IOM experts presented proposals to the kazakh side on improving legislation to combat human trafficking

On September 15, 2021, a presentation of a draft law developed on the initiative of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Kazakhstan was held in a hybrid format (online/offline) in the city of Nur-Sultan.

It should be recalled that the Government's Action Plan for 2021-2024 provides for consideration by interested state bodies together with the Prosecutor General's Office and the Ministry of the Republic of Kazakhstan of the issue of developing and adopting a separate law. Earlier, the recommendation on the adoption of a special law was voiced by UN institutions and other international organizations.

The Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan, representatives of central executive bodies, public associations took part in the discussion of the presented project.

"I am grateful to non-governmental organizations that provide concrete assistance to vulnerable citizens who have suffered from such offenses and conduct information campaigns about human rights and the prevention of their violations. Local executive bodies and territorial bodies should use the potential of the civil sector, especially about issues of interdepartmental interaction. Unfortunately, the legislation practically does not provide for a clear step-by-step mechanism for such interaction and contains general norms. As a result, as practice shows, victims of such crimes do not have a full understanding of the guarantees and support measures that they can receive. This is because the relevant provisions are fixed in various regulatory legal acts and there is no related system of control over the implementation of this mechanism. Moreover, local executive bodies are not yet interested in organizing regular support for preventive measures with the involvement of the media and the civil sector and other organizations", - Elvira Azimova noted.

The participants of the event agreed that the development of an effective mechanism for preventing violations and providing social assistance and support to affected citizens requires not only a clear legal regulation, but also adequate financial support for the policy of preventing offenses against the person.

Following the results of the event, an agreement was reached to continue the discussion of the submitted draft law.