Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA1206
2009-07-21 07:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Astana
Cable title:  

KAZAKHSTAN: TIP PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN COMPLETED

Tags:  PGOV ELAB SMIG SOCI KCRM KTIP KZ 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 001206 

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ELAB SMIG SOCI KCRM KTIP KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: TIP PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN COMPLETED

REF (A) ASTANA 0222
(B) ASTANA 0187

ASTANA 00001206 001.2 OF 003


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 001206

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ELAB SMIG SOCI KCRM KTIP KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: TIP PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN COMPLETED

REF (A) ASTANA 0222
(B) ASTANA 0187

ASTANA 00001206 001.2 OF 003



1. SUMMARY: INL funded an information campaign conducted by a local
NGO to increase public awareness of the risks of human trafficking,
targeting in particular those at risk when seeking jobs in-country
or abroad. The campaign was conducted concurrently with the
Ministry of Interior's anti-trafficking operation. It ended with a
conference at the headquarters of President Nazarbayev's ruling Nur
Otan party, which demonstrated high-level support for cooperation
among Kazakhstani law enforcement, NGOs, and the U.S. Government.
END SUMMARY.

QUARTERLY ANTI-TRAFFICKING OPERATIONS


2. The Ministry of Interior (MVD) has conducted quarterly
anti-trafficking operations since 2004. During these operations,
police officers check saunas, night clubs, and tourist, employment,
and modeling agencies looking for evidence of trafficking rings or
victims. Since 2004, over 200 criminal cases have been filed based
on evidence uncovered during these operations. Law enforcement and
NGOs cooperated during the most recent operation to reach every
oblast (province) of Kazakhstan. NGOs have been given the
opportunity to speak with both traffickers and victims during the
police operations and police have reached out to the public on
trafficking issues.

INFORMATION CAMPAIGN


3. During the most recent MVD anti-trafficking operation, INL
provided a $24,000 grant to the Union of Crisis Centers, one of the
strongest NGO networks in Kazakhstan which has worked on human
trafficking and domestic violence issues for over nine years. In
addition, the MVD allocated approximately $6,000 to pay for the
travel of project implementers. The campaign included a
press-conference and media coverage, development and dissemination
of materials (flyers, banners and booklets),public polls, the
collection of signatures in support of victims of trafficking, and
the organization of round-tables, meetings, seminars, and
conferences.


4. On March 10, the project was launched with a press conference at
the MVD Press Center and at oblast-level departments of interior.

Following the press conference, teams made up of two NGO
representatives, a psychologist, a lawyer, and a police officer,
boarded two trains to talk to passengers about the dangers of
trafficking. Prior to the departures, police officers, NGO members,
and members of Zhas-Otan (the youth branch of the Nur Otan party)
organized demonstrations on railway platforms and discussed human
trafficking issues with travelers. The event was widely covered by
the local media. On March 11, the Ambassador gave an interview to a
local television station to mark the beginning of the information
campaign.


5. In preparation for the events, the Union of Crisis Centers
developed and printed 80,000 informational flyers that described
trafficking risks, recruitment methods used by traffickers, how to
avoid becoming a victim, and what to do in case one is a victim.
The flyer also contained contact information for anti-trafficking
organizations in every city of Kazakhstan. Conductors distributed
flyers to passengers during check-in and to other people at the
railway stations. NGO representatives travelling on the trains also
distributed the flyers. Regional NGOs met the trains in each of the
10 cities along the routes, distributing materials and talking to
passengers.


6. Simultaneously, NGO representatives working in 13 cities with
their partners from volunteer organizations distributed materials at
conferences, workshops, seminars, and meetings. They also talked to
people on the street and in public locations. Polls were conducted
to determine the general public's awareness of trafficking issues
and the NGOs collected signatures from the public in support of
victims of trafficking. The project reached an estimated 50,000
people in 13 cities and 2,000 railway passengers.

NUR OTAN PARTY HOSTS TIP CONFERENCE


7. On April 7, a one-day conference was conducted at the

ASTANA 00001206 002.2 OF 003


headquarters of the Nur Otan political party. The conference was
co-chaired by the Head of the Nur Otan Committee for Party
Supervision, a Vice Minister of Interior, and a Member of
Parliament. Representatives of legislative and executive bodies,
law enforcement, NGOs, international organizations, and the mass
media participated. The conference summarized the results of the
information campaign and police operation, strengthened dialogue
between government agencies and non-governmental organizations, and
developed recommendations for further cooperation.


8. During his opening remarks, the Ambassador highlighted
Kazakhstan's contributions to the fight against human trafficking
and the U.S. partnership with Kazakhstani government agencies and
NGOs in increasing awareness of human trafficking. The co-chair
from Nur Otan pointed out the necessity of consolidating
governmental and NGO efforts, as well as the efforts of the
international community, to create an atmosphere of intolerance
towards human trafficking. Participants also discussed the OSCE's
policy on human trafficking in light of Kazakhstan's upcoming 2010
OSCE chairmanship.


9. The Deputy Chairman of the Criminal Police Committee reported on
the results of the police operation. Police uncovered 56
trafficking-related crimes and initiated 28 criminal cases. Of
those, there were two cases of trafficking in persons (violations of
Article 128 of the Criminal Code),one case of trafficking in minors
(Article 133),one case of illegal deprivation of freedom for the
purpose of exploitation (Article 126.3b),two cases of involvement
in prostitution (Article 270),and 22 cases of pimping (Article
271). Police closed 22 brothels, arrested 67 pimps, and registered
468 prostitutes -- 151 of them from elsewhere in the CIS.


10. After the passage of the new Social Services Law (Ref A),the
Ministry of Justice (MOJ) was directed to develop standards for the
provision of assistance to victims of violence, including victims of
trafficking. The MOJ sought suggestions from government agencies
and NGOs. Seven such standards were presented by the Ust
Kamenogorsk-based NGO Fenix. Following the presentation,
participants discussed the standards and made recommendations.


11. In light of recent discussions of the issue after a public
appeal from a disability group (Ref B),the Women's Support Center
NGO from Petropavlovsk raised the thorny issue of legalization of
prostitution and reported that NGOs fully share the opinion of the
Coalition against Trafficking in Women International (CATW) that
legalization of prostitution can only strengthen the sex industry.


12. At the end of the conference, recommendations were made to
conduct a large-scale research project to determine the most
critical gender problems in society that hamper anti-trafficking
activities; harmonize the legislation of countries of origin,
destination and transit to guarantee protection for victims and
appropriate punishment for traffickers; improve methodology to
develop standards for social, medical, educational, and other
services for victims and establish a mechanism for funding such
services; develop a social partnership between civil society and the
government, including successful implementation of the law to
support NGOs; and provide for flows of information between state
bodies, NGOs, and international organizations.

RESULTS OF POLL


13. NGOs polled 1935 people (1002 women and 933 men) to determine
public awareness of human trafficking. When asked what they would
do if they discovered human trafficking, 41% said they would inform
the police, 24% would call a hotline, and 16% would take no action.
Of those surveyed, 70% were not aware of human trafficking. The
majority of those who did have knowledge of the problem said they
had heard of it from relatives, friends, and the mass media. Almost
half of those surveyed said that punishment must be strengthened to
eliminate the problem, while 32% recommend expanding education and
information campaigns, and 22% thought the solution was improvement
of the law.

PETITION


14. The Union of Crisis Centers collected 2,044 signatures, which
will be presented to Parliament, calling for protection and

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assistance to victims of trafficking.

RESULTS


15. In total, the information campaign included 43 separate events
conducted in 13 oblasts. In 14 oblasts and two cities, 80,000
information booklets were passed out. A total of 14,798 people
participated in the events and, during the 10 day period,
approximately 50 media outlets printed or broadcast 223 news stories
about it.


16. COMMENT: Not only did this project significantly contribute to
raising awareness, but it was also a significant step forward in
cooperation between police and NGOs. Both the police and NGOs
achieved valuable results: the police improved their public image
and the NGOs were able to reach a wide audience. END COMMENT.

HOAGLAND