Georgian Parliament Intends to Adopt Law against Trafficking

Georgian Parliament Intends to Adopt Law against Trafficking

Tbilisi. 12 04 05. Media News. Parliamentary committees have started to discuss the adoption of a law to fight against human trafficking. The first debate on this issue will take place at the meeting of the Committee on Health and Social Protection.

The law was drafted on the initiative of the Committee on Legal Issues and, according to the deputy chairwoman of the committee Nino Kalandadze, the project has been in the works for almost a year.  The necessity of its adoption was prompted by the existence of a serious trafficking  problem in Georgia.

According to the amendments made to the Criminal Code by the Parliament of Georgia on June 6 of 2003, human trafficking is defined as a punishable criminal activity. The Parliament also decided to prepare a complex Legislative Act pointing out ways to prevent human trafficking.

The draft, which is focused on preventing trafficking and defending and supporting its victims, defines the legal basis for fighting the problem and aims for its eventual elimination.

One element of the draft envisions the establishment of a permanent active group with representatives from the Internal Ministry, the Prosecutor’s Office and the State Border Guard Department.

According to the draft, any capital acquired by means of trafficking will be siezed and liquidated, to be put into a special state fund for defending and helping trafficking’s victims. The fund will also provide compensation to the victims for rehabilitation.

The deputy chairwoman of the Committee on Legal Issues is hoping that the draft will be supported by parliamentary committees and adopted into law.