Human Trafficking is considered to be a modern, modified form of slavery. Under the Article 1431 of the Criminal Code of Georgia this crime is defined as recruitment, transportation, transferring, harboring or receiving persons, by means of threat, use of force, deception or any other forms of coercion, for the purpose of exploitation, including commercial sexual as well as labor exploitation.
Annually, two to four million people become victims of trafficking in persons throughout the world, 70% of those trafficked are women and children. Typically, they represent the most vulnerable part of the society.
The Parliament of Georgia adopted the Law on Combating Trafficking in Persons, which represents a legal base for the prevention and fight against this crime. In addition, Georgia has ratified United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, (Palermo Protocol) and Council of Europe's Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.
Georgia has concluded bilateral International Agreements with twenty countries on police cooperation and on cooperation in the fight against crime, which also include cooperation in the field of combating trafficking in persons. For the purpose of undertaking necessary measures to combat trafficking in human beings, relevant Protocol is signed with the Republic of Turkey.
In order to coordinate activities of the governmental agencies, the Interagency Coordination Council on Combating Trafficking in Persons has been established. The Council is mandated to elaborate the National Action Plan once in two years. In the implementation process of an Action Plan and in order to improve the national referral mechanism, the Council has approved the Strategy for Rehabilitation and Reintegration in Society of Victims of Trafficking in Persons.
The State Fund for the Protection and Assistance of (Statutory) Victims of Human Trafficking operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia. The Fund provides the protection, assistance and rehabilitation measures for the victims of trafficking in persons. Furthermore, the Fund provides shelters as well as the relevant rehabilitation programs for the victims.
Taking into account severe nature of the crime and importance of adequately addressing it, the Division for Combatting Human Trafficking and Irregular Migration has been established under the Central Criminal Police Department of the MoIA. Unified Information Database functioning in the Information-Analytical Department facilitates the identification of the human traffickers and systematizes the existing information in various agencies. Trafficking in persons represents one of the main directions of the MoIA Development Strategy, which identifies the main challenges and future priorities.
The qualified personnel represent one of the main foundations of efficiently combatting trafficking in persons. As a result, The MoIA devotes special attention to adequately train and retrain the staff of the Ministry.
The MoIA Academy provides the basic training courses for the law enforcement officers. The curricula of basic training course, among other topics include the Subject of Human Trafficking.
Capacity building of MoIA personnel and their awareness with the modern challenges is ensured through cooperation with the local non-governmental and international organizations, as well as through jointly implemented Projects.
With the aim to develop international cooperation, Bilateral Cooperation Unit and Guam Unit are functioning under the International Relations Department. Within their competences, the Units ensure exchange of operational information through the safe networks with the relevant countries.
If you are the victim of trafficking in persons or have information thereto, please contact us at the following numbers:
112 - Free Hotline 24/7
2 411 714 - Hotline of the Division for Combatting Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration of the Central Criminal Department
2 100 229 - Hotline of The State Fund for Protection and Assistance of (statutory) Victims of Human Trafficking
