U.S. Department of State 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report - Kyrgyz Republic

Kyrgyz Republic (Tier 2)

The Kyrgyz Republic is a source, transit, and growing destination country for men, women, and boys trafficked from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, South Asia, and the Kyrgyz Republic itself for purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation. Victims of forced labor are trafficked to Kazakhstan for work in the agricultural sector, to Russia for work in construction, and to China for bonded labor. Kyrgyz and foreign women are trafficked to the U.A.E, China, South Korea, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Thailand, Germany, and Syria for sexual exploitation. Kyrgyz boys are trafficked to Russia and Kazakhstan for sexual exploitation. Kyrgyzstan is a growing destination for women trafficked from Uzbekistan for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. In February 2006, the government took steps to prevent government complicity in trafficking by strengthening punishments for government officials that violate the rules of visa issuance to foreigners; this measure was aimed at preventing the trafficking of foreign citizens to Kyrgyzstan. The new punishment is a fine of up to 50 times the minimum monthly salary of the official or dismissal from his or her position, or both. Although the government continued to strengthen overall efforts to combat human trafficking, more remains to be done. The government should make efforts to improve its statistics and data collection system. It should also increase the number of judges and prosecutors that receive trafficking training, as well as increase funding for NGOs providing victim protection.

Prosecution

The Kyrgyz Government showed mixed progress in its law enforcement efforts to combat trafficking; although police demonstrated a clear commitment to investigate and arrest suspected traffickers, the courts handed down very few trafficking convictions. Police conducted 34 trafficking investigations and authorities conducted 15 prosecutions in 2005. There were three trafficking convictions during the reporting period, a considerable decrease from 17 convictions in 2004. There were six on-going investigations at the time this Report was written. Sentencing data was unavailable. In February 2006, the National Security Service prevented the trafficking of six women from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to the U.A.E. for purposes of sexual exploitation; the women reported that their traffickers deceived them by offering lucrative jobs in Dubai and did not tell them they would be forced into prostitution. Authorities arrested four traffickers in connection with this case. Forty-eight judges were trained on how to apply domestic and international trafficking laws. During the reporting period, 70 officers from the National Border Service received victim identification training. The government closed 15 unlicensed labor-recruiting companies in 2005, a significant step given traffickers' use of labor companies to recruit victims in Kyrgyzstan; last year the government closed seven such agencies.

Protection

The Kyrgyz Government showed limited progress in its protection efforts during the reporting period. Although the government passed a new law that prohibits victims from being punished for acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked, the government did not provide direct funding for victim assistance and protection. Some local governments did provide office space for anti-trafficking NGOs. One shelter was forced to close for part of 2005 due to a lack of funding. Police increased the number of victim referrals to NGOs in 2005.

Prevention

The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic demonstrated good prevention efforts during the reporting period. In fall 2005, a theatrical performance about trafficking was shown in 28 villages and towns where a high percentage of victims originate; local governments provided the performance space and provided free advertising. Throughout the year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Border Service, and NGOs distributed 5,000 copies of a brochure educating migrant workers about the dangers of trafficking and their legal rights. The government also released a booklet entitled "Information for Kyrgyz Citizens Going Abroad to Work in CIS Countries;" the information from the booklet was also published in several newspapers during 2005. State-run television and radio stations aired programs on trafficking throughout the year.