
Women human rights defenders on the report of the U.S. State Department in connection with human trafficking
"I positively regard the fact that in the report of the U.S. State Department, Azerbaijan was included in the second group of countries to combat trafficking regard," said Mehriban Zeynalova, the head of the State Department of Public Association "Temiz dunya" ("Clean World".) According to her, Azerbaijan carried out activities to address the problems of human trafficking.
"We have all preconditions to get into the top group - legislation, and the availability of forces to combat trafficking. However, there is one big problem - corruption, which is a deterrent," said Zeynalova. She noted that this year, the number of victims who receive medical, legal and psychological assistance, has increased. Since last year the trafficking victims are issued 400 manat.
As for the national plan of action against human trafficking, its validity will expire this year. According to Zeynalova, the government is going to adopt a new plan in which priority is the eliminating the causes of human trafficking.
The head of the Women's Crisis Center, Matanat Azizova, noted that Azerbaijan has always been in the second group. She said that there were moments when the country balanced between the second and third group. I would not like Azerbaijan be in the third group, as this can cause serious sanctions.
According to her, Azerbaijan has become a country-importer; sex slaves are delivered here from Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, China and other countries. It has also become a serious problem, and it was noted in the report of the State Department, the situation with women from Philippine, which become household slaves in the families of high-ranking officials.
According to Matanat Azizova, the report repeatedly noted the lack of punishment of officials who protect trafficking, no one has been brought to punishment. She reminded the kidnapping in 2008 of two minor sisters in Khachmaz region, and police was involved in the case. She also reminded the fact of suicide of 15-year-old girl in Ucar region, which was forced to prostitution by local police. In this context, a human rights activist, Taleh Khasmamedov, was prosecuted for having disclosed the case.
As for the work of the courts and the police in cases of trafficking, the attitude to the victims of trafficking are not on the proper level. The police often includes not human trafficking crimes in order to increase the number of disclosed crimes.
National Plan to Combat Trafficking is finishing this year. Usually, after the completion of the plan, monitoring on the results of activities are conducted. She believes that in Azerbaijan such monitoring will be conducted.
In the statement of U.S. State Department, Azerbaijan was included in the second group of countries, where standards are not fully implemented, but significant efforts are made. If Azerbaijan is included the third group, it can face sanctions, which mean the rejection of the financing educational and cultural exchanges, disagreement of the USA to get assistance of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. -04В-
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