U.S. Department of State 2003 Trafficking in Persons Report - Kyrgyz Republic

Kyrgyz Republic (Tier 2)

The Kyrgyz Republic is a country of origin, transit and, to a lesser extent, destination for trafficked women, men and children. Women are trafficked to the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, Germany, and Greece for prostitution. Men and women are trafficked to Kazakhstan for forced labor. Women who are either destined for or transiting through the country usually come from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

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. Overcoming a lack of available resources, the government showed increased political will to respond to trafficking, maximized its cooperation with IOM, and improved its collaboration with local NGOs to institute preventive and protective mechanisms.

Prevention

The government's preventive efforts were weak, but it took some concrete steps, with the assistance of IOM. The National Action Plan on trafficking in persons was approved by Presidential Decree and the inter-agency task force charged with implementing the plan approved distribution of IOM educational materials in schools, public awareness materials on buses and in bus stations, free airtime on television and radio for anti-trafficking announcements, and directed hundreds of law enforcement officials at central and local levels to participate in IOM anti-trafficking lectures. The government's Southern Regional Migration Service conducted a study of migration patterns and vulnerability to trafficking from that region to Russia and Kazakhstan. The Border Police are improving their border monitoring capabilities with assistance from IOM, including improving the security of its passports and visas, which are notoriously easy to fabricate. The government instituted stringent licensing procedures for firms sending would-be laborers abroad.

Prosecution

The current criminal code lacks sufficient provisions to prosecute the full range of trafficking activity. Before the draft anti-trafficking law, which was introduced to Parliament, enters into force, traffickers may be prosecuted under other laws. Although local law enforcement officers need greater support from the central level in order to prioritize trafficking investigations and cases, the government secured three convictions on recruitment of persons for exploitation and four convictions on trafficking in children. The government is investigating recruitment and employment agencies and in a recent review, the Migration Service found that two out of nine such companies lack appropriate licenses. A criminal investigation is underway against the founders of one of those companies. The Parliament approved mutual legal assistance treaties with five known trafficking destination countries to improve international cooperation. Endemic bribery and corruption prevents victims from seeking assistance from police.

Protection

The government does not have a method for screening trafficking victims nor for referring them to NGOs for assistance. NGOs active on the issue report good cooperation with local police and prosecutors in the few cases they refer for investigation. The government began implementing its bilateral labor agreement with Kazakhstan and will monitor the treatment of Kyrgyz workers through representatives there. The government is setting up labor offices in destination areas in Russia to better serve Kyrgyz nationals working in Russia who may be exploited. At least one of those offices will have consular representation.