On June 15, 2023, the United States Department of State published an annual report on the assessment of measures taken by states to combat human trafficking worldwide.
According to the US State Department, Georgia retains the highest level in the fight against human trafficking (trafficking) and still retains its place in tier 1, which means that the country fully meets the international standards for the fight against trafficking.
According to the report Georgia is making its best efforts in the fight against trafficking and continues to implement important measures, including identifying and investigating cases of trafficking.
It is noted in the report that the government takes appropriate measures to prevent trafficking and to protect victims.
The report of the US State Department states that law enforcement measures were effectively implemented by the state in the direction of the fight against trafficking, the punishments defined for trafficking in the Criminal Code are positively assessed as well as the attention focused on the investigations carried out by law enforcement agencies in connection with trafficking.
The report once again positively evaluates the amendments made to the Criminal Code of Georgia in June 2021, on the basis of which the Ministry of Internal Affairs was given the opportunity to provide victims of trafficking with witness and victim coordinator services.
The report underlines the existence of the specialized anti-trafficking units operating in the country, including the Anti-Trafficking and Illegal Migration Division of the Central Criminal Police Department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and its 6 mobile groups.
The document also focuses on the group of specialists operating in Ajara region - the so-called TASK FORCE and its activities, staffed by specialized investigators and prosecutors.
The report positively evaluates the signing of an updated memorandum between the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the Labor Inspection, aimed at detecting cases of forced labor through joint inspections by mobile teams and labor inspection units.
Herewith, attention is focused on the joint inspections conducted by the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the Labor Inspection.
It is noted that state agencies use relevant, standard operational procedures and guidelines to identify victims.
The US Department of State positively evaluates the anti-trafficking hotline of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where calls related to trafficking can be made.
The report emphasizes that all students of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs undergo training courses on trafficking issues.
It is also noted that with the financial and technical support of international organizations, investigators, members of mobile groups, border police, prosecutors, labor inspectors, witness and victim coordinators were trained on issues of combating trafficking.
The document also focuses on the fact that during the reporting period, the Georgian authorities were not able to implement anti-trafficking measures in the occupied territories.
The report is traditionally accompanied by recommendations prepared by the US State Department, aimed at strengthening the fight against human trafficking and improving the protection of victims of such crime.
