KAZAKHSTAN: TRAFFICKING AWARENESS CAMPAIGN COMPLETED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 001985 SIPDIS STATE FOR INL/AAE, G/TIP, SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ELAB EAID SMIG SOCI KTIP KCRM KWKN KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: TRAFFICKING AWARENESS CAMPAIGN COMPLETED ASTANA 00001985 001.3 OF 003 ¶1. SUMMARY: INL's anti-trafficking information campaign, including 10 performances of the play "Night Stars," a roundtable, and press conference, received unanimously positive responses. "Night Stars," based on true-life stories of former victims of trafficking, was performed in Astana by the Kokshetau Russian Drama Theater group. At the beginning of each performance informational flyers were distributed and anti-trafficking posters designed by children were exhibited. A press conference marked the opening of the campaign, and a roundtable with government agencies closed it. END SUMMARY. ¶2. The INL-sponsored information campaign aimed to warn students about the dangers of human trafficking and teach them ways to avoid victimization when seeking jobs abroad. The Feminist League NGO and the Kokshetau Russian Drama Theater, in close cooperation with the Ministries of Justice (MOJ),Internal Affairs (MVD),and Education (MOE) implemented the program. ¶3. Galina Morozova, President of the Feminist League NGO, has been working with victims of trafficking on a daily basis for over 10 years and runs a victims' shelter in the northern, agricultural city of Kokshetau. Before establishment of a shelter in Kokshetau, Morozova aided victims in her home, which inspired a book based on their stories. Looking to reach a wider audience, she approached the Russian Drama Theater in Kokshetau with a proposal to adapt her book for the stage. ¶4. Due to a personal tragedy, Valeryi Tarasov, Director of the Russian Drama Theater, readily agreed to help. His brother, sister-in-law, and their son disappeared 13 years ago. The child was later found in Moscow being forced to beg, and the parents were never found. Orenbai Zhanaidarov's adaption of the book has been performed 48 times in Kokshetau. NIGHT STARS ¶5. "Night Stars" follows the lives of five young girls whose pursuit of their dreams of a better life abroad leads them to a brothel in an unnamed country that bears a striking resemblance to Turkey. Each girl tells the story of being promised a great career (e.g. dancer, singer, or model) but ending up trafficked and having her life descended into horror and degradation. After every girl tells her tale, the lead character is attacked by a pimp, kills him, flees to a Russian Orthodox church, and is reunited with her mother. Each story effectively demonstrates the stages of trafficking, such as recruitment, transportation, seizure of documents, and exploitation. The play also effectively focuses on traffickers' promises of a better life and their manipulation to attract young woman. THE INFORMATION CAMPAIGN ¶6. On September 14, a press conference with the DCM, Vice-Minister of Justice Dulat Kustavletov, Chairman of the Ministry of Education's Committee on Protection of Children's Rights Zhumazhan Zhukenov, Chief of the Ministry of Interior's Department to Combat Organized Crime Armanbek Baimurzin, and Morozova launched the project at the Zhastar Palace of Youth in Astana. Representatives of the Supreme Court and Prosecutor General's Office attended the press conference and play. Following the press conference, the DCM and Vice-Minister presented certificates of appreciation to 18 children who drew the informational posters on display during every performance of the play. ¶7. Morozova introduced each of the 10 performances during the five-day project with a short lecture about human trafficking. DVDs of the play and specially-designed informational materials were also distributed. The materials describe the risks of trafficking, traffickers' recruitment methods, and detailed instructions for those seeking employment outside of their native city or country. They also provide contact information for anti-trafficking organizations in Kazakhstan. Approximately 9,000 information booklets were distributed to schools and orphanages in Astana and the surrounding region. THE ROUNDTABLE ASTANA 00001985 002.3 OF 003 ¶8. On September 18, Morozova concluded the project by conducting a roundtable with representatives of the Ministries of Justice, Interior, and Education, teachers from schools and juvenile justice centers, OSCE, and IOM. It summarized the results of the information campaign and strengthened dialogue between government agencies, international organizations, and those that work with children. The Ministry of Justice reported that the 2009-2011 government plan to combat trafficking in persons had come into force. Representatives also said the government granted a local NGO eight million tenge ($53,333) to support a recently-opened victims' shelter in Astana through 2011. ¶9. The Astana Department of Interior (DVD) mentioned an increase in human trafficking cases. In 2006, there were seven cases of trafficking, 14 in 2007, 16 in 2008, and already 16 in 2009. The DVD also noted a growth in the withdrawal of complaints of trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation involving teen-aged girls, because of their fear of publicity or bribes by pimps. The Ministry of Interior cited nationwide statistics for the first nine months of 2009, during which police initiated 18 cases of trafficking in persons, 14 cases of trafficking in minors, five cases of kidnapping for the purpose of exploitation, seven cases of deprivation of freedom for the purpose of exploitation, and eight cases of forced prostitution. There were also 162 cases of pimping and maintaining brothels. ¶10. Morozova mentioned the eight victims of trafficking, including a 14- and 16-year old, in her shelter. The latter had a two-month-old baby to which she had given birth while being held by traffickers. Morozova noted traffickers' recent efforts to require trafficked women to settle their debts by recruiting new woman. Not only does this strategy increase the number of girls, but it makes victims into participants in the criminal enterprise. ¶11. During his presentation, the IOM Chief of Mission presented the human trafficking book "Ainura's Dream," published by IOM Kyrgyzstan. IOM has proposed printing and distributing this book, which the Kyrgyz Ministry of Education is using in the high school curriculum, in Kazakhstan. ¶12. Participants agreed that civil society must develop an infrastructure to protect children. During the closing of the roundtable, participants recommended that - Public information campaigns be used to promote the protection of children; - Systematic training be put in place for teachers, health care workers, law enforcement agencies and others who work with children; - Reintegration of victims be stressed; - Mass media be encouraged to protect the rights of children when reporting cases; - Classes be conducted for children to warn them about risks of trafficking; - Legislation be changed to increase parent responsibility. "NIGHT STARS" FEEDBACK ¶13. INL has received overwhelmingly positive reaction to the "Night Stars" performances. The President's ruling party Nur Otan, the Ministry of Interior, and the Head of the Kazakhstan Law School -- one of the most respected legal experts in the country -- have called to express appreciation for the project. More importantly, INL has received many letters from teachers, students, and school directors: - Director of School #31: "The play 'Night Stars' was attended by eighth-grade students of our school together with their class teachers. Common opinion of all teachers and students who watched ASTANA 00001985 003.3 OF 003 the performance is that the topic is very actual. The play is very informative and educational. Music, good acting made it very interesting for this age group." - Teachers of School #20: "We liked the play. It is realistic and truthful. It shows different stories of different girls. We are able to read the schemes of recruitment in the vignettes given in the play -- how girls were recruited, moved, taken their passports, sold to different people, and subjected to violence. We understand how people get into trafficking. We thank everyone who participated in organization of this information campaign." - Diana age 15: "This play made me think about the child-parent relationship. We need to be careful with what we are doing in our lives and appreciate the care and love of our parents. I feel so sorry for the girls who got into hands of traffickers and ruined their lives. I am grateful for the play and I will be very careful." - Marina, Sonya, and Aliya age 16: "I liked the play 'Night Stars' very much. I liked both the plotline and actors' good performance. It's a very hot and realistic topic. Girls are looking for better life, thinking that they can find it in other country, and what happens? They are deceived, humiliated, crushed... We need to be careful, listen to our parents and be self-critical." - Shynar, age 14: "Recently, I together with my classmates went to the theatre to watch the 'Night Stars' play about human trafficking. After I watched the play, I realized how lucky I am to actually have a chance to watch it and learn about trafficking. It is an ideal play with professional actors. I liked the script and the actors! They played with great level of proficiency, very true-like. I could not take my eyes off the scene. The topic is very actual and is widely known. I would like to thank everyone who took part in creation of this play. What I seen and learnt will help me and my friends to avoid mistakes and easy ways of employment at the beginning of our carriers. Thank you!" HOAGLAND