Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TASHKENT1304
2008-11-13 11:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:  

UZBEKISTAN: AUTHORITIES TO OPEN REHABILITATION

Tags:  PHUM ELAB KTIP KWMN KCRM PGOV PREL SOCI UZ 
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VZCZCXRO0011
RR RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG
DE RUEHNT #1304 3181135
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131135Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0581
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 4479
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0696
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 5096
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0963
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0393
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0975
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 4713
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 3000
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0999
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1659
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1576
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2930
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC 0398
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC 0545
UNCLAS TASHKENT 001304 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA, DRL, AND G/TIP
G/TIP FOR MEGAN HALL, SCA FOR JESSICA MAZZONE AND BRIAN
RORAFF

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM ELAB KTIP KWMN KCRM PGOV PREL SOCI UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: AUTHORITIES TO OPEN REHABILITATION
CENTER FOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS

REF: A. TASHKENT 1274

B. TASHKENT 1225

C. TASHKENT 1265

UNCLAS TASHKENT 001304

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA, DRL, AND G/TIP
G/TIP FOR MEGAN HALL, SCA FOR JESSICA MAZZONE AND BRIAN
RORAFF

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM ELAB KTIP KWMN KCRM PGOV PREL SOCI UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: AUTHORITIES TO OPEN REHABILITATION
CENTER FOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS

REF: A. TASHKENT 1274

B. TASHKENT 1225

C. TASHKENT 1265


1. (U) On November 11, the state-controlled UzReport.com
website reported that - in line with a resolution of
President Karimov's from November 5 - the Ministry of Labor
will open a national rehabilitation center in Tashkent to
assist and protect human trafficking victims. According to
the website, the rehabilitation center will have 30 beds and
provide human trafficking victims with food and lodging, as
well as any necessary medical, psychological, and legal
assistance; help reestablish contact between victims and
their relatives; and assist in victims' social
rehabilitation. The center will be open to all trafficking
victims - including Uzbek citizens, foreigners, and stateless
individuals - who will be accommodated at the center for 30
days and will be allowed to stay longer if necessary.
According to the website, the Labor Ministry will appoint the
center's head in consultation with the government's
interagency commission on combating human trafficking, and
the center's operations will be financed by the state.


2. (U) In a separate post from November 10, the
state-controlled Gzt.uz website added that the rehabilitation
center will have a staff of 20, who will provide assistance
to trafficking victims "in accordance with an individual plan
that will be worked out based on the results of a
comprehensive examination and assessment of their health and
need." The website also reported that the Labor Ministry has
been given a month to organize the center.


3. (SBU) We have not seen President Karimov's November 5
resolution, but we will try to procure a copy. On November
12, poloff discussed the government's plans to open a shelter
with International Organization for Migration (IOM) officials
in Tashkent, who confirmed hearing about the government's
plan but knew of no additional details (Note: IOM itself is
unregistered in Uzbekistan, but it operates as a registered
local NGO, Istiqbolli Avlod. IOM plans to attempt to
register in the near future, see ref A. End note.) Ministry
of Interior officials first reported to poloff the
government's plans to open a shelter for trafficking victims
in September (ref B). Also in late September, the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
office in Tashkent reported that it planned to work with the
government on training staff for the rehabilitation center
and developing an appropriate identification and referral
mechanism (ref C).

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


4. (SBU) We applaud the Uzbek's decision to open a
rehabilitation center, as providing direct assistance to
trafficking victims was one of the items we specifically
requested of the government this year. IOM (as Istiqbolli
Avlod) already operates two shelters for trafficking victims
in Tashkent and Bukhara, but these appear to have already
reached their capacity, and there is now need for additional
shelters in Uzbekistan. In designing its own shelter, we
will urge the government to at least consult with IOM, which
has many years of experience of providing assistance to
trafficking victims in Uzbekistan.
NORLAND