of Osh allocated space for another 
shelter for children. The shelter provides support to homeless 
children, including those deserted by parents who left in search of 
job opportunities. 
 
Overall, corruption was a critical problem recognized by the 
government. In 2006, government officials at the highest level made 
public statements regarding their commitment to eliminate 
corruption, carried 
out an anticorruption information campaign through the media, 
implemented measures to make the operation of government and 
judiciary more transparent, and simplified procedures for business 
registration and operation. However, there was no noticeable impact 
from these measures. In 2005, the government established the Agency 
for Preventing Corruption and the National Council for Fighting 
Corruption. The following year, the agency conducted a nationwide 
survey of corruption within government agencies. Based on the 
results of the study, the agency released a list of the most corrupt 
governmental bodies, including the tax and customs agencies, law 
enforcement bodies, courts, and agencies controlling 
construction and business licenses. However, no action was 
 
BISHKEK 00000211  005.4 OF 017 
 
 
taken against corrupt officials as a result of the survey. 
 
¶E. To what extent does the government systematically 
monitor its anti-trafficking efforts (on all fronts -- 
prosecution, victim protection, and prevention) and 
periodically make available, publicly or privately and 
directly or through regional/international organizations, 
its assessments of these anti-trafficking efforts? 
 
The government, through the State Committee on Employment and 
Migration Issues (SCME) monitored and analyzed the labor migration 
situation during the reporting period. A new National Action Plan is 
in the process of being drafted which will formalize the SCME's role 
as lead agency in tracking and fighting TIP. Under the newly 
proposed National Action Plan, the SCME will also chair a working 
group composed of other government agencies to coordinate anti-TIP 
efforts. However, because of the lack of resources and expertise for 
conducting such research, no comprehensive and systematic monitoring 
of TIP issues was established. 
 
No meetings of the National Council to Combat Trafficking 
were held during the reporting period. In November 2005, the SCME 
conducted a door-to-door survey. Based on results, they estimated 
that at least 300,000 Kyrgyz citizens work as labor migrants in 
Russia and Kazakhstan alone. Since the survey was done in November, 
when most seasonal workers had returned home, the chairperson of the 
Committee concluded that the actual number is significantly higher. 
At a conference in December 2007, then Deputy Chairman of the SCME 
Dasmir Uzbekov estimated the number of labor migrants at 400,000 
people, with about 250,000 working in Russia. According to the 
official, most of the labor migrants are in 18-30 year age group. 
 
Representatives of government/law enforcement agencies made 
presentations at various conferences and to the media reporting on 
work performed. The police's TIP unit and office of the Prosecutor 
General maintained statistics on the number of cases investigated, 
and the Court Department maintained statistics on the number of 
prosecuted traffickers. During the year law enforcement agencies 
publicized information on prosecution cases through media outlets 
and at public events devoted to TIP. 
 
As part of the anti-trafficking information campaign, the 
government and both domestic and international NGOs provided 
assessments of the TIP situation. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
¶2. INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS: 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶A. Does the country have a law specifically prohibiting 
trafficking in persons--both for sexual and non-sexual 
purposes (e.g. forced labor)? 
 
The law on Prevention and Combating Trafficking in 
Persons, adopted in January 2005, and changes to Article 124 of the 
Criminal Code, introduced in January 2006, outlaw trafficking in 
persons and specify penalties ranging from three to 20-years 
imprisonment for those convicted under this article. The 2006 
amendment to Art. 124 of the Criminal Code provides protection to 
TIP victims if they cooperate with law enforcement agencies. Now TIP 
victims are not prosecuted for document fraud or illegal border 
crossing if they assist in prosecution of trafficking cases. 
 
The law gives a broad definition of trafficking, including 
recruiting, transporting, hiding, receiving, transferring or selling 
a person, or any other illegal transaction performed either with the 
person's consent or without it, carried out by way of applying 
force, fraud, cheating, kidnapping for the purpose of exploitation 
or gaining a profit. The law states the following definition of 
exploitation: involvement in criminal activity, coercion into 
prostitution or other forms of sexual activity, forced labor or 
services, slavery, adoption for commercial purposes, and forced 
service in armed conflicts. 
 
BISHKEK 00000211  006.4 OF 017 
 
 
 
Thus, the law covers both trafficking for sexual exploitation and 
trafficking for forced labor, including trafficking of minors; the 
law contains a special provision for TIP crime committed in 
connection with the abuse of official power. 
 
In January 2006, the President enacted the new law on 
External Labor Migration. The law regulates recruitment of 
Kyrgyz citizens for work abroad and legal assistance to labor 
migrants, including cases that pose the danger of 
trafficking. 
 
In February 2006, the Code on Administrative Responsibility 
was amended to include a more severe punishment of 
governmental officials for violating rules of visa issuance 
to foreigners; this amendment is aimed at preventing 
trafficking of foreign citizens to Kyrgyzstan. 
 
TIP-related crime is also prosecuted on charges outlined in 
the following articles of the Criminal Code: 
 
Art. 123 Kidnapping; 
Art. 154 - Entering into marriage relations with a person 
under marriage age (18 years old); 
Art. 157 - Involvement of minors in antisocial activities; 
Art. 204-1 - Organizing illegal migration; 
Art. 204-2- Numerous violations of the regulations on 
recruiting and employing foreigners; 
Art. 260 - Recruiting people for purposes of prostitution; 
Art. 261 - Establishing and operating brothels for 
prostitution; 
Art. 346 - illegal border crossing; 
Art. 350 - document forgery. 
 
These provisions of the Criminal Code are sufficient for 
prosecution of the full scope of trafficking-related crimes. 
 
Additionally, the following laws cover actions of people 
interfering with the prosecution process: 
 
-- Criminal Code, Art. 317 - Obstructing the judicial 
Process:  punishment is up to five years in prison; 
 
-- Criminal Code, Art. 318 -Obstructing the investigation: 
punishment is up to five years in prison; 
 
-- Code on Administrative Responsibility, Art. 77 - Illegal 
Employment: punishment is a fine of up 70 minimum salaries (Note: 
one minimum salary is presently equal to $2.50 End Note); 
 
-- Code on Administrative Responsibility, Art. 315 - False 
Advertising: punishment is a fine of up 70 minimum salaries; 
 
-- Code on Administrative Responsibility, Art. 391-1 - 
Illegal trafficking of people through the border: punishment is a 
fine of up to 50 minimum salaries or dismissal; 
 
On September 9, 2006 the president signed a law, which 
establishes a system of state protection for witnesses, 
victims, and other participants of criminal trials. Under 
this law, testimony from witnesses and other trial 
participants will also carry greater weight both in the 
investigation and in court proceedings. Observers believe the law 
will increase witnesses' willingness to testify. 
According to Golden Goal, an NGO located in Osh, up to 80 per cent 
of witnesses refuse to give evidence for fear of retaliation by the 
accused. 
 
¶B. What are the prescribed penalties for trafficking 
people for sexual exploitation?  What penalties were 
imposed for persons convicted of sexual exploitation over 
the reporting period? 
 
 
BISHKEK 00000211  007.6 OF 017 
 
 
Traffickers of people for sexual exploitation can be prosecuted 
sentenced based on the following articles of the Criminal Code: 
 
--Art. 124 - Trafficking in persons: punishment is up to 20 years 
imprisonment; 
 
--Art. 204-1 - Organization of Illegal Migration: punishment is up 
to five years imprisonment; 
 
--Art. 346 - Illegal border crossing: punishment is up to five years 
in prison; 
 
--Art. 350 - Document forgery: punishment is up to four years in 
prison. 
 
During the reporting period, 33 cases of trafficking in people were 
solved, several of them resulting in arrests. According to the 
Prosecutor General's office, four of these arrests were related to 
sexual exploitation/prostitution. According to press reports, at 
least one of these arrests was for an individual who trafficked 
women to the UAE for prostitution. According to statements from the 
former Deputy Chairman of the State Committee of Migration and 
Employment in December 2007, there have been at least 23 convictions 
for trafficking in persons during the reporting period. However post 
was unable to determine the number of convictions specifically for 
sexual exploitation. Several trafficking cases are still on-going. 
 
¶C. Punishment of Labor Trafficking Offenses: What are 
the prescribed and imposed penalties for trafficking for 
labor exploitation, such as forced or bonded labor and 
involuntary servitude? 
 
Labor trafficking offenses are punishable under the 
following provisions of the law: 
 
--Art. 124 -Trafficking in persons: punishment is up to 20 years 
imprisonment; 
 
--Art. 204-1 - Organization of Illegal Migration: punishment is up 
to five years imprisonment; 
 
--Art. 346 - Illegal border crossing: punishment is up to five years 
in prison; 
--Art. 350 - Document forgery: punishment is up to four years in 
prison. 
 
Additionally, theft, destruction, damage or concealment of 
documents is punishable under article 348 of the Criminal 
Code, resulting in a fine of 100-200 minimum monthly wages or 
confinement of up to six months. 
 
As mentioned above, at least 33 cases of trafficking in persons were 
"solved" during the reporting period. According to press reports and 
the Prosecutor General's Office, at least 19 of these arrests were 
related to labor trafficking. Post has not received any data on the 
number of convictions but several of these cases are still 
on-going. 
 
¶D. What are the prescribed penalties for rape or 
forcible sexual assault?  How do they compare to the 
prescribed penalties for crimes of trafficking for 
commercial sexual exploitation? 
 
Rape and forcible sexual assault are prosecuted under the following 
articles of the criminal code: 
 
-- Rape is prosecuted under Art. 129 of the Criminal Code. 
The punishment is from five to 20 years in prison and can 
include capital punishment for the rape of a minor. Multiple rapes 
by a person previously convicted for a similar crime, by a gang of 
people, especially aggravated by threats of death or bodily injury, 
or rape of a minor is punished by eight to 15 years; 
 
 
BISHKEK 00000211  008.4 OF 017 
 
 
-- Forcible sexual assault is punished under art. 130 of the 
Criminal Code with three to 20 years; 
 
-- Coercion to perform actions of a sexual nature is 
punishable under Art. 131, by up to two years in prison; 
 
-- Sexual intercourse or other sexual actions with a person 
below 16 years old are punished under Art. 132 with up to 
three years in prison. 
 
  This is comparable to sentences in cases of trafficking for 
commercial sexual exploitation (art. 124, three to 20-years 
imprisonment). 
 
¶E. Is prostitution legalized or decriminalized? Specifically, are 
the activities of the prostitute 
criminalized?  Are the activities of the brothel owner/operator, 
clients, pimps, and enforcers criminalized? 
Are these laws enforced? 
 
Prostitution itself is neither legalized nor outlawed. 
However, the Criminal Code specifically outlaws the operation of 
brothels and pimping (art. 261) and the recruitment of people into 
prostitution (art. 260) with penalties of up to five years 
imprisonment. 
 
¶F. Has the government prosecuted any cases against human 
trafficking offenders? 
 
During the reporting period, the government reported 
arrests on TIP-related charges, and that 33 cases of human 
trafficking were solved. According to the former Deputy Chairman of 
the State Committee of Migration and Employment (SCME), there have 
been at least 23 convictions against human traffickers. According to 
the General Prosecutor's office, 19 of these cases involved 
prosecutions for forced labor while four were related to sexual 
exploitation/prostitution. The NGO Golden Goal, located in Osh, 
reported that a number of these arrests and prosecutions were 
occurring in the south of Kyrgyzstan - the source for the majority 
of victims of trafficking and a significant transit point for 
traffickers. However post does not have a detailed list of sentences 
served, fines or details on plea bargains. 
 
--According to the State Committee for Migration and 
Employment, companies are required to obtain licenses for recruiting 
people for work abroad, but there were also recruiters operating 
without a license. During the reporting period government agencies 
monitored activities of companies involved in recruiting people for 
work abroad and took actions against those companies violating the 
law. 
 
¶G. Does the government provide any specialized training 
for government officials in how to recognize, investigate, 
and prosecute instances of trafficking? 
 
The government supported a number of training programs for law 
enforcement officers, governmental officials and NGOs conducted by 
IOM and other organizations. The MVD Academy and the training center 
for MVD officers, teach courses on recognizing and conducting 
investigations into 
trafficking-related crimes. 
 
In September 2007, the US Embassy with cooperation from the Federal 
Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) provided a week-long 
training session to Kyrgyz law enforcement personnel on 
identification, investigation and prosecution of trafficking in 
persons cases. 
 
¶H. Does the government cooperate with other governments 
in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases? 
 
The Kyrgyz government cooperates with other CIS countries within the 
framework of the Minsk Convention on Legal Assistance and Legal 
 
BISHKEK 00000211  009.4 OF 017 
 
 
Relations in Civil, Family and Criminal Cases. Kyrgyzstan has 
bilateral agreements on legal assistance in civil, family and 
criminal matters with Latvia, China, the Czech Republic, and Iran. 
Similar agreements were drafted and forwarded to Finland, Greece, 
Norway, Netherlands and Poland, and are currently awaiting approval 
by these governments. 
 
In addition: 
 
-- In October 2006, parliament ratified a Commonwealth of 
Independent States (CIS) agreement on combating trafficking 
aimed at coordinating efforts of CIS law enforcement agencies. 
 
-- In December 2007, the Kyrgyz government, with assistance from the 
OSCE and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), held 
a regional roundtable "Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in 
Central Asia: State Policies, Dynamics and Ways Forward." National 
delegations from the majority of CIS countries were present and 
included government representatives as well as NGOs from each 
country. The purpose of the conference was to share common 
experiences regarding TIP and find potential common solutions. 
 
-- In November 2007 a meeting of the Russian-Kyrgyz Consultative 
Council on Labor Migration was held in Bishkek. Participants 
discussed ways to harmonize legislation on labor migration and 
coordination of actions to resolve problems of labor migration. 
 
¶I. Does the government extradite persons who are charged with 
trafficking in other countries? 
 
Under bilateral and multilateral agreements with several 
NIS countries and China, Kyrgyzstan may extradite foreign 
citizens charged with criminal offenses, including TIP. 
Article 13 of the Constitution prohibits the extradition of 
Kyrgyz citizens to other countries. 
 
Post has no information regarding extradition by the 
government of traffickers to other countries. However one of the 
most recent arrests during the reporting period (February 19, 2007) 
included a Russian citizen who was arrested for selling Kyrgyz 
nationals to other Russian citizens. It is not clear at the time of 
this report whether the arrested individual would be prosecuted 
under any Russian laws. 
 
¶J. Is there evidence of government involvement in or 
tolerance of trafficking, on a local or institutional 
level? 
 
NGOs reported a perceived tolerance of trafficking by 
some low-level law enforcement officials, but blame this on a lack 
of awareness of trafficking issues and a belief among some police 
officials that most women working as prostitutes do so willingly and 
are not victims of trafficking. 
 
Corruption also plays an important role in that corrupt 
officials could easily be bought off by traffickers. 
However, Post has no evidence of official corruption 
contributing to the trafficking problem in Kyrgyzstan. 
 
No concrete information about involvement of government 
officials into TIP crime is available. 
 
¶K. If government officials are involved in trafficking, 
what steps has the government taken to end such 
participation? 
 
In 2005, the government of Kyrgyzstan established the Agency for 
Preventing Corruption and the National Council for Fighting 
Corruption. During the reporting period, there were no arrests or 
convictions of public officials in trafficking-related crimes. As 
mentioned in the previous section, the Code on Administrative 
Responsibility was amended in 2006 to include a more severe 
punishment of government officials for violating rules of visa 
 
BISHKEK 00000211  010.4 OF 017 
 
 
issuance to foreigners; this amendment is aimed at preventing 
trafficking of foreign citizens to Kyrgyzstan. 
 
 
¶L. As part of the new requirements of the 2005 TVPRA, 
for countries that contribute troops to international 
peacekeeping efforts, please indicate whether the 
government vigorously investigated, prosecuted, convicted 
and sentenced nationals of the country deployed abroad as 
part of a peacekeeping or other similar mission who engage 
in or facilitate severe forms of trafficking or who exploit 
victims of such trafficking. 
 
The Kyrgyz Republic has not contributed troops to international 
peacekeeping efforts. 
 
¶M. If the country has an identified child sex tourism 
problem (as source or destination), how many foreign 
pedophiles has the government prosecuted or 
deported/extradited to their country of origin? 
 
Kyrgyzstan has not been a destination country 
for child sex tourism. However, trafficking of children for sexual 
exploitation remains a concern. 
 
Domestic laws on child sexual abuse do not have 
extraterritorial coverage. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
¶3. PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS: 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶A. Does the government assist foreign trafficking 
victims, for example, by providing temporary to permanent 
residency status, or other relief from deportation? 
 
As source country for TIP, Kyrgyzstan reports few incidents of 
foreigners being trafficked with Kyrgyzstan as the final 
destination. The majority of trafficking victims are Kyrgyz citizens 
themselves. The few reported foreign trafficking victims are usually 
from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan and usually are en 
route to a third destination. As citizens of the Commonwealth of 
Independent States (CIS), Uzbek and Tajik citizens do not require 
visas to travel or remain in Kyrgyzstan. All victims of trafficking 
are eligible for amnesty from any migration violations provided they 
cooperate with trafficking investigations. All victims of 
trafficking are able to receive assistance from the various NGOs and 
international organizations who aid victims of trafficking. 
 
¶B. Does the country have victim care facilities which 
are accessible to trafficking victims? 
 
While the government of Kyrgyzstan itself does not provide victim 
care facilities, it does continue to provide space for three 
shelters - one in Bishkek and two in Osh, which are operated by 
local NGOs. There foreign victims as well domestic victims are able 
to receive assistance. These organizations are privately funded from 
international donors and from private sources. During 2007 the Sezim 
shelter in Bishkek provided the following assistance to victims of 
trafficking: 
 27 victims received psychological assistance 
 12 victims received specialty vocational training 
 19 victims received social assistance 
 21 victims received medical 
 
The NGO Sezim also received 100 calls to their hot line during 2007. 
All calls were made on IOM-sponsored and government-operated 
toll-free number. Golden Goal, an anti-trafficking NGO in Osh, 
reported 435 calls from March - December 2007 to their 
anti-trafficking hotline. Through those calls, 21 victims of 
trafficking were identified. 
 
By the year's end, IOM provided assistance to 151 trafficking 
 
BISHKEK 00000211  011.4 OF 017 
 
 
victims, including repatriation, psychological support, shelter upon 
arrival in Bishkek or Osh, vocational training, and financial 
support through monthly stipends. 
 
¶C. Does the government provide funding or other forms of 
support to foreign or domestic NGOs and/or international 
organizations for services to trafficking victims? 
 
The Government does not directly provide funding to 
foreign or domestic NGOs for services to victims and does not have 
victim health care facilities. It lacks funding, 
personnel, and training to support such programs. The Kyrgyz 
government does provide free space for shelters and does not charge 
any fees for the anti-TIP hotlines. 
 
¶D. Do the government's law enforcement, immigration, and 
social services personnel have a formal system of 
proactively identifying victims of trafficking among high- 
risk persons with whom they come in contact (e.g., foreign 
persons arrested for prostitution or immigration 
violations)? 
 
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), the National Border Service, 
and the National Security Service have each developed systems for 
victims of trafficking to be referred to appropriate shelters. The 
head of the Sezim shelter in Bishkek reported a good level of 
cooperation with these agencies and an increasing number of 
referrals from law enforcement officials during the reporting 
period. 
 
According to Golden Goal, there were 331 victims of trafficking 
identified in southern Kyrgyzstan in 2007. IOM reports that 28 
victims in 2007 were identified in shelters such as Sezim's. 
 
¶E. For countries with legalized prostitution:  does the 
government have a mechanism for screening for trafficking 
victims among persons involved in the legal/regulated 
commercial sex trade? 
 
While Kyrgyzstan has not legalized prostitution, it has not outlawed 
it either. Existing legislation makes it illegal to recruit someone 
for prostitution, operate a brothel or act as a pimp. Kyrgyzstan 
does not have a mechanism for screening trafficking victims from 
legal commercial sex workers as there is no regulated commercial sex 
trade. 
 
¶F. Are the rights of victims respected? 
 
Victims of trafficking are afforded protection from prosecution 
should they cooperate with law enforcement. During the reporting 
period, there have been no reports of the detention of trafficking 
victims. In the majority of trafficking cases, the victims are 
Kyrgyz citizens themselves who are trafficked either abroad or 
within the country. Prostitution and other labor violations 
committed abroad are not prosecuted within Kyrgyzstan. Once 
identified, victims are able to receive assistance from Sezim, 
Golden Goal or other NGOs. 
 
¶G. Does the government encourage victims to assist in 
the investigation and prosecution of trafficking? 
 
The government does encourage victims to assist in the 
investigation and prosecution of trafficking. Under Article 
50 of the Criminal and Procedural Code, a victim has the 
right to assist in the investigation and prosecution of 
trafficking by providing evidence, participating in 
investigative activities, providing comments to reports on 
investigative activity with his/her involvement; he/she has 
the right to access all investigation materials, participate in 
court proceedings and appeal court decisions. Victims have the right 
to file civil suits against traffickers. 
 
Post has no information on whether victims' access to legal 
 
BISHKEK 00000211  012.4 OF 017 
 
 
redress is impeded, because this legal redress is not yet 
available. If a victim is a material witness in a court case against 
a former employer, the victim is not permitted to leave the country. 
There is no victim restitution program 
 
¶H. What kind of protection is the government able to 
provide for victims and witnesses? 
 
On September 9, 2006 the president signed a law, which 
establishes a system of state protection for witnesses, 
victims, and other participants in criminal trials. Under 
this law, testimony from witnesses and other trial 
participants will also carry greater weight both in the 
investigation and in court proceedings. This law additionally 
provides amnesty from prosecution of migration and related offenses 
should the victims cooperate with the investigation. Observers 
believe the law will increase witnesses' willingness to testify. 
According to Golden Goal, up to 80 per cent of witnesses refuse to 
give evidence for fear of retaliation by the accused. 
 
Another provision of the Criminal and Procedural Code (point 4 of 
Article 12) provides for some measures ensuring the security and 
safety of victims and witnesses: "When there is sufficient 
information that a witness or other participant of the legal process 
is threatened with violence, destruction or damage to his property 
or other dangerous illegal actions, the court, the procurator, the 
investigator and the investigation body must, within the framework 
of their competence, undertake measures outlined by the law to 
protect the life, health, honor, dignity and property of such 
persons." 
 
In practice, these measures are only occasionally enforced due to a 
lack of resources at all levels to provide such 
protection. To better enforce compliance, the Prosecutor 
General sent a directive urging full compliance with the 
provisions of the law concerning protection of witnesses. 
 
As mentioned previously, the government does not operate any 
shelters or assistance programs of its own. However, there is a 
referral mechanism for victims of trafficking to shelters and 
programs run by NGOs and international organizations such as IOM. As 
mentioned previously, the Sezim shelter in Bishkek provided the 
following assistance to victims of trafficking in 2007: 
 27 victims received psychological assistance 
 12 victims received specialty vocational training 
 19 victims received social assistance 
 21 victims received medical 
 
The NGO Sezim also received 100 calls to their hot line during 2007. 
All calls were made on IOM-sponsored and government-operated 
toll-free number. Golden Goal, an anti-trafficking NGO in Osh, 
reported 435 calls from March - December 2007 to their 
anti-trafficking hotline. Through those calls, 21 victims of 
trafficking were identified. 
 
By the year's end, IOM provided assistance to 151 trafficking 
victims, including repatriation, psychological support, shelter upon 
arrival in Bishkek or Osh, vocational training, and financial 
support through monthly stipends. 
 
¶I. Does the government provide any specialized training 
for government officials in identifying trafficking victims 
and in the provision of assistance to trafficked victims, 
including the special needs of trafficked children? 
 
The MVD Academy, the training center for MVD personnel, 
has training courses on recognizing and investigating 
trafficking-related crimes. The Interagency Training Center, part of 
the National Border Service, provides training on combating crime 
related to illegal migration, drug trafficking and human 
trafficking. 
 
During the reporting period, the US Embassy in conjunction with the 
 
BISHKEK 00000211  013.4 OF 017 
 
 
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) conducted a 
week-long anti-TIP training sessions for Kyrgyz law enforcement and 
prosecutors. 
 
The MFA during the reporting period instructed its embassies and 
consulates located in destination countries to do all that they 
could to cooperate with local law enforcement bodies to investigate 
trafficking cases and to assist Kyrgyz victims of trafficking. 
Embassies and consulates in destination countries have a 
relationship with IOM, which assists with the return of trafficking 
victims who are Kyrgyz citizens to Kyrgyzstan. During the reporting 
period, Kyrgyz Embassies abroad and IOM reported a total of 134 
repatriations of Kyrgyz victims of trafficking back to Kyrgyzstan. 
Assistance ranged from providing travel documents to locating 
funding for return travel. According to the new Deputy Chairman of 
the State Committee on Migration and Employment (SCME) Toktosun 
Sabyrov, the SCME is hoping to open offices in Kazakhstan, Russian, 
Turkey and the UAE to provide additional assistance to Kyrgyz 
laborers and victims of trafficking in those countries. 
 
¶J. Does the government provide assistance, such as 
medical aid, shelter, or financial help, to its nationals 
who are repatriated as victims of trafficking? 
 
The government does not provide medical aid, shelter or 
financial help to its repatriated nationals who are victims 
of trafficking. It lacks funding, personnel and training to 
do so. However, the Government does cooperate with NGOs and 
international organizations such as IOM which are able to 
provide such assistance and refers returned trafficking 
victims to shelters. 
 
¶K. Which international organizations or NGOs, if any, 
work with trafficking victims? 
 
A number of international and domestic NGOs work with 
trafficking victims in Kyrgyzstan: 
 
-- IOM, with its offices in Bishkek and Osh, assists and 
funds the return of victims of trafficking to Kyrgyzstan. In 
February 2006, IOM started a 27-month Program on Combating 
Trafficking in Human Beings, funded by USAID. 
IOM works in partnership with 28 domestic NGOs on various 
aspects of the labor migration/trafficking problem. By 
year's end, IOM provided assistance to 151 trafficking 
victims, including repatriation, psychological support, 
shelter upon arrival in Bishkek or Osh, vocational training, as well 
as monthly stipends. 
 
-- The Eurasia Foundation, through four NGO partners, 
provided legal advice to labor migrants, assisted the SCME in 
developing public policy and assessed training needs of 
potential labor migrants. One of NGO partners stationed in 
Yekaterinburg gathered information about job opportunities in 
Russia, and provided consultations and legal advice to Kyrgyz labor 
migrants in Yekaterinburg. 
 
-- NGOs such as Sezim, Golden Goal, Podruga, Ulybka and 
Adilet Legal Clinic, provide legal, medical and counseling 
services for trafficking victims. 
 
-- The Sezim shelter in Bishkek and six other shelters for 
female victims of domestic violence (one each in Talas, 
Jalalabad, Cholpon Ata, Naryn, and two shelters in Osh) also provide 
shelter for TIP victims. 
 
--During the reporting period the Sezim shelter in Bishkek 
provided shelter to 27 female TIP victims. 
 
-- During the reporting period, the Sezim shelter and the NGO Golden 
Goal based in Osh received over 500 phone calls on their "Stop 
Traffic" hotlines. 
 
 
BISHKEK 00000211  014.4 OF 017 
 
 
-- The Elsen NGO operating the toll-free 189 hot line 
received about 1,000 calls from potential labor migrants and 
provided legal guidance and employment information. 
 
--The NGO Golden Goal based in Osh focuses on protecting the rights 
of young people, including giving free consultations regarding 
external labor migration. The NGO also publishes information on 
finding employment abroad without falling into the hands of 
traffickers. 
 
In September 2007, the European Commission announced support for two 
new anti-trafficking projects. With a focus on southern Kyrgyzstan, 
the first of the two projects trains local teachers in Osh, 
Jalalabad and Batken in how to increase awareness and help prevent 
human trafficking. The second project will train local governments, 
law enforcement agencies and NGOs in fighting human trafficking. 
 
------------- 
¶4. PREVENTION 
------------- 
 
¶A. Does the government acknowledge that trafficking is a 
problem in the country?  If not, why not? 
 
The government acknowledges that trafficking is a problem in the 
Kyrgyz Republic. In addition to existing legislation that 
specifically outlaws trafficking in persons, Parliament passed new 
legislation to address the problem in January of 2005 and the 
president signed the law into effect in March 2005. The mechanisms 
for providing such protection were outlined in the amendments to 
Art. 124 of the Criminal Code, which were signed into law January 5, 
¶2006. 
 
¶B. Are there, or have there been, government-run anti- 
trafficking information or education campaigns conducted 
during the reporting period? 
 
During the rating period, the government supported and/or 
participated in a number of information and education anti-TIP 
programs jointly with international and domestic NGOs: 
 
-- Jointly with IOM and USAID, the government continued to publish a 
number of information materials in the Kyrgyz and Russian languages 
for those seeking jobs abroad or those currently abroad and facing 
difficulties. A variety of brochures, booklets, leaflets, and "The 
Migration Bulletin" newspaper provide information on how to avoid 
being trafficked, about relevant laws and regulations, IOM hot lines 
operating in several countries, and the "Stop Traffic" hot line in 
Kyrgyzstan. Also available is contact information for the offices of 
the SCME, Kyrgyz diplomatic missions abroad and Kyrgyz Diasporas in 
Russia. These materials are readily available at the office of the 
"189" hot line and at five labor migrant support centers (four in 
Kyrgyzstan and one in Yekaterinburg, Russia). 
 
-- In June 2006, the government, jointly with IOM and several 
foreign donors, began USAID-sponsored TIP information and victims 
assistance campaigns. During the reporting period, the government 
continued to support these programs. As part of the campaign, the 
government provided office space and allocated a toll-free phone 
line (189 in Bishkek, Karakol, Talas, Osh and Jalalabad, or 104 in 
Naryn and Batken), which offered information in Kyrgyz and Russian 
languages about regulations and laws for labor migrants and tips 
about employment opportunities abroad. Since the hot line was 
established, over 1,000 people have received advice and 
consultations. 
 
-- In November 2006, Golden Goal and the OSCE launched a 
website (http://www.antitraffickingdolina.net) aimed 
primarily at Ferghana Valley residents. The website provides 
information on combating trafficking, including 
anti-trafficking programs implemented in the region, helpline 
information for TIP victims, relevant laws on trafficking and other 
useful information. The site also serves as a venue for information 
 
BISHKEK 00000211  015.4 OF 017 
 
 
sharing between Kyrgyz, Uzbek and Tajik NGOs involved in 
anti-trafficking activities. 
 
-- In December 2006, the NGO "Podruga" and the OSCE conducted a 
seminar in Osh for local officials, representatives of law 
enforcement bodies and NGOs of three southern provinces to discuss 
ways of cooperation between authorities and civil society in 
combating TIP. 
 
-- In February 2007, Golden Goal conducted a regional 
conference in Osh, "Enhancement of Regional Cooperation 
between NGOs of Central Asia in Combating Human Trafficking". 
Sponsored by the Canadian Government, participants of the event 
included representatives of NGOs, law enforcement agencies and local 
government officials from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and 
Uzbekistan. 
 
-- IOM continued a 27-month USAID-funded Program on Combating 
Trafficking in Human Beings. 
 
-- The Eurasia Foundation Office in Bishkek continued 
implementing a project to support Kyrgyz labor migrants. 
Through four NGO partners, Eurasia Foundation provided legal advice 
to labor migrants, assisted the SCME in developing public policy and 
assessed training needs of Kyrgyz labor migrants. 
 
-- Public schools and higher educational institutions either have a 
separate course on TIP in their curriculum or discuss TIP issues as 
part of courses on "Safe Life and Basics of Healthy Lifestyles." 
The school course on "We and the Law" contains a two-hour session on 
preventing TIP. 
 
-- The president appointed a representative in the parliament for 
gender issues. The responsibility of this official is to ensure that 
all legislative acts give due respect to the rights of women. 
 
--The government continued to support several programs aimed at, 
among other things, keeping children in school. Such programs are: 
the New Generation, Jashtyk (Youth), Jetkinchek (Access to 
Education). 
 
--The State Commission on the Affairs of Under-Age Children 
disseminates information nationwide regarding children's rights. 
 
¶C. What is the relationship between government 
officials, NGOs, other relevant organizations and other 
elements of civil society on the trafficking issue? 
 
According to NGO representatives, relations between 
government officials, NGOs, other relevant organizations and other 
elements of civil society on the trafficking issue were good. 
Throughout the year, the government repeatedly directed government 
agencies at all levels to cooperate actively with and assist NGOs 
working on fighting TIP. Although lack of resources at every level 
limited the 
government's ability to combat all forms of crime, including TIP, 
the government displayed a willingness to work closely with NGOs 
around the country on prevention programs, mainly in the form of 
educational and information campaigns and training for police, 
office of the prosecutor and other government officials. 
 
Representatives of central and local governments frequently 
participated in anti-trafficking programs carried out by 
NGOs, provided grantees free space for conducting trainings 
and seminars, and assisted in organizing events and 
advertising for them. NGOs working on trafficking issues 
reported that they are generally satisfied with the level of 
cooperation they receive from both national and local 
government agencies as well as law enforcement bodies. The 
director of the Sezim shelter recognized the improvement of 
relations between NGOs and law enforcement agencies, which 
often seek advice on how to handle TIP issues and refer 
victims to shelters. 
 
BISHKEK 00000211  016.4 OF 017 
 
 
 
¶D. Does the government monitor immigration and 
emigration patterns for evidence of trafficking?  Do law 
enforcement agencies screen for potential trafficking 
victims along borders? 
 
The State Committee on Migration and Employment (SCME) routinely 
tracks migration and foreign employment data as part of its mandate. 
While the main focus is not fighting TIP, the SCME uses the data it 
collects in its anti-TIP efforts. Efforts were made in the fall of 
2007 to begin to track the number of Kyrgyz citizens abroad. 
According to press reports, the Parliamentary committee on migration 
was tasked with conducting a census on the number of Kyrgyz citizen 
abroad. Press reports and official statement state that 
approximately 400,000 - 500,000 Kyrgyz citizens work abroad. 
 
¶E. Is there a mechanism for coordination and 
communication between various agencies, internal, 
international, and multilateral on trafficking-related 
matters, such as a multi-agency working group or a task 
force?  Does the government have a trafficking in persons 
working group or single point of contact?  Does the 
government have a public corruption task force? 
 
Under the offices of the First Deputy Prime Minister, there is a 
National Council on Fighting Human Trafficking which consists of 
representatives from various government agencies and NGOs. However 
the National Council has not met for more than two years. In 
actuality, the State Committee on Migration and Employment (SCME) is 
the functioning government body that coordinates for communication 
and coordination. 
 
At a recent meeting with the new Deputy Chairman for the SCME, post 
learned that the SCME is in the process of drafting new anti-TIP 
legislation. The proposed legislation will appoint the SCME as the 
coordinating organization for all anti-TIP efforts. A new anti-TIP 
working group will be established to increase inter-agency 
cooperation and efficiency with the SCME as the leading agency. 
 
¶F. Does the government have a national plan of action to 
address trafficking in persons? 
 
In 2002, the First Prime Minister's Office created the National 
Council on Fighting Human Trafficking which has representatives from 
the State Committee for Migration and Employment Issues (SCME), the 
Ministry of Interior, the Office of the Prosecutor General, the 
National Security Service, the National Border Service, the Customs 
Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, 
the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the Ministry of Health, 
and local administrations of local self-governance bodies. 
 
According to Deputy Chairman Toktosun of the SCME, the Kyrgyz 
Parliament and SCME are drafting a new anti-TIP National Action 
plan. As stated above, this action plan will establish the SCME as 
the lead anti-TIP agency and coordinating body, establish a regular 
anti-TIP working group and build upon the previous National Action 
Plan's delineation of responsibilities amongst Kyrgyz government 
agencies. 
 
The previous law, the Law on Prevention and Combating Trafficking in 
Persons stipulates the legal aspects of preventing and combating 
trafficking, provides guidelines for coordination of the efforts of 
law enforcement agencies involved in such activities, outlines 
measures for victim protection and support, and designates a special 
entity for preventing and fighting TIP, which consists of 
representatives of the government, NGOs and international 
organizations. According to the law, the responsibilities of this 
entity include: developing and implementing the state policy on 
fighting trafficking; gathering and analyzing the information 
regarding the magnitude and trends in trafficking; overseeing the 
operation of agencies and institutions tasked with prevention and 
fighting TIP; participating in drafting TIP-related international 
documents; making proposals on improving existing TIP-related laws; 
 
BISHKEK 00000211  017.4 OF 017 
 
 
and organizing TIP-awareness campaigns. The law describes specific 
functions of the following governmental agencies involved in 
anti-TIP activities: the Office of the Prosecutor General, the 
Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the 
National Security Service, the National Border Service, the Customs 
Agency, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the Ministry of 
Education, the Ministry of Health, and local administrations. The 
law includes measures for victim protection. 
 
¶G. As part of the new criteria added to the TVPA's minimum standards 
by the 2005 TVPRA, what measures has the government taken during the 
reporting period to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts? 
 
Kyrgyzstan has continued to prosecute cases under existing 
legislation. No new initiatives have been taken during this 
reporting period. 
 
¶H. As part of the new criteria added to the TVPA's minimum standards 
by the 2005 TVPRA, what measures has the government taken during the 
reporting period to reduce the participation in international child 
sex tourism by nationals of the country? 
 
Nationals of Kyrgyzstan are not reported as participating in 
international child sex tourism. 
 
¶I. Required of posts in countries that have contributed 
over 100 troops to international peacekeeping efforts: What measures 
has the government adopted to ensure that its nationals who are 
deployed abroad as part of a peacekeeping or other similar mission 
do not engage in or facilitate severe forms of trafficking or 
exploit victims of such trafficking? 
 
Kyrgyzstan does not contribute 100 or more troops to any 
international peacekeeping efforts. 
 
Yovanovitch