GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS COMPLICIT IN TRAFFICKING MUST BE INVESTIGATED, PROSECUTED, CONVICTED AND SENTENCED

Lragir.am
14-06-2007 17:30:59

"In order to improve anti-trafficking efforts, Armenia must vigorously
investigate, prosecute, convict, and sentence corrupt government
officials complicit in trafficking," holds the U.S. State Department’s
annual report on trafficking in persons.

Armenia is a source country of trafficking. To a lesser extent, it is
a transit country for women and girls trafficked to the United Arab
Emirates and Turkey for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation,
the report holds. "Armenian men and women are trafficked to Russia
for the purpose of forced labor. Women and girls also transit through
Moscow to the U.A.E."

The report states 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.

"The government demonstrated inadequate efforts to protect trafficking
victims in 2006. NGOs provided most victim assistance, rehabilitative
counseling, and shelter, although the border guards ran a short-term
victim shelter at the border crossing point with Georgia and referred
victims to NGOs. The government provided no financial or in-kind
assistance for anti-trafficking NGOs," runs the report. In addition,
the government still relies on NGOs and international organizations
to supplement its own public awareness efforts.

"The government’s Migration Agency worked with the civil aviation
authority and a NGO to publish and distribute leaflets on the dangers
of trafficking to people flying to Turkey and the U.A.E. The government
also worked with the Russian Migration Agency to publish and distribute
a brochure for laborers traveling to Russia," the report runs.