Embassy of The United States
Yerevan, Armenia
2006 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT ARMENIA (TIER 2 WATCH LIST)
Armenia is a major source and, to a lesser extent, a transit and destination
country for women and girls trafficked for sexual exploitation largely to
the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and Turkey. Traffickers, many of them
women, route victims directly into Dubai or through Moscow. Traffickers also
route victims to Turkey through Georgia via bus. Profits derived from the
trafficking of Armenian victims reportedly increased dramatically from the
previous year.
The Government of Armenia does not fully comply with the minimum standards
for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant
efforts to do so. Armenia is placed on Tier 2 Watch List for a second
consecutive year because of its failure to show evidence of increasing
efforts over the past year, particularly in the areas of enforcement,
trafficking-related corruption, and victim protection. While the government
increased implementation of its anti-trafficking law, it failed to impose
significant penalties for convicted traffickers. The government failed to
vigorously investigate and prosecute ongoing and widespread allegations of
public officials’ complicity in trafficking. Victim protection efforts
remained in early, formative stages. Victim-blaming and lack of sensitivity
for victims remain a problem among Armenian officials, particularly in the
judiciary.
Prosecution
In 2005, the Government of Armenia increased the use of the 2003
anti-trafficking statute under Article 132, which prohibits trafficking in
persons for forced labor and sexual exploitation. However, many courts
overturned convictions handed down under Article 132, and reduced sentences
by converting the charges into lesser pimping charges. The government
continued to apply other criminal codes to about half of its trafficking
cases in 2005. During the reporting period, the government investigated 30
trafficking cases, resulting in 14 prosecutions and 17 convictions. While
Article 132 provides for longer sentences, penalties actually imposed
continue to be insufficient and not commensurate with those for other
equally grave crimes in Armenia. During the reporting period, only a few
convictions resulted in actual imprisonment; the remaining offenders
received suspended sentences, corrective labor and fines. Lack of public
confidence and allegations of official complicity continued to hurt the
credibility of the government’s anti-trafficking efforts. The government
established a special task force in February 2006 to investigate widespread
allegations against an official within the Prosecutor General’s
anti-trafficking unit. However, after a cursory investigation, this task
force found no evidence of any wrongdoing. The government failed to provide
direct training to educate prosecutors and judges on its new trafficking
law, although it distributed to police practical guidelines on methods to
investigate trafficking cases.
Protection
The Armenian Government continued to rely on international organizations and
NGOs to provide protection and assistance to trafficking victims; these
non-governmental groups cited good cooperation with government officials.
Victim assistance programs reportedly sheltered 16 victims in 2005, the
majority referred by Armenian officials. Notably, the police took the
initiative to invite NGOs to screen and interview four suspected trafficking
victims. A formalized screening and referral mechanism has yet to be
developed or implemented among law enforcement officials. Some victims
continue to receive poor treatment during court cases, reducing the
likelihood of future victims willing to come forward to testify against
their traffickers.
Prevention
In 2005, official recognition and acknowledgment of trafficking in Armenia
improved and the government began to implement its January 2004 National
Action Plan (NAP). Government officials made public appeals to help raise
awareness about trafficking. The government joined UNDP in raising awareness
about trafficking. The Department for Migration and Refugees (DMR) included
trafficking information in its outreach activities through the distribution
of brochures and visits to rural regions in Armenia. The DMR also developed
a draft law on regulating labor migration, to include licensing for
employment agencies that recruit people for jobs abroad. The government
continued to provide housing to vulnerable children released from Armenian
orphanages.