OSCE is ready to continue assisting Uzbekistan in fight against human trafficking

Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Nov. 19 By Demir Azizov - Trend: OSCE Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro has confirmed the OSCE readiness to continue rendering assistance to Uzbekistan in this direction. According to the Uzbek Prosecutor General, Giammarinaro made this statement during a meeting with Uzbek Attorney General, chairman of the Republican interdepartmental commission on combating trafficking in human beings Rashid Kadyrov. The meeting was held within OSCE Coordinator's visit to Uzbekistan. OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, Ambassador Gyorgy Szabo, senior official from the office of OSCE Special Representative and Coordinator for Public Relations Alfred Kueppers, as well as the heads of relevant departments of the General Prosecution also attended the meeting. Uzbek Prosecutor General informed the OSCE Representative about the reforms in all spheres of public and social life, held in the republic, including the reforms of the judicial system, and stressed that the issue on the fight against trafficking in human beings are resolved in the country at the state level. Uzbekistan joined the main international documents of the legal framework for combating human trafficking. The international standards in this sphere are being implemented into the national legislation. The law on "Combating Trafficking in Human Beings ", adopted in April 2008 defines the powers of state agencies engaged in this activity. The National Interagency Committee on Combating Human Trafficking was established to coordinate the actions. The measures on effective combating human trafficking and rendering assistance in the rehabilitation of its victims are being taken on the basis of the action plans. The fruitful co-operation with the OSCE Project Coordinator within the joint projects aimed at improving the efficiency of the Uzbek state agencies' activity, including the fight against human trafficking was stressed at the meeting. During the visit, Giammarinaro visited the Republican Rehabilitation Centre for Assistance and Protection of Human Trafficking Victims under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. She familiarized with all kinds of assistance rendered to human trafficking victims. The OSCE delegation got acquainted with the activity of the Samarkand regional interdepartmental commission on combating trafficking in human beings.