Tweet
US DEPARTMENT OF STATE: ARMENIA IS A SOURCE COUNTRY FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS SUBJECTED TO SEX TRAFFICKING, AS WELL AS A SOURCE COUNTRY FOR WOMEN AND MEN SUBJECTEDTO FORCED LABOR
arminfo
Thursday, June 21, 20:08
Armenia is a source country for women and girls subjected to sex
trafficking, as well as a source country for women and men subjected
to forced labor, says US Department of State's Trafficking in Persons
Report 2012.
The report says that women and girls from Armenia are subjected to
sex trafficking in the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, and within
the country. Armenian men and women are subjected to forced labor in
Russia. Armenian boys have been subjected to forced labor within the
country. An NGO reported a new trend of labor migrants withdrawing
their children from school and taking them abroad as helpers; these
children are vulnerable to conditions of forced labor.
"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 2011, the government convicted more
trafficking offenders than during the previous year, continued to
train hundreds of officials in partnership with NGOs and international
organizations, and strengthened anti-trafficking public awareness
campaigns. The number of victims identified by the government during
the year continued to drop," says the report.
The source recommends Armenia to increase efforts to identify victims
of forced labor and to investigate and prosecute labor trafficking
offenses; further improve partnerships with NGOs, which would allow
NGOs to regularly assist law enforcement with the victim identification
process; further educate law enforcement and labor inspectors on
distinguishing between labor trafficking and civil labor violations;
continue to provide and expand funding for NGOs that provide victim
assistance and ensure that all funding allocated for anti-trafficking
programs and victim assistance is spent on designated programs;
improve efforts to protect victims who consent to serve as witnesses in
prosecutions, including by establishing a compensation mechanism for
trafficking victims; regulate and educate local employment agencies
so they can help prevent the forced labor of Armenians abroad; ensure
that victims who are unable to assist in prosecutions have access to
services and protection; continue to ensure that victims are provided
with legally mandated assistance; improve efforts to identify child
victims of forced labor among the population of working children;
and expand awareness-raising campaigns to rural and border communities.
At the same time, the report notes that the Armenian government
demonstrated progress in its law enforcement efforts against human
trafficking during the reporting period. Armenia prohibits both
sex trafficking and labor trafficking through articles 132 and
132-2 of its criminal code, which prescribe penalties of five to 15
years' imprisonment - penalties that are sufficiently stringent and
commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes such
as rape.
arminfo
Thursday, June 21, 20:08
Armenia is a source country for women and girls subjected to sex
trafficking, as well as a source country for women and men subjected
to forced labor, says US Department of State's Trafficking in Persons
Report 2012.
The report says that women and girls from Armenia are subjected to
sex trafficking in the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, and within
the country. Armenian men and women are subjected to forced labor in
Russia. Armenian boys have been subjected to forced labor within the
country. An NGO reported a new trend of labor migrants withdrawing
their children from school and taking them abroad as helpers; these
children are vulnerable to conditions of forced labor.
"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 2011, the government convicted more
trafficking offenders than during the previous year, continued to
train hundreds of officials in partnership with NGOs and international
organizations, and strengthened anti-trafficking public awareness
campaigns. The number of victims identified by the government during
the year continued to drop," says the report.
The source recommends Armenia to increase efforts to identify victims
of forced labor and to investigate and prosecute labor trafficking
offenses; further improve partnerships with NGOs, which would allow
NGOs to regularly assist law enforcement with the victim identification
process; further educate law enforcement and labor inspectors on
distinguishing between labor trafficking and civil labor violations;
continue to provide and expand funding for NGOs that provide victim
assistance and ensure that all funding allocated for anti-trafficking
programs and victim assistance is spent on designated programs;
improve efforts to protect victims who consent to serve as witnesses in
prosecutions, including by establishing a compensation mechanism for
trafficking victims; regulate and educate local employment agencies
so they can help prevent the forced labor of Armenians abroad; ensure
that victims who are unable to assist in prosecutions have access to
services and protection; continue to ensure that victims are provided
with legally mandated assistance; improve efforts to identify child
victims of forced labor among the population of working children;
and expand awareness-raising campaigns to rural and border communities.
At the same time, the report notes that the Armenian government
demonstrated progress in its law enforcement efforts against human
trafficking during the reporting period. Armenia prohibits both
sex trafficking and labor trafficking through articles 132 and
132-2 of its criminal code, which prescribe penalties of five to 15
years' imprisonment - penalties that are sufficiently stringent and
commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes such
as rape.