Human Trafficking Remains the Problem of the Century(part II)

Mark Hulst:“2006 was very important year for the government to carry out the activities for preventing trafficking. Quite an ordinary law was adopted on the problem that is quite acceptable regarding the situation in the country. The government can do many good things under the law. For example, now it is possible to identify the status of the trafficked victims and consequently s/he can be housed in the asylum. In addition, the victim can receive legal, psychological, medical and some other aid.”

As for those objectives that were not achieved they are the following:
1. To sign double settlements with the destination countries for migrants in order to force    them to find out the legal jobs and labor quotas for Georgian citizens;
2. To prepare the proposals on protecting rights of migrants and their families in order to become a party of the UN Convention;
3. To integrate the subjects concerning trafficking into the school programs, to introduce them to the educational programs and to train the teachers, etc.

Mark Hulsts said that these objectives turned out unrealizable to begin with. “We could not manage to accomplish these objectives. Maybe because they were less realistic. Subsequently they were not included into the new program. As for the labor quotas, it also seemed too ambitious and the government could not employ the victims. There were several objectives which were unrealizable and remained unachieved. Finally, most of the program was implemented but the quality of the carried out activities is questionable. The tendency is positive and the progress is evident.” 

Khutsishvili also agreed with the position and said that there are several reasons for the unfulfilled objectives. “Drawing the activity plan, the exact goals might have not been well defined. The country is succeeding step by step. You should take one step to take another. You cannot take the third and fourth steps without having taken the first two. The activities that were to be implemented within the program were implemented. For example, when we speak about the labor quota of migrants, many things should have been considered in advance. You cannot demand the United Kingdom to employ your citizen immediately. The agreement can be drawn after long-term negotiations and it takes time.”

The main success of the program according to the respondents is the law that focused on all activities that must be implemented by the state. “It is the complete packet to guarantee the solution of the problem. A special state fund has been established where the mechanisms envisaged by the law were carried out and mechanisms to protect the victims were also put in motion. Apportioning the compensations was also regulated and the victim can be granted with the status. The country has also used these mechanisms.”

One documented of human trafficking, which involved Georgia as a transport country and where such these mechanisms involved a victim who was transported to Dubai. Holding only a Georgian passport the victim was deported to Georgia. Although the victim demanded to be sent to her native country the court prolonged trial by nearly 7 months.  Finally, the victim safely returned to her homeland.

Khutsishvili said that though the victim is at home, the civil case on her suit will be carried out at the state expenses and a Georgian lawyer will prosecute the trafficker at the trial. The case deals with the reimbursement of the victim’s moral and material damage. As for the trafficker Marina Oganesian, who had been previously detained for the same crime, was sentenced to eleven years in imprisonment.

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Trafficking in Turkey

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Turkey poses a trafficking danger to the Georgian population. The principal reason is the fact that Turkey borders Georgia and Georgian people can cross the border without visa. The majority of victims are connected with Turkish traffickers. Most often, Georgian and other Caucasian people are trafficked to Greece and the United Emirates. Turkey is a transit country as well as a destination country because the salves are easily transported to various countries from there.

“Turkey and the United Emirates are still actual problems. Although trafficking is widespread in these countries, little to no information is available. Many facts were discovered in 2006 and investigations were conducted regarding those cases. We had discovered cases on labor trafficking as well,” said Hults.

Meskhi said, “I cannot insist that the main problem originates from Turkey. There are various countries that cause similar problems for us. The risk is in every direction. However, the fact is that the majority of victims are trafficked through Turkey.”

Khutsishvili also speaks about Turkey and the United Emirates. “I do not have reliable information regarding Greece and cannot comment on the situation. As for Emirates and Turkey, we consider them as destination countries where people are taken. Georgia is supplying victims and is a transit country. The reason is due to our geopolitical location, our proximity to Turkey and poor social conditions within Georgia.” 

(part III) http://www.humanrights.ge/eng_/articles.php?id=589

 Eka Gulua