OSCE supports national simulation exercise on combatting human trafficking in Kazakhstan

A week-long live simulation exercise on how to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking concluded on 18 October 2019 in Karaganda, Kazakhstan. More than 40 professionals from law enforcement, labour inspectorates, prosecutorial offices, NGOs and social services from all across the country participated in the live-action training.

The exercise was jointly organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, the Karaganda Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Regional Hub for Countering Global Threats under the Law Enforcement Academy of the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the United States Embassy in Kazakhstan and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Using actors to create trafficking scenarios, the live exercise offered front-line responders the opportunity to respond to simulated real-life anti-trafficking situations. Fictitious brothels, a construction site and an agricultural field were re-created to simulate cases of human trafficking for labour and sexual exploitation; including child victims.

The event was part of the OSCE Programme Office’s long-standing efforts to support the host country in combating human trafficking and in implementing the OSCE Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings.