TSPC News

AUCA TSPC to train about 300 students and pupils on human trafficking

March 12, 2019

The Tian-Shan Policy Center (TSPC) of AUCA launched a series of training sessions on human trafficking and the risks of for students in Kyrgyzstan. The training series is organized with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) / UN Agency for Migration in the framework of the Dignity and Rights project financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The trainings will be held in March-April 2019 in Bishkek and Osh. The trainings are organized for third and fourth-year students from law faculties of five universities of the country - AUCA, KSLA, APAP, Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, OSHGUI. The trainings will focus on the protection of the rights of migrants, including labor, combating human trafficking and protecting the rights and interests of victims of trafficking. About 150 university students, 30 per university are expected to take part in the training.

Participants from legal clinics operating at each of the universities will also receive guidance on developing teaching programs for schoolchildren and support for the implementation of classes for 150 high school students from the outskirts of Bishkek and Osh.

“Such trainings will help develop skills of future lawyers to effectively protect the rights of victims of trafficking and migrant workers, as well as raise awareness of the risks of being trafficked among our youth” – Tatiana Zlobina, Progam Coordinator, TSPC.

The long term sustainability of the trainings will be ensured by making all training materials (curriculum, movie clips and videos, case studies, case studies) available to teachers and lecturers who take part in the trainings along with students.

According to the State Migration Service of the Kyrgyz Republic and IOM, young people aged 18 to 35 years are the most vulnerable to becoming victims of trafficking.

There are also records of exploitation of children and elderly.

The majority of the victims are coerced to work in construction, agriculture and households, as well as sex workers.

The Kyrgyz office of IOM reports that it assisted 2,245 Kyrgyz victims of human trafficking between 2002 and 2018.

The exact number of Kyrgyz citizens who are victims of trafficking is unknown, since many who have fallen into such circumstance are enslaved, fear shaming, or do not know which government agencies and NGOs can help. This is a hidden crime.

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