USAID and OSCE provide a grant for a large project to combat trafficking in Azerbaijan

On  November 20 in Baku USAID and OSCE signed a declaration on cooperation in the fight against trafficking in Azerbaijan. The document was signed by the head of the US diplomatic mission, Derek Hogan, and project coordinator of the OSCE Baku, Alexis Shakhtakhtinsky. This grant project is for three years (amount not disclosed.) Its goal is  to strengthen public education on the issue of human trafficking. The project involves the provision of technical and financial assistance to civil society organizations in support of victims of trafficking. The project also includes round tables, making recommendations to the government. According to Derek Hogan, this paper demonstrates the willingness of the United States through USAİD assist Azerbaijan in the fight against human trafficking.

Despite the limited opportunities, civil society in Azerbaijan continue to assist the victims of trafficking, said Hogan.

"We have had three joint relief shelters for 842 victims of human trafficking, which are controlled by the NGO," said Hogan. The OSCE Project Coordinator in Baku, Alexis Shakhtakhtinsky,  reported that the project was established by the Government of Azerbaijan in June 2014. He noted the importance of combining efforts to prevent this form of modern slavery.

Head of the Main Department of Internal Affairs to combat human trafficking Asadullayev Sharif, in turn, stressed the role of the OSCE and the United States in the establishment of structures Interior Ministry to combat trafficking and conducting training for employees.

"The new program  takes intyo account  the US and the OSCE  proposal, and its implementation involved 29 government agencies and 45 NGOs,"  he said. According to him,  fulfillment of the eight recommendations of the US State Department in the fight against human trafficking has alsomt  ended . -03C04-