Bishkek – September 2-3, 2013. Approximately 50 NGOs from all five Central Asian Republics gathered in Bishkek to share best practices and local experiences countering trafficking in persons and assisting victims of trafficking. Prior to the event, IOM staff in each of the Central Asian Republics conducted national consultations with partner counter-trafficking NGOs in order to award special recognition to the best organizations for their management of shelters, hotlines, and the reintegration process for victims. During the event NGOs made 40 presentations on the following nominations: Best creative approach used in counter-trafficking public information campaign, Best example of business structures involvement in counter-trafficking, Best example of counter-trafficking partnership of NGO with governmental organization, Best shelter for victims of trafficking, Best reintegration of the victims of trafficking and Best counter-trafficking hotline. The representatives of nine NGO partners of IOM Tajikistan made presentations on their achievements and have been nominated and prized by the evaluation committee as the best ones on the following nominations: “Best shelter for victims of trafficking” – Shelter of Chkalov city managed by NGO Women and Society, “Best counter-trafficking hotline” NGO Human Rights Center from Khujand  and prize for the “Best reintegration of the victims of trafficking” was won by the NGO Women of East of Panjakent district.

IOM staff from Moscow, Eastern Europe, and Vienna participated at the event to provide important global context for this pressing issue.

NGOs across Central Asia provide direct victim assistance so that a victim can receive proper rehabilitation and acquire resources to reintegrate in their local communities. The assistance has been given to men and women who were trafficked for labor or/and sexual exploitation. NGOs in each Central Asian Republic have also used SMS, TV, and radio broadcasts to raise awareness of thousands of young individuals who are vulnerable to human trafficking.

Over 1100 human trafficking victims from Central Asia have received help from USAID and IOM. This combating trafficking in persons project has greatly contributed to a better understanding of the roots causes and tendencies in trafficking, as well as stories of individual victims. Most victims are trafficked within a country, especially Uzbekistan, as well as to the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan.