VZCZCXRO4286
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHTA #1985/01 3141029
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 101029Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6783
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 2130
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1500
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2201
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1135
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 1690
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 1548
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHAST/USOFFICE ALMATY 1995
RUEAWJL/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC 0040

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 001985 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL/AAE, G/TIP, SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ELAB EAID SMIG SOCI KTIP KCRM KWKN KZ
SUBJECT:  KAZAKHSTAN:  TRAFFICKING AWARENESS CAMPAIGN COMPLETED 
 
ASTANA 00001985  001.3 OF 003 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: INL's anti-trafficking information campaign, including 
10 performances of the play "Night Stars," a roundtable, and press 
conference, received unanimously positive responses.  "Night Stars," 
based on true-life stories of former victims of trafficking, was 
performed in Astana by the Kokshetau Russian Drama Theater group. 
At the beginning of each performance informational flyers were 
distributed and anti-trafficking posters designed by children were 
exhibited.  A press conference marked the opening of the campaign, 
and a roundtable with government agencies closed it.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  The INL-sponsored information campaign aimed to warn students 
about the dangers of human trafficking and teach them ways to avoid 
victimization when seeking jobs abroad.  The Feminist League NGO and 
the Kokshetau Russian Drama Theater, in close cooperation with the 
Ministries of Justice (MOJ), Internal Affairs (MVD), and Education 
(MOE) implemented the program. 
 
¶3.  Galina Morozova, President of the Feminist League NGO, has been 
working with victims of trafficking on a daily basis for over 10 
years and runs a victims' shelter in the northern, agricultural city 
of Kokshetau.  Before establishment of a shelter in Kokshetau, 
Morozova aided victims in her home, which inspired a book based on 
their stories.  Looking to reach a wider audience, she approached 
the Russian Drama Theater in Kokshetau with a proposal to adapt her 
book for the stage. 
 
¶4.  Due to a personal tragedy, Valeryi Tarasov, Director of the 
Russian Drama Theater, readily agreed to help.  His brother, 
sister-in-law, and their son disappeared 13 years ago.  The child 
was later found in Moscow being forced to beg, and the parents were 
never found.  Orenbai Zhanaidarov's adaption of the book has been 
performed 48 times in Kokshetau. 
 
NIGHT STARS 
 
¶5.  "Night Stars" follows the lives of five young girls whose 
pursuit of their dreams of a better life abroad leads them to a 
brothel in an unnamed country that bears a striking resemblance to 
Turkey.  Each girl tells the story of being promised a great career 
(e.g. dancer, singer, or model) but ending up trafficked and having 
her life descended into horror and degradation.  After every girl 
tells her tale, the lead character is attacked by a pimp, kills him, 
flees to a Russian Orthodox church, and is reunited with her mother. 
 Each story effectively demonstrates the stages of trafficking, such 
as recruitment, transportation, seizure of documents, and 
exploitation.  The play also effectively focuses on traffickers' 
promises of a better life and their manipulation to attract young 
woman. 
 
THE INFORMATION CAMPAIGN 
 
¶6.  On September 14, a press conference with the DCM, Vice-Minister 
of Justice Dulat Kustavletov, Chairman of the Ministry of 
Education's Committee on Protection of Children's Rights Zhumazhan 
Zhukenov, Chief of the Ministry of Interior's Department to Combat 
Organized Crime Armanbek Baimurzin, and Morozova launched the 
project at the Zhastar Palace of Youth in Astana.  Representatives 
of the Supreme Court and Prosecutor General's Office attended the 
press conference and play.  Following the press conference, the DCM 
and Vice-Minister presented certificates of appreciation to 18 
children who drew the informational posters on display during every 
performance of the play. 
 
¶7.  Morozova introduced each of the 10 performances during the 
five-day project with a short lecture about human trafficking.  DVDs 
of the play and specially-designed informational materials were also 
distributed.  The materials describe the risks of trafficking, 
traffickers' recruitment methods, and detailed instructions for 
those seeking employment outside of their native city or country. 
They also provide contact information for anti-trafficking 
organizations in Kazakhstan.  Approximately 9,000 information 
booklets were distributed to schools and orphanages in Astana and 
the surrounding region. 
 
THE ROUNDTABLE 
 
ASTANA 00001985  002.3 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶8.  On September 18, Morozova concluded the project by conducting a 
roundtable with representatives of the Ministries of Justice, 
Interior, and Education, teachers from schools and juvenile justice 
centers, OSCE, and IOM.  It summarized the results of the 
information campaign and strengthened dialogue between government 
agencies, international organizations, and those that work with 
children.  The Ministry of Justice reported that the 2009-2011 
government plan to combat trafficking in persons had come into 
force.  Representatives also said the government granted a local NGO 
eight million tenge ($53,333) to support a recently-opened victims' 
shelter in Astana through 2011. 
 
¶9.  The Astana Department of Interior (DVD) mentioned an increase in 
human trafficking cases. In 2006, there were seven cases of 
trafficking, 14 in 2007, 16 in 2008, and already 16 in 2009.  The 
DVD also noted a growth in the withdrawal of complaints of 
trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation involving teen-aged 
girls, because of their fear of publicity or bribes by pimps.  The 
Ministry of Interior cited nationwide statistics for the first nine 
months of 2009, during which police initiated 18 cases of 
trafficking in persons, 14 cases of trafficking in minors, five 
cases of kidnapping for the purpose of exploitation, seven cases of 
deprivation of freedom for the purpose of exploitation, and eight 
cases of forced prostitution.  There were also 162 cases of pimping 
and maintaining brothels. 
 
¶10.  Morozova mentioned the eight victims of trafficking, including 
a 14- and 16-year old, in her shelter.  The latter had a 
two-month-old baby to which she had given birth while being held by 
traffickers.  Morozova noted traffickers' recent efforts to require 
trafficked women to settle their debts by recruiting new woman.  Not 
only does this strategy increase the number of girls, but it makes 
victims into participants in the criminal enterprise. 
 
¶11.  During his presentation, the IOM Chief of Mission presented the 
human trafficking book "Ainura's Dream," published by IOM 
Kyrgyzstan.  IOM has proposed printing and distributing this book, 
which the Kyrgyz Ministry of Education is using in the high school 
curriculum, in Kazakhstan. 
 
¶12.  Participants agreed that civil society must develop an 
infrastructure to protect children.  During the closing of the 
roundtable, participants recommended that 
 
- Public information campaigns be used to promote the protection of 
children; 
 
- Systematic training be put in place for teachers, health care 
workers, law enforcement agencies and others who work with 
children; 
 
- Reintegration of victims be stressed; 
 
- Mass media be encouraged to protect the rights of children when 
reporting cases; 
 
- Classes be conducted for children to warn them about risks of 
trafficking; 
 
- Legislation be changed to increase parent responsibility. 
 
"NIGHT STARS" FEEDBACK 
 
¶13.  INL has received overwhelmingly positive reaction to the "Night 
Stars" performances.  The President's ruling party Nur Otan, the 
Ministry of Interior, and the Head of the Kazakhstan Law School -- 
one of the most respected legal experts in the country -- have 
called to express appreciation for the project.  More importantly, 
INL has received many letters from teachers, students, and school 
directors: 
 
- Director of School #31:  "The play 'Night Stars' was attended by 
eighth-grade students of our school together with their class 
teachers.  Common opinion of all teachers and students who watched 
 
ASTANA 00001985  003.3 OF 003 
 
 
the performance is that the topic is very actual.  The play is very 
informative and educational.  Music, good acting made it very 
interesting for this age group." 
 
- Teachers of School #20:  "We liked the play. It is realistic and 
truthful.  It shows different stories of different girls.  We are 
able to read the schemes of recruitment in the vignettes given in 
the play -- how girls were recruited, moved, taken their passports, 
sold to different people, and subjected to violence.  We understand 
how people get into trafficking.  We thank everyone who participated 
in organization of this information campaign." 
 
- Diana age 15:  "This play made me think about the child-parent 
relationship.  We need to be careful with what we are doing in our 
lives and appreciate the care and love of our parents.  I feel so 
sorry for the girls who got into hands of traffickers and ruined 
their lives.  I am grateful for the play and I will be very 
careful." 
 
- Marina, Sonya, and Aliya age 16:  "I liked the play 'Night Stars' 
very much.  I liked both the plotline and actors' good performance. 
It's a very hot and realistic topic.  Girls are looking for better 
life, thinking that they can find it in other country, and what 
happens?  They are deceived, humiliated, crushed...  We need to be 
careful, listen to our parents and be self-critical." 
 
- Shynar, age 14:  "Recently, I together with my classmates went to 
the theatre to watch the 'Night Stars' play about human trafficking. 
 After I watched the play, I realized how lucky I am to actually 
have a chance to watch it and learn about trafficking.  It is an 
ideal play with professional actors.  I liked the script and the 
actors!  They played with great level of proficiency, very 
true-like.  I could not take my eyes off the scene.  The topic is 
very actual and is widely known.  I would like to thank everyone who 
took part in creation of this play.  What I seen and learnt will 
help me and my friends to avoid mistakes and easy ways of employment 
at the beginning of our carriers.  Thank you!" 
 
HOAGLAND