Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TASHKENT1652
2007-09-18 06:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:  

NETWORKING HELPS SHELTER ASSIST TIP VICTIMS

Tags:  PHUM EAID PGOV PREL KCRM UZ 
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VZCZCXRO0176
RR RUEHDBU
DE RUEHNT #1652/01 2610657
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 180657Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8474
INFO RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 3264
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 9446
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 3878
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 3743
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 001652 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G/TIP (BRITTANY BROWN),INL (ANDREW BUHLER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2017
TAGS: PHUM EAID PGOV PREL KCRM UZ
SUBJECT: NETWORKING HELPS SHELTER ASSIST TIP VICTIMS

REF: TASHKENT 1512

Classified by: POLOFF TIM BUCKLEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 001652

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G/TIP (BRITTANY BROWN),INL (ANDREW BUHLER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2017
TAGS: PHUM EAID PGOV PREL KCRM UZ
SUBJECT: NETWORKING HELPS SHELTER ASSIST TIP VICTIMS

REF: TASHKENT 1512

Classified by: POLOFF TIM BUCKLEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D).


1. (U) Summary: On September 10, Poloff visited the only
shelter in Tashkent for victims of human trafficking. The
"Reintegration Center" is funded by the International
Organization for Migration (IOM),which operates in
Uzbekistan through the organization "Istiqbolli Avlod" due to
registration issues. Since its opening in 2004, the shelter
has assisted more than 200 female TIP victims, a significant
accomplishment given the challenges of operating in
Uzbekistan. Although the shelter receives no governmental
support, staff report that it has become easier to operate
effectively and that the GOU seems to be paying more
attention to the issue. This is largely a result of success
in developing personal connections with local authorities.
IOM and shelter staff credit USAID funding to IOM for the
shelter and effective USAID and INL-funded police
awareness-building programs. End Summary.

SHELTER OVERVIEW: REBUILDING TRUST
--------------


2. (U) The shelter for TIP victims opened in Tashkent in 2004
as the first of its kind in Uzbekistan (another smaller
shelter has since opened in Bukhara). It serves only female
clientele, the vast majority of whom were trafficked and
sexually exploited overseas. Thus far, the shelter has
assisted more than 200 victims by providing lodging, medical
care, psychological treatment, and skills training. The
shelter has nine staff, including a doctor, nurse,
psychologists, and social workers. Clients typically stay
approximately two months, with the first month focused on
medical intervention and the second on skills training and
reintegration. The shelter has capacity for up to 12 women.
During Poloff's visit the census was six, one of whom had a
one-month old infant who is also cared for at the shelter.
The shelter is located in a traditional Uzbek courtyard home
with a fruitful garden, and a flexible community space

includes four modern computers which support instructional
activities. Staff proudly shared success stories, including
an emphatic thank you note from a TIP victim who declared, "I
can now trust people again". The shelter is often able to
place victims in local vocational programs after their stay.

CHALLENGES OF REINTEGRATION
--------------


3. (C) Shelter staff follow up on TIP victims after they
return to their homes, and work with eight local partner NGOs
throughout Uzbekistan. In order to reintegrate, the women
generally do not even tell their families that they worked
overseas in the sex industry and instead say they went to
Russia for work. This increases the complexity of
successfully reintegrating into society. Shelter staff
report that many women do choose to return to their hometowns
and their families, but others decide to look for
opportunities in Tashkent. In some instances, despite the
efforts of IOM and shelter staff, they end up working as
prostitutes. Two of the women presently at the shelter grew
up as orphans and have few places to turn.

"IT IS A LONG AND HARD ROAD..."
--------------


4. (C) The shelter relies on IOM funding (which is supported
by USAID) and receives no support from the national or local
government. The local government has informed IOM that the
shelter "is not a priority" for scarce funding. Regarding
the GOU's prior claim that it has assisted TIP victims
(Reftel Tashkent 1512),it is possible that direct support
was provided to TIP victims instead of to the shelter. In
the past it has also been difficult for the shelter staff to
access TIP victims who are repatriated to Uzbekistan, as
airport pickups require coordination with officials from
Customs, Immigration, National Security Service, and the
Ministry of Internal Affairs, each of which have created
problems in the past.

"...BUT PERSONAL CONNECTIONS IMPROVED THE SITUATION"
-------------- --------------


5. (C) IOM and shelter staff noted that their operating
climate has gradually improved, particularly because they
have made concerted efforts to develop personal connections
with airport officials and members of the local government,
which helps them cut red tape to better assist victims.

TASHKENT 00001652 002 OF 002


Furthermore, they report that Uzbek diplomatic missions
abroad are generally cooperative in helping TIP victims
obtain travel documents to return to Uzbekistan (although
financial assistance for repatriation is provided by IOM
programs). Ms. Nodira Karimova of IOM believes the
government is increasingly aware that "they need to help
their citizens". After the shelter opened (but not in 2007),
there were sporadic cases of harassment by local police
seeking extortion payments (in the belief the shelter had
deep-pockets from foreign sponsors),but calls to
high-ranking municipal authorities quickly ended the problem.
Ms. Karimova said that Tashkent city officials assured her
they know about the shelter and invited them to call if they
had problems. Ms. Karimova said compared to earlier
experiences with the government, "it is like getting a green
light". She also added that USAID and INL-funded seminars
have substantially improved awareness among police, which has
helped tremendously.

COMMENT
--------------


6. (C) The accomplishments of the TIP shelter in just three
years are significant, particularly given the difficulties of
establishing and developing an organization in Uzbekistan.
The persistent efforts by IOM and shelter staff to network
with various government officials has clearly resulted in
improved access to assistance for TIP victims upon their
return to Uzbekistan. Indications that the government may be
paying more attention to the serious TIP issue are also
encouraging, and Poloff was told that traffickers
increasingly prefer to route women through alternative
regional airports such as Osh (Kyrgyzstan) or Chimkent
(Kazakhstan) with false passports because authorities are
tougher at the Tashkent Airport. However, IOM still has not
been able to officially register in the country despite
ongoing efforts. Nonetheless, in spite of IOM's lack of
official registration, it has been able to operate several
years in Uzbekistan, with many Uzbek officials turning a
blind eye. In addition, a local partner NGO in Nukus has not
yet been able to obtain official registration, which limits
the effectiveness of IOM's nationwide partnership.
NORLAND