OSCE promotes discussion on human trafficking challenges in southern Kyrgyzstan

The results of an OSCE-supported survey to address vulnerability to human trafficking in the south of Kyrgyzstan were presented at a roundtable discussion on 18 November 2011.

The survey was conducted in selected towns and villages in three southern regions of Kyrgyzstan to assess the vulnerability of local communities, especially young people and labour migrants, to human trafficking after the June 2010 events.

Recommendations on how to turn the survey into a useful tool for practitioners and policy makers were also discussed at the event, which was organized by the Osh Field Office of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek in co-operation with the non-governmental organization “Golden Goal”.

Once finalized, the survey data is intended to help engage relevant stakeholders, including governmental institutions as well as civil society, in targeted measures to prevent trafficking.

During the discussion, state officials and representatives of civil society also assessed current measures to combat human trafficking in the country and collected recommendations to be included in the newly developed 2012-2015 National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings.

The event was organized as part of the OSCE’s project on preventing trafficking in human beings in the south of Kyrgyzstan by addressing the challenges brought about by the tragic events of June 2010.