April - June 2014
I O M C O U N T E R -T R A F F I C K I N G P R O G R A M M E I N CENTRAL ASIA TURKMENISTAN: Ashgabat Meeting Proposed Way Forward on Migration and Statelessness
In this edition: Turkmenistan: Ashgabat 1 meeting proposed way forward on migration and statelessness. Kazakhstan Third Na3 tional dialogue on ensuring access to social services for victims of abuse, including victims of trafficking and domestic violence. Kyrgyzstan: CounterTrafficking Information Campaign in Chuy Region.
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Tajikistan: Training on income generation activities for vulnerable migrants.
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Turkmenistan: Training of Trainers.
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Uzbekistan: IOM contin- 7 ues prevention activities: state-civil initiatives on preventing human trafficking and irregular migration.
The International Conference on Migration and Statelessness, which took place in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on 23-24 June 2014, was hosted by the Government of Turkmenistan and co -organized by IOM and UNHCR with the aim of discussing key regional challenges in these two spheres that have been identified as meriting further exploration: 1) migration, and 2) statelessness, and propose the way forward in addressing them. The International Conference provided an opportunity to have a constructive discussion on the follow up to the 2013 UN High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development. Ambassador William Lacy Swing, DirectorGeneral of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) addressed the high-level participants at the plenary session of the Conference during which he called on participating States to work together in the spirit of trust and partnership to achieve safe and orderly migration for all, and to protect the rights of all migrants. Mr. William Lacy Swing also highlighted the need to do more to leverage the potential of migration for development. Before concluding his speech, Mr. William Lacy Swing thanked the Government of Turkmenistan for its proactive stance in organizing the conference. Stateless people in the region face significant obstacles in accessing their basic human rights, such as documentation, medical support and ability to travel, according to the Director of the International Protection Department of the UNHCR Volker Turk. In the course of his speech, Mr. Volker Turk also mentioned that Turkmenistan has achieved considerable progress with regard to the reduction and prevention of statelessness e.g. by including safeguards to prevent statelessness in its 2013 nationality law.
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TURKMENISTAN: Ashgabat Meeting Proposed Way Forward on Migration and Statelessness (continued) The plenary session of the Conference was followed by the working session, which was entirely devoted to Migration. This session covered the following migration related issues, such as Migration and Development, Migration and Health, Migration and Emergencies, Migration and Trafficking. High-level delegates from 18 countries and the representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations and Public Organizations of Turkmenistan attended the session. The Regional Coordinator of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for Central Asia, Mr. Dejan Keserovic delivered a presentation on addressing challenges to combat trafficking in persons. During his presentation, Mr. Dejan Keserovic stressed the fact that human trafficking, including intra-regional and internal human trafficking remains a serious concern for most parts of the region. It is worth noting that a significant proportion of human trafficking is carried out for the purposes of labour exploitation. In this regard, Mr. Dejan Keserovic reiterated the fact that no country is able to tackle trafficking in persons on its own. He completed his presentation by saying that the enhanced international cooperation is more important than ever to combat trafficking in persons. The outcomes of this important event were captured in the Statement of Co-chairs of the International Conference and will feed into the global discourse on migration and statelessness matters, including the Global Forum on Migration and Development which will take place in Istanbul in 2015, and the first Global Forum on Statelessness, which will take place in the Hague in September 2014.
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KAZAKHSTAN: Third National Dialogue on Ensuring Access to Social Services for Victims of Abuse, Including Victims of Trafficking and Domestic Violence On June 26, 2014, IOM in close cooperation with the Commission on Human Rights under the President of Kazakhstan and the Association of Legal Entities “Union of Crisis Centers of Kazakhstan” conducted the third National Dialogue on ensuring access to social services for victims of abuse, including victims of trafficking and domestic violence. The event was organized in line with the Kazakhstan 2012-2014 National Plan on Prevention and Combating Human Trafficking, which provides the access to special social services for victims of human trafficking, and was financially supported by the United States Department of State’s Bureau on International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) in Kazakhstan. Over 45 people attended the dialogue including government officials from the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Labour and Social Protection of Population, Health, Education and Science, Economy and Budget Planning, and Justice, the General Prosecutor’s Office, and the civil society presented by the NGO working on combating trafficking in persons and domestic violence in various regions of Kazakhstan. The event was also attended by representatives of the Parliament and the Administration of the President of Kazakhstan. During the first session, representatives of the Ministries of Health, Education and Science and the NGOs provided brief overviews of the existing programs and activities related to the provision of social services to victims of abuse (victims of trafficking and domestic violence). National and international experts, subcontracted by IOM, presented the draft subordinate legislative act to provide special social services for victims of cruel treatment, including victims of trafficking and victims of domestic violence. After the introductory presentations, a group discussion was initiated and moderated by IOM to learn and provide feedback, as well as additional recommendations, to the draft subordinate legislative act from governmental and non-governmental stakeholders engaged in the provision of services to victims of trafficking and domestic violence in Kazakhstan. The comments and suggestions proposed by the participants will be incorporated into the draft document to the extent possible and the experts will continue working on the document and will calculate the preliminary budget for the special social services for VoTs to present the final version in September 2014 during the Fourth National Dialogue.
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KYRGYZSTAN: Counter-Trafficking Information Campaign in Chuy Region One of NGO partners of IOM Mission in the Kyrgyz Repub-
lic, Public Union "Chuy Regional Center for Development and Education" is conducting an awareness raising initiative called "Safe Route of Labour Migration — 2" within the USAID Counter-Trafficking Project. This initiative is providing a platform for the interactive dialogue on the problems of human trafficking in the Kyrgyz Republic through follow-up discussions of the thematic video "Tagdyrdyn Tataal Zholdoru" ("Destiny of a Migrant"). This video was first produced during the previous round of the USAID information campaign. Before going out for awareness raising, consultations were held with regional administrations in order to ensure the coverage of the most remote villages. NGO signed Memorandums of Understanding with heads of Ayiyl Okmotus (village administrations) and local schools. Since January 2014 total of 16 villages of Sokuluk, Kemin, Chuy, Alamudun, Issyk-Ata districts of Chuy region were covered by the information campaign. More than 4000 students of upper schools took part in the campaign. Interactive discussion of the thematic video proved an effective method of informing young generation about risks of illegal migration and dangers of human trafficking. After presentation of the video the school students expressed their opinion, shared impressions and emphasized that such interactive events raise their level of awareness on the problem. Also during the information campaign the toll free hot line 0800 0000189 and 189 was advertised through informational materials and a “Hotline Operator” interactive game. In addition the NGO provided a counter-trafficking Training of Trainers (TOT) for activists of local communities and teachers of upper schools. Also more than 700 CD copies of the video "Destiny of a Migrant" were disseminated to the target group for further trainings and discussions in the extra-curricular classes. After interactive discussion of the video the students were presented with the IOM information brochures about the risks of irregular migration and human trafficking. Leader of NGO, Mrs. Bermet Asanova noted that there was a great interest of village and school administrations in such educational events: “They provided all favorable conditions for implementation of the counter-trafficking campaign, such as relevant space and facilities for the event, invited the audience, etc.”
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TAJIKISTAN: Training on Income Generation Activities for Vulnerable Migrants In connection with the changes in the policy of the government of the Russian Federation towards labour migrants from the Republic of Tajikistan and members of their family, i.e. prohibition in entry or administrative deportation, there is a big number of citizens in the country (that in the past experienced labour migration in the Russian Federation) that cannot re-enter the Russian Federation. As a result, majority of the families of labor migrants ended up in difficult financial conditions as the main source of income in the household was from the member of the family working as a labor migrant. IOM in implementation of the project – “Empowering victims of trafficking (VOT), vulnerable migrants (VM), their families and communities in Central Asia” decided to help this category of citizens by conducting educational trainings so they can begin the development of their own business. The vulnerable migrants from several regions that contacted IOM hotline in the past for legal advice as well NGO’s in the regions that are IOM partners, were involved in this training program. Along with that, NGO’s in regions announced planed trainings for vulnerable migrants which gives opportunities for interested Tajik citizens to contact IOM in order to participate in the trainings. Taking into account the number of citizens specified in the lists, it was decided to conduct 3 three-day trainings in Kulyab, Shahrituz, and Khujand. The first stage of given trainings included 45 people, with the breakdown of 41 men and 4 women. As a result, vulnerable migrants developed business plans, which were considered and approved for implementation with the help of the trainees. Participants of the training were able to receive in kind assistance by purchasing equipment, tool kits, sewing machines, livestock and other utensils for income-generating activities. All trainings conducted by IOM in the regions included partnering NGO’s, providing further guidance, technical support and conducting regular monitoring of the beneficiaries. Trainings of this nature and provision of technical support to vulnerable migrants from regions of republican subordination (RRS) as well as GBAO are planned in the near future. This project is being implemented in all countries of Central Asia with the financial support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Turkmenistan: Training of Trainers “The Use of the Effective Methodologies in Conducting Workshops and Trainings on TIP (Trafficking in Persons) Issues for Population” ASHGABAT, 27-28 June, 2014 – The Mission of International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Turkmenistan conducted a two-day capacity building training (ToT) for trainers, facilitators and consultants of NGOs and public organizations of Turkmenistan on “The use of the effective methodologies in conducting workshops and trainings on TIP (trafficking in persons) issues for population”. Ms. Elvira Mruchkovska, an experienced international expert/trainer, specialized in conducting capacity building trainings for NGOs and public organizations, was invited from Ukraine to conduct the training. The aim of the training was to improve the competencies of NGO’s trainers, consultants and facilitators in the use of effective methodologies and tools to communicate and transfer knowledge on trafficking issues and raise the public awareness as well as to develop plan and programs for conducting the workshops and trainings in collaboration with the government institutions. It’s important to note that the training was organised in a participatory and interactive way including general discussions, brainstorming, and small group work and establishing supportive and encouraging rapport for mutual learning and networking among the participants. The trainer has drawn the audience’s attention to important components of information delivery, such as the particularity of the target groups, the theory of teaching for adults as well as the particularity of the informational perception, the importance of considering different age groups in developing the informational materials and the international experience in conducting workshops and trainings for target groups. At the end of the training, applying the newly acquired skills and knowledge, the participants developed a plan (strategy) for conducting workshops and trainings on three topics (Stop Trafficking, Stop Organ Sale and Risk of Employment Abroad) by using modern tools and methodologies. Then, each group presented its own version of the plan. In this regard, the trainer provided relevant recommendations on how to improve the plan (strategy) for conducting such trainings and the other representatives of NGOs and public organizations shared with their own comments and suggestions on presented materials. Organization of this training is a part of IOM activities on prevention of human trafficking, and IOM believes that the event contributes to, and supports the government’s efforts to combat human trafficking.
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UZBEKISTAN: State-Civil Initiatives on Preventing Human Trafficking and Irregular Migration
IOM in partnership with NGO partners from various regions of Uzbekistan continues implementing prevention activities supported by USAID. NGO partners conduct awareness-raising activities at different places, which include local markets, schools, universities, stations and etc. Furthermore, they established close links with government structures to increase local populations’ awareness on human trafficking and irregular migration. In Termez, one of the areas in which IOM project activities are run, local partner NGO, “Istiqbolli Avlod”, conducted information campaign at the local international airport. Inter-agency commission on countering human trafficking of Surhandarya region joined the NGO’s initiative. As a result of this activity, people, waiting for their flight, received information about the risks of irregular migration, human trafficking, NGO activities and contact numbers of Uzbek embassies and partners abroad from representatives of the NGO and commission. The NGO and commission especially tried to target male migrants, who are most vulnerable to human trafficking, as NGO reports. IOM’s most of NGO partners build up and seek active collaboration with government structures for supporting such public initiatives.
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IOM CT TEAM IN CENTRAL AISIA Mr. Dejan Keserovic Coordinator for Central Asia/Chief of Mission in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan Tel: +7 7172 990521 dkeserovic@iom.int Ms. Bermet Moldobaeva CT Programme Officer for Central Asia Tel: + 996 312 612456 bmoldobaeva@iom.int KAZAKHSTAN Ms. Aliya Alikova Tel: + 7 727 2913973 aalikova@iom.int KYRGYZSTAN Ms. Jyldyz Ahmetova Tel:+ 996 312 612456 jahmetova@iom.int Ms. Janna Tashieva Tel: + 996 312 612456 jtashieva@iom.int TAJIKISTAN Mr. Bahrom Rahmatjonov Tel: + 992 37 221 03 02 brahmatjonov@iom.int TURKMENISTAN Ms. Mahym Orazmuhamedova Tel: + 99312 420817 morazmuhamedova@iom.int
IOM Counter-Trafficking Hotlines in Central Asia Kazakhstan 8 8000 8000 15 (landlines) 11616 (mobile phones) Kyrgyzstan 189 (Bishkek) 0800 0000189 (regions) + 996 312 641364 Tajikistan + 918-85-34-34 Turkmenistan + 99 312 463514; + 993 422 32229; Uzbekistan + 99871 276 94 44