The U.S. Department of State has released another report on human trafficking in various countries and activities undertaken around the world in this regard.
In the given report published on June 25 of the current year, Georgia is on the highest level in fighting human trafficking and demonstrating serious and sustained efforts in tackling the issue.
Out of 190 countries in the world, Georgia remained in the so called tier 1 along with 34 other states fighting human trafficking.
The report states that Georgian government fully meets standards for the elimination of trafficking. In the report it is positively assessed that Georgian government maintained several specialized units, under the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and increase of mobile groups. The operation of the Task Force in the Adjara region with specialized investigators and prosecutors has also been outlined.
The report notes the activities of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for boosting qualification of the law enforcers and inclusion of human trafficking into basic training courses as well as permanent trainings in cooperation with international organizations.
The report positively assessed the increased efforts of law enforcement agencies to identify victims proactively, prosecution of traffickers and strengthening the efforts of the law enforcement agencies to assist victims.
Prioritized recommendations are directed to increasing efforts to identify victims proactively, capacity building of the law enforcers, improving law enforcement capacity to investigate complex, trafficking-related cases, including money laundering, organized crime, digital evidence and etc. as well as support for victims and cooperation with them.
The document reflects the statistical data of the investigated cases, criminal prosecution and verdicts, which is the result of the coordinated work of the agencies.
The report outlines that the Georgian government is unable to take anti-trafficking measures in the occupied territories.
Preventive measures taken by the government are positively assessed, including the existence of the hotline within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Popular trend of trafficking in Georgia still remains recruitment of female victims from Middle Asia with false promises of well-paid jobs and their sexual exploitation on the territory of Georgia or through Georgia in neighboring countries. The report notes that Georgian citizens are being exploited in countries where they travel by labor migration.
Traditionally, the report is accompanied by recommendations issued by the State Department to combat trafficking in human beings and improve the protection of victims.
