To strengthen the fight against people trafficking

Sixty  six  cases  of people trafficking were registered last year, said Mehriban  Zeynalova, the head of the public association "Temiz Dunya". According to her, over three months of this year 10 facts of people trafficking were revealed. During a year 175 potential victims have been rescued, and they helped. The main reasons why people become victims of traffickers are the desire to make money, legal ignorance and naivety, says Zeynalova.

Over the last seven years, the situation with human trafficking in Azerbaijan has changed: decreased number of  those who wants to "earn a living abroad." At the same time,  there are facts of  human trafficking in the face of women, formally married to a  foreigner and who had gone to him.

There are problems in the rehabilitation of the victims. The main problem is that families often do not want to forgive and accept stumbled woman, believing her guilty of the trouble. In addition victims need psychological assistance and rehabilitation in the community, which does not take enough to take measures for the integration of the victims. Currently, there are only four shelters with the goal of rehabilitation. One of them belongs to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the other three belong to NGOs.

Commenting on criticism of the authorities of Azerbaijan, in the future report of the  U.S. State Department, Zeynalova noted that in Azerbaijan, in comparison with other countries of the CIS, there are more facts  of trafficking. However, the penalty for these crimes is softer. Often, they work only a suspended sentence. It is necessary to strengthen the punishment, she said.

The head of the Women's Crisis Center, Matanat Azizli,  called timely  the assessment of the U.S. State Department on trafficking in Azerbaijan. In 2012 the Center  led by her revealed 16 facts of  trafficking. However, the organizers of these crimes often go unpunished, and only the perpetrator are jailed.   

For this reason, the State Department estimates are founded.  In her opinion, Azerbaijan has turned from the transit country into a country of destination, and the flow of petrodollars promotes it. Soon the summer season begins, and women from different countries will be brought in Azerbaijan for sexual services.

The report of the organization QRETA, fighting human trafficking, Azerbaijan has also been criticized. "It appears that this criticism has forced the authorities to hold a conference on April 30 with the participation of NGOs on the issue of people trafficking, said Matanat Azizli. -05B04-