US Department of State: Azerbaijan is source, transit and destination country for trafficking victims
Men, women, and children are subject to forced labor and sex trafficking in Azerbaijan. Besides, Azerbaijan is a source, transit, and destination country for trafficking victims from Turkey, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and United Arab Emirates, the US Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons new report reads.
It is particularly noted that some migrant workers from Turkey and other countries in Europe and South and Central Asia are subjected to forced labor in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan was used as a transit country for victims of sex trafficking from Central Asia, Turkey, and Iran in recent years. Besides, within the country, some children are subjected to forced begging and forced labor as roadside vendors.
The Government of Azerbaijan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. It does not provide adequate and consistent financial support to NGO partners that provide rehabilitation services to trafficking victims.
According to the Department of State, sources reported that the Azerbaijani government pressures trafficking victims to assist in the investigation and prosecution of alleged traffickers, and victims who refuse to participate do not receive care and support.
Accordingly, the authors of the report recommend the Azerbaijani government to proactively investigate potential trafficking cases, convict and punish traffickingoffenders; create standard operating procedures to implementthe national referral mechanism and formalize the role ofNGOs in the referral process; improvecommunication among government agencies, provide financial aid to organizations supporting trafficking victims, provide safe accommodation and protective services for victims; and target public awarenesscampaigns.
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