Combating Trafficking in Persons in Turkmenistan

The International Organization for Migration's (IOM) Migrant Protection and Assistance Division (MPA) works to promote and uphold migrants’ rights and supports migrants and their communities to access and exercise those rights. It also supports governments in their roles in promoting and fulfilling migrants’ rights. MPA does this directly and in partnership, through advocacy, setting standards, conducting research and analysis, and developing guidelines for protection and assistance, including supporting member states.

Protection encompasses all activities aimed at obtaining full respect for the rights of the individual in accordance with the letter and spirit of the relevant bodies of law. It seeks to secure individual or group rights, and aims to create a society in which those rights are recognized and upheld.

The region covered by IOM’s Regional Office in Vienna contains countries of origin and transit, several of which are among the top ten countries of origin for trafficked migrants assisted by IOM worldwide. At the same time, an increasing number of SEEECA countries serve as a destination for trafficked migrants, particularly for sexual exploitation, forced labour and forced begging.  Unauthorized employment and over-staying, entry without permit or carrying forged documents can lead migrants towards organized crime and corruption, particularly via smuggling and human trafficking.

Most of the human trafficking originating in SEEECA is intraregional, within sub-regions (Central Asia, South Caucasus, Western Balkans and Eastern Europe). IOM runs over 30 projects that include shelter, counselling, medical, psychological and legal assistance, vocational training, issue or reissue of qualifications, economic empowerment, capacity-building and networking with and providing thematic guidance to NGOs and governments.  We support not only trafficked persons, but also potential and presumed victims of trafficking, unaccompanied migrant children, victims of domestic violence, homeless children and those living on the street, children without parental care, institutionalized children, labour migrants, stranded migrants, and single mothers.