DUSHANBE, June 6, Asia-Plus -- On June 5, U.S. Secretary of State Condo Condoleezza Rice released the 2006 Worldwide Trafficking in Person''s Report. 

According to information from the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, in this report, Tajikistan was determined to have "Tier II" status, which means that while the government of Tajikistan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, it is making significant efforts to do so.  The government continued to demonstrate commitment and interest in combating human trafficking. The government drafted a national action plan that, when formally adopted, will coordinate the government''s actions and clarify its goals.  We hope the government amends its trafficking law to clearly define human trafficking.  Prosecutors should also receive training on how to effectively prosecute trafficking cases. The government should continue to cooperate with neighboring governments to seek cooperation in joint investigations, the extradition of traffickers, and repatriation of victims.

Tajikistan is a source country for women and children trafficked to the U.A.E., Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iran for purposes of sexual exploitation; men are trafficked to Russia for labor exploitation.  In 2005, at least 420 women were trafficked to the U.A.E. and other Arab countries for sexual exploitation, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). IOM confirmed that 2,000 men were trafficked illegally to Russia to labor in the construction and agricultural industries.

The report notes that the Government of Tajikistan greatly improved its anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts over the last year.  Authorities conducted 81 trafficking investigations in 2005, a substantial increase from 14 in 2004.  The government prosecuted 57 trafficking cases; at the time of this report 17 of these prosecutions were still pending.

Twenty-eight traffickers were convicted in 2005.  Specific sentencing data on these 28 traffickers was unavailable, although the average sentence for convicted traffickers ranged from five to 12 years in prison.  There were no suspended sentences; all 28 convicted traffickers were sentenced to time in prison.  Government corruption in trafficking activity remained a concern; traffickers used their contacts in government agencies to illegally obtain false documents.  In 2005, the 14 low-level law enforcement officers who were arrested during the previous reporting period for engaging in the commercial sexual exploitation of underage girls were dismissed from their positions.

The U.S. Congress, through its passage of the 2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), requires the Secretary of State to submit this Report by June 1 of each year.  The goal of this Report is to stimulate action and create partnerships around the world in the fight against modern-day slavery.  Countries determined to have a significant number of trafficking victims are evaluated on this Report and are assigned to one of three tiers.  Countries assessed as meeting the "minimum standards for the elimination of severe forms of trafficking" set forth in the law (TVPA, as amended) are classified as Tier 1.  Countries assessed as not fully complying with the minimum standards, but making significant efforts to meet those minimum standards are classified as Tier 2.  Countries assessed as neither complying with the minimum standards nor making significant efforts to do so are classified as Tier 3.  Countries classified as Tier 2 Watch List are at risk of slipping to Tier 3 unless serious concerns are addressed.