KAZAKHSTANI DELEGATION STUDIES ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 002165

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, G/TIP, INL/AAE, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SNAR KCRM IT KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTANI DELEGATION STUDIES ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF
TRAFFICKING IN ITALY


1. SUMMARY: In an effort to improve Kazakhstan's ability to protect
victims of trafficking in persons, INL sent a Kazakhstani
interagency delegation to Rome to study the work of the Italian
government and Italian NGOs. The delegation -- representatives of
the Ministries of Justice, Internal Affairs, Labor and Social
Protection, and Information and Culture, as well as a local NGO --
praised the information they had received and what they had learned
in Italy. The Vice Minister of Justice emphasized the importance of
inter-agency coordination, and pledged his ministry would take the
lead in Kazakhstan to replicate Italian models, including working
more closely with NGOs. END SUMMARY.

BACKGROUND


2. In 2007, the Government of Kazakhstan significantly improved its
efforts to prosecute and convict traffickers -- specifically, it
recorded a 1900% improvement compared to the previous year.
However, the annual Trafficking in Persons Report identified victim
assistance and protection as continuing weaknesses. Kazakhstan has
expressed the political will to fund victim-assistance programs and
support shelters, but it does not have sufficient expertise in these
areas. In several meetings with representatives of the Embassy's
Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL),
government officials have requested assistance from Tier 1 countries
with effective victim-assistance programs.


3. In response to the government's request, INL provided a grant to
the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Rome to
organize a study visit October 5-11. The purpose of the trip was
for Kazakhstani officials to learn more about the measures being
taken by Italy to combat trafficking in persons and, in particular,
to provide victim assistance and protection. One of the primary
focuses of the trip was on operations of shelters.

WHY ITALY?


4. Italian legislation and the country's victim protection system
have gained European and international attention as a model for the
protection of illegal migrants' rights and as a best practice for
combating trafficking. According to the annual Trafficking in
Persons Report, Italy is a Tier 1 country that fully complies with
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and has taken
aggressive steps to enforce its anti-trafficking laws, demonstrated
sustained law-enforcement efforts to combat trafficking in persons,
and has effectively provided assistance and protection to victims.


5. The Kazakhstani delegation, consisting of a Vice Minister of
Justice, the Chairman of the Criminal Police Committee of the
Ministry of Internal Affairs, a Senior Expert from the Migration
Committee of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the Head
of the Department of Information and the Archives of the Ministry of
Culture and Information, and the Chairman of the Union of Crisis
Centers NGO, met with Italian representatives of the Civil Liberties
and Immigration Department, Anti-Crime Central Directorate, and
Police Force Coordination and Planning Office of the Ministry of
Home Affairs, Department of Equal Opportunities of the Prime
Minister's Office, the Carabinieri Police Corps of the Ministry of
Defense, the Anti-Mafia Directorate, and the State Police of Italy.


6. Among issues discussed were Italian legislation on labor
migration, immigration and anti-trafficking, victim identification
methods and investigative techniques, human smuggling, the victim
assistance and protection system, police force operational
activities, interagency cooperation, and trans-national judiciary
cooperation. The study tour included a visit to a shelter for
victims of trafficking and meetings with shelter personnel to
discuss shelter maintenance, sustainability, and psychological
aspects of dealing with victims of trafficking.


7. The Italian integrated response to trafficking in persons and
migration control through legislative and social measures was
especially interesting for Kazakhstan, because Italy, like
Kazakhstan, is a transit country and a major country of destination
of trafficking victims from neighbouring countries.


8. Most interesting for the delegation was the issue of interagency
cooperation and coordination of activities between governmental and

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non-governmental sectors. In Italy, the two sectors complement each
other and seek ways to better cooperate on every issue, not just
human trafficking. Because almost all anti-trafficking NGOs and
shelters receive 70% of their funding from the government, both
parties are working together. In Kazakhstan, even though national
legislation allows the government to provide funding to NGOs,
procedural and funding mechanisms have not been developed. As a
result, few NGOs receive funding from the Kazakhstan government, and
so cooperation between NGOs and the government remains minimal.

RETURN TO KAZAKHSTAN


9. Following their return, members of the delegation met with the
Ambassador on October 16. The Vice Minister of Justice noted the
importance of working with NGOs and the need to improve cooperation
among government agencies. He promised budgetary and structural
changes based on lessons learned in Italy. The government's
2009-2019 plan to combat trafficking will enhance the
responsibilities of all agencies to combat human trafficking and
assist victims.


10. A draft social-services law proposed by the Ministry of Justice
envisions medical, psychological, and legal services and would
create a crisis center in Kazakhstan. Though the draft law will
cover all victims of violence and does not specifically single out
victims of trafficking, standards to define victims of trafficking
as victims of violence will be included. According to the Ministry
of Justice, such a law will allow for broad interpretation and will
provide the basis for assistance to a large group of victims.


11. The Vice Minister of Justice added that all materials received
during the visit to Italy will be summarized, analysed and presented
to an intra-governmental commission chaired by the Minister of
Justice for further discussion and development of recommendations.
Shelter instructions and manuals provided by IOM Rome can be used as
an example that paves the way for replication and adaptation of such
a model in Kazakhstan.

HOAGLAND