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U.S. STATE DEPT: ARMENIA DOESN'T FULLY MEET TRAFFICKING ELIMINATION STANDARDS
PanARMENIAN.Net
June 28, 2011
PanARMENIAN.Net - On June 27, the U.S. State Department issued 2011
Trafficking in Persons Report to assess efforts by 184 governments
worldwide to fight sexual exploitation, forced labor and modern-day
slavery.
The department's report characterized Armenia as a source country for
women and girls subjected to sex trafficking, as well as a source
and destination country for women subjected to forced labor, and a
source country for men subjected to forced labor.
"Women and girls from Armenia are subjected to sex trafficking in
Germany, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey. Armenian men and women
are subjected to forced labor in Russia, while Armenian women are
subjected to forced labor in Turkey. Armenian boys are subjected to
forced labor and Armenian women and girls are found in sex trafficking
within the country. Women from Russia are subjected to forced labor
in Armenia," the report said.
As the department noted, the Government of Armenia does not fully
comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking;
however, it is making significant efforts to do so. In 2010,
the government provided partial funding for an NGO-run shelter for
victims of trafficking and pursued partnerships with NGOs to provide
training to hundreds of officials. The government continued to ensure
that all convicted traffickers were appropriately sentenced and
that those sentences were enforced. In March 2011, the government
enacted amendments to the Criminal Code that further strengthened
its anti-trafficking statutes. However, of particular concern was a
precipitous drop in the number of victims identified during the year,
as well as the absence of investigations of forced labor offenses.
PanARMENIAN.Net
June 28, 2011
PanARMENIAN.Net - On June 27, the U.S. State Department issued 2011
Trafficking in Persons Report to assess efforts by 184 governments
worldwide to fight sexual exploitation, forced labor and modern-day
slavery.
The department's report characterized Armenia as a source country for
women and girls subjected to sex trafficking, as well as a source
and destination country for women subjected to forced labor, and a
source country for men subjected to forced labor.
"Women and girls from Armenia are subjected to sex trafficking in
Germany, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey. Armenian men and women
are subjected to forced labor in Russia, while Armenian women are
subjected to forced labor in Turkey. Armenian boys are subjected to
forced labor and Armenian women and girls are found in sex trafficking
within the country. Women from Russia are subjected to forced labor
in Armenia," the report said.
As the department noted, the Government of Armenia does not fully
comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking;
however, it is making significant efforts to do so. In 2010,
the government provided partial funding for an NGO-run shelter for
victims of trafficking and pursued partnerships with NGOs to provide
training to hundreds of officials. The government continued to ensure
that all convicted traffickers were appropriately sentenced and
that those sentences were enforced. In March 2011, the government
enacted amendments to the Criminal Code that further strengthened
its anti-trafficking statutes. However, of particular concern was a
precipitous drop in the number of victims identified during the year,
as well as the absence of investigations of forced labor offenses.