OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan marks World Day against Human Trafficking
More than 70 representatives of government officials, academia, NGOs and the media as well as members of the diplomatic community gathered in Tashkent to mark the World Day against Trafficking in Persons with a presentation of the ‘Guiding Principles on Human Rights in the Return of Trafficked Persons’, a publication by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)recently translated into Uzbek.
The event on 30 July 2019 was organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, ODIHR’s Anti-trafficking Programme and the National Human Rights Centre of Uzbekistan.
The presentation was opened by Tanzila Narbaeva, the Chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan’s parliament, the Oliy Majlis, who pointed out that “the presence of high-ranking Uzbek government officials at this event demonstrates the priority and commitment of Uzbekistan at the highest level to combat human trafficking.”
Akmal Saidov, the Director of the National Human Rights Centre, stressed the importance of international co-operation in addressing human trafficking along with national efforts to prevent and counter this crime.
Ambassador John MacGregor, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, said: “The OSCE is advocating for a victim-centered, gender sensitive- and human rights-based approach. Trafficked persons need understanding and assistance in restoring their rights, not judgement. Human trafficking is one of those topics that do not appear in the newspapers every day, yet human trafficking is at nexus of organized crime, often thrives on corruption, endangers economic growth, and creates cruel and inhuman treatment, and slavery.”
ODIHR Anti-trafficking Adviser Tatiana Kotlyareko said: “To promote policies, procedures and practices on return that comply with human rights standards, ODIHR undertook the development of the Guiding Principles on Human Rights in the Return of Trafficked Persons. The Return Guide is an important tool to support the implementation of regulations and laws in Uzbekistan, which can ensure international legal protections in the process of return for victims of trafficking.”
The presentation concluded with a screening of the film ‘Love Sonia’. ODIHR has been supporting viewings of the movie in different cities across the OSCE region. It tells the story of a 17-year-old girl fighting against the odds to find her sister, who is entangled in the world of global sex trafficking.