Illegal organ transplants and commercial child adoption focus of anti-trafficking training co-organized by OSCE in Kazakhstan

ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 20 June 2013 - A two-day training seminar for police officers on best practices in combating the trafficking in human beings began today in Almaty. Participants discussed the detection and exposure of illegal organ transplants, child adoption for commercial purposes, and human trafficking for labour and sexual exploitation.

The seminar was co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana, the Interior Ministry of Kazakhstan, the International Organization for Migration, and the US Embassy in the country. More than 30 people took part in the event, including high ranking judges, as well as local and international experts from Belarus, Moldova and Turkey.

“At this event, participants will be given the tools to more effectively identify and act against such practices as illegal organ transplants or the trafficking of children for financial gain,” said Colin McCullough, the OSCE Centre’s Political Officer. “This is a key focus for the OSCE’s anti-human trafficking work in Kazakhstan, and such events are important milestones in implementing the country’s National Action Plan in Combating Human Trafficking.”

Yerik Rakhmetov, Deputy Head of the Interior Ministry’s Criminal Police Committee added, “Kazakhstan is extremely interested in the eradication of trafficking in human beings and the development of comprehensive measures for the effective defense of people and society against similar encroaching threats."