AZERBAIJAN: COMBATING TIP UPDATE FROM MIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000677 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, EUR/PGI, DRL, G/TIP, EUR/ACE E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2019 TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM PREL PINR KTIP AJ SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: COMBATING TIP UPDATE FROM MIA Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Robert Garverick, Reasons 1 .4 b and d. ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) Anti-trafficking Unit is open to dialogue with the USG on the issue of combating trafficking in persons (TIP). On August 25 poloff met with the deputy head of the Unit, who offered an update on the many activities it is conducting in all three "P" areas- prevention, protection, and prosecution. These activities include meetings across the country, distributing pamphlets and videos, training police, and offering shelter and assistance to victims. MIA offered to keep the Embassy informed of all developments, and to look closely at the 2009 TIP Report recommendations. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On August 25 poloff met with Colonel Imran Jafarov, deputy head of the MIA's Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit. The impetus for the meeting was a report the MIA set to the Embassy that disputed some of the inforation on Azerbaijan contained in the State Department's 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report. Jafarov has been the deputy head of the Unit since its creation in 2005 and reported that he was personally involved in selecting all the personnel to serve in the unit, including creating the test for entry into the unit. Update on Ongoing MIA Activities -------------- ¶3. (C) Jafarov explained that the motto for all the Units work is (in English) the 3 P's: prevent, protect, and prosecute. He was proud to report the progress they have made on the first two Ps, including the creation of the hotline, shelter for victims, and the assistance center for victims under the Ministry of Labor. In 2008 the Unit held events in 78 cities and towns of Azerbaijan, many of which were for women only, to teach about preventing trafficking, and in 2009 they have visited 22 districts so far. In 2009 they have expanded locations for these events from education centers to hospitals and Ministry of Transportation facilities. They have also produced a short movie in connection with the State Committee on Family, Women, and Children's Affairs which will be distributed around the country to inform people about the dangers of TIP. They are also currently in the process of renovating one floor of the victim shelter to be more accommodating to children victims. Jafarov explained that they are working with the Cabinet of Ministers to increase the level of funding for assistance to victims, as the monthly allowance of 33 AZN (40 USD) chosen in 2005 is no longer enough. Victim Identification and Assistance Process -------------- ¶4. (C) Jafarov also gave a detailed explanation of the GOAJ's victim identification and assistance process. Over the past two years the MIA has trained all police officers to refer any suspected trafficking victims directly to the Anti-trafficking Unit. If the victim does not want to cooperate with a police investigation, the victim is normally sent to an NGO for assistance, as the person does not want their name in police documents. Jafarov was careful to point out, however, that these victims are still eligible for government assistance, including housing in the GOAJ shelter, and this assistance is normally given through an NGO. ¶5. (C) If the victim does wish to cooperate with an investigation, then the MIA begins immediately to work on a statement from the victim. Jafarov says he meets personally with 99% of the victims to make sure they get all possible information on potential criminals. Victims are provided with lawyers immediately, and these lawyers put together a lawsuit which will entitle the victim to compensation from property confiscated from traffickers. Jafarov reported that since 2007 23 victims have received this type of compensation. GOAJ provided compensation is provided immediately, for fear the person would disappear before receiving it. All victims are offered the GOAJ shelter, but Jafarov says only about 50 out of 100 victims accept this offer. Prosecution Statistics BAKU 00000677 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶6. (C) In response to poloff's questions regarding prosecution statistics, Jafarov explained that his Unit works on ten different charges under the criminal code, including trafficking in persons, forced prostitution, running a brothel, etc. Therefore, the statistics can be misunderstood if they come from different people. Jafarov stated that since January 1 his Unit has brought 134 criminal cases to the court. Of these, 58 were charged with TIP. Jafarov explained that once the investigation is complete and the case goes to court, they have no control over the case. But they do have information back from the courts that since January 1 15 cases involving 16 people have been sentenced to terms in jail. He also noted that many of these statistics can be found on the MIA's website - www.mia.gov.az. Jafarov gave no substantive reply, however, to poloff's question regarding steps the GOAJ is taking to investigate GOAJ officials who may be complicit in trafficking. COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) Jafarov's openness to dialogue with the USG on this difficult topic is a positive signal of the GOAJ's willingness to work harder to fight TIP. While Jafarov and the MIA's work is limited somewhat by the poor state of Azerbaijan's court system and cultural barriers to victim re-integration, he and his Unit seem dedicated to doing the best job that they can. Jafarov promised to look closely at the recommendations made in the 2009 TIP report, and see how they could fit within the MIA's work. Jafarov made a plea at the end of the meeting for more USG assistance in this area, and offered to meet again any time to discuss these issues. LU