OSCE Special Representative calls for enhanced support to trafficking victims during country visit to Kazakhstan

The OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, visited Kazakhstan from 1 to 3 July 2013. She held high-level discussions facilitated by the OSCE Centre in Astana to exchange views on advanced ways and means to meet the challenge of transnational and internal trafficking.

Kazakhstan is increasingly a country of destination for human trafficking, including in cases involving labour migrants in agriculture, construction and domestic work. It now faces the challenge of preventing and combating abuse and exploitation of migrants, as well as of people trafficked internally.      

“Kazakhstan has taken significant measures to update its legislation and is planning to create a State fund to pay compensation to trafficked persons,” Giammarinaro said. “The main challenge is now the improvement of victim assistance and support, based on co-operation with NGOs. To this end, appropriate national referral mechanisms should be established, and adequate funding allocated.”

During her visit, Giammarinaro met with high-ranking government officials, including Justice Minister Berik Imashev and representatives of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Criminal Police Committee at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the Supreme Court, the National Human Rights Centre and other structures, including a NGONGO
non-governmental organization-run rehabilitation centre.

The Special Representative also met the staff at the OSCE Centre in Astana and discussed the Centre’s activities supporting Kazakhstan’s stakeholders in implementing the OSCE commitments related to preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and addressing labour migration. Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, the Head of Centre in Astana, participated in the meetings together with the Deputy Head of Centre Jeannette Kloetzer.

Giammarinaro also stressed the importance of action undertaken by Kazakhstan in co-operation with the OSCE Centre in Astana, including several sessions of training for judges. She highlighted the need to acknowledge the essential role of civil society in the fight against human trafficking, especially regarding prevention measures, identification and assistance, and support to victims, and the role of the private sector in preventing trafficking for labour exploitation.