Azerbaijan continues fighting against human trafficking

 Some 39 criminal facts in connection with human trafficking were registered in Azerbaijan in the first quarter of this year, the head of department for combating human trafficking of the Interior Ministry, Javad Shikhaliyev, told Trend on Friday.

During the reporting period 17 victims of trafficking were found, four criminal groups engaged in human trafficking neutralized, seven people brought to criminal responsibility for these crimes.

Shikhaliyev said in the first quarter of this year 13 human trafficking victims were taken out to Turkey, four - Iran.

Most of the victims are women, five of whom are aged 18-25, 11 - 25-35 years, one - over 35 years. 12 victims are with secondary education, four - with incomplete secondary education, one - without education, 14 - not married, three - married.

Shikhaliyev said the department revealed 20 facts of involvement in prostitution, 25 facts of maintaining of a house of prostitution, two facts of involvement of minors in prostitution, one fact of coercion to perform sexual acts. 23 people were brought to justice for these offenses. In connection with the involvement in prostitution administrative record was made in respect of 23 women.

12 victims of human trafficking received from the Cabinet of ministers a one-time assistance (200 manat), 10 people received assistance from the Fund to support the Interior Ministry. All victims of trafficking had been given legal, psychological and medical assistance. 10 victims are provided with jobs, 12 - brought to professional courses, he said.

The Head of Department said in order to prevent human trafficking awareness-raising activities are held at the state level.


/Trend/