Representatives of the Tajik government, civil society leaders and other human rights actors gather in Dushanbe to discuss effective partnership in combating trafficking in persons in Tajikistan.

A two-day national forum on “Social and Legal Partnership in Combating Human Trafficking” began today and has brought together key stakeholders in the Republic of Tajikistan to address human trafficking challenges and joint actions to fight trafficking and assist victims.

The event is organized under the USAID Dignity and Rights project which is implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Tajikistan and is made possible by the American people through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

According to the IOM Mission in Tajikistan, the forum aims to raise the issue of human rights, trafficking in persons, prevention of trafficking in persons, and provision of direct assistance to vulnerable migrants and victims of trafficking.

Mr. Dragan Aleksoski, IOM Tajikistan Chief of Mission, says, “It is important to have all related parts of the society here around the table and give them an opportunity to share views and ideas on how to better coordinate and cooperate on fighting trafficking in persons and assisting victims.  This forum empowers participants to address different forms of challenges vulnerable segments of the society face, as well as enables the civil society to be better engaged into the decision-making process.”

The forum participants will be encouraged to discuss and identify new mechanisms and initiatives to promote the human rights agenda in the country.

IOM, as part of its mandate, combats trafficking in persons by assisting the Government of Tajikistan in developing new mechanisms and improving its legislation to help victims of trafficking and prosecute traffickers, as well as raises the general awareness on trafficking threats, migration challenges, and human rights.

The project’s overall goal is to raise awareness of people, especially labor migrants, on their labor rights, as well as empowering civil society to protect the rights of migrants, potential migrants and their families, as well as the rights of the population as a whole.