As part of IOM’s structural support to the Government of Georgia in combating trafficking in persons, IOM organized on 29 and 30 June a visit of a Georgian government delegation to Uzbekistan. The aim of this visit was to discuss the challenges of combating trafficking in persons with Uzbek government officials and explore ways to foster bilateral cooperation mechanisms for the purpose of prosecuting traffickers, protect victims of trafficking and enhance safe migration avenues for labour migrants.

The Georgian delegation, led by the Ministry of Justice and complemented by officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Agency of State Care, found agreement with its Uzbek counterparts on the principles of increased bilateral cooperation, the follow-up to which IOM in Georgia and Uzbekistan alike will continue to facilitate.

Over the past decade, citizens of Uzbekistan have been identified as victims of sexual exploitation in Georgia, often at the hands of Uzbek traffickers responsible for their recruitment and transportation from Uzbekistan and harbouring and, ultimately, exploitation taking place in Georgia. Despite targeted counter-measures, this problem continues to pose challenges to the law enforcement agencies of both countries.

This visit took place in the context of the project “Joint Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons in Georgia”, which is funded by the International Bureau for Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the US Department of State.