Azernews.Az

An OSCE official has called for vigorous effort to combat human trafficking in Azerbaijan.
"A great number of victims refrain from openly stating the challenges they are facing due to the lack of confidence in government agencies," the Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Eva Biaudet, said on the outcomes of her four-day visit to Baku last Wednesday.
"A mechanism should be worked out that would allow to find a real solution to the problem. I am very concerned that numerous human trafficking victims are seen in Azerbaijan as criminals, are held accountable and even humiliated. Most of those arraigned are women, but we are aware that powerful forces and money are behind all this."
Biaudet said the Azerbaijani authorities have taken a number of steps in this area but this was just the beginning in solving the problem. She called on the government to cooperate with NGOs in combating human trafficking.
Biaudet said the influx of petrodollars to the country and rapid economic growth, along with progress, created suitable conditions for trafficking in persons.
"An advanced economy always has a shadow side. A construction boom in under way in the country. As far as I know, considerable workforce is flowing into Azerbaijan from a number of countries, including Central Asian states. These persons could be used for slave labor."
The goal of the co-ordinator's visit was to look into progress in Azerbaijan's implementing its commitments to the OSCE.