![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maryxmasDepartment of State
Trafficking in Persons Report
Released by the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
June 1, 2006
UKRAINE (TIER 2)
Ukraine is primarily a source country for men, women, and children trafficked internationally for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor. Primary destination countries include Turkey, Russia, and Poland. Other major destinations include the Czech Republic, Italy, Israel, Greece, Serbia and Montenegro, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, and Portugal. Reports of internal trafficking continued. The number of destination countries used by traffickers increased in 2005, with almost 50 countries serving as destination points throughout Europe and eastward, including China.
The Government of Ukraine does not fully comply with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. In 2005, Ukraine increased its law enforcement capacity, proactively investigated trafficking, and strengthened its anti trafficking criminal code; however, two-thirds of convicted traffickers received probation instead of prison sentences. The government should strengthen the General Prosecutor's Office's (GPO) capability to effectively prosecute trafficking cases by creating a specialized unit of trial prosecutors and strengthen their anti-trafficking advocacy and trial skills through regular training courses. The government should also take greater steps to provide protections for government witnesses, ensure victims' rights are protected in court, and provide guidance to courts on procedures for handling trafficking cases with the goal of increasing the number of victims willing to testify against their traffickers. The government should collaborate with NGOs in providing victims with comprehensive protection and rehabilitation services, especially by increasing government funding of these services. Failure to increase effective trafficking prosecutions could lead to a more negative assessment in the next Report.
Prosecution
The Government of Ukraine in 2005 created an anti-trafficking department with over 500 officers assigned throughout Ukraine. During the reporting period, the government completed 78 trafficking investigations, prosecuted 95 trafficking cases, and convicted 115 traffickers. The sentences for 47 traffickers ranged from three to eight years, with the remaining traffickers being placed on probation. In 2005, the government amended its criminal code to address the full range of trafficking crimes and satisfy the requirements of the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. Ukrainian law covers both trafficking for forced labor and sexual exploitation; penalties range from three to 15 years and are commensurate with those for other grave crimes. During the reporting period, the government, in cooperation with international organizations, conducted specialized anti-trafficking training for investigators, prosecutors, and judges. The Ukrainian Government took steps during the year to improve and accelerate procedures for sharing evidence and investigating trafficking with its law enforcement counterparts in source countries. Trafficking-related complicity and official corruption continued to be problems, and reports of high-level intervention continued. The government investigated five anti-trafficking police for taking bribes related to trafficking.
Protection
The Government of Ukraine continued to rely on NGOs and international organizations to provide the bulk of victim assistance and protection in 2005. Through its consulates abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs repatriated 498 Ukrainian victims during the reporting period. The government reported 446 Ukrainian victims in trafficking cases and IOM assisted 720 victims in 2005. Law enforcement authorities continued to cooperate with NGOs at the port of Odessa and Boryspil airport to screen and refer victims repatriated or deported from abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs encouraged Ukrainian diplomats to refer all trafficking victims to IOM. The government failed to take steps to establish a credible victim witness program for trafficking victims in 2005. The government's inability to adequately protect victims continued to result in few victims safely cooperating in prosecutions; victims' confidentiality and dignity were not sufficiently respected.
Prevention
During the reporting period, the government's inter-agency commission coordinated and monitored the country's overall anti-trafficking efforts. High-ranking government officials spoke at various public events to warn citizens about the potential risks of trafficking, and underscored the in need to be compassionate and supportive of victims who are repatriated to Ukraine. Ukraine in 2005 slightly increased its resources for implementation of its Comprehensive Program for Combating Trafficking. In 2005, the Ministry of Labor withdrew some domestic employment agencies' licenses due to their involvement in trafficking. The Ministry for Education and Science helped conduct an information campaign on trafficking to raise awareness among both students and teachers.
Ukraine improved her ranking this year by going from the Tier 2 Watch List up to Tier 2. There are 3 tiers, with most countries falling into Tier 2, defined as Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act's (TVPA) minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards. Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman Rep. Chris Smith is the author of the TVPA. For link to reports, see: http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2006/index.htm
Trafficking in Persons Report
Released by the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
June 1, 2006
UKRAINE (TIER 2)
Ukraine is primarily a source country for men, women, and children trafficked internationally for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor. Primary destination countries include Turkey, Russia, and Poland. Other major destinations include the Czech Republic, Italy, Israel, Greece, Serbia and Montenegro, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, and Portugal. Reports of internal trafficking continued. The number of destination countries used by traffickers increased in 2005, with almost 50 countries serving as destination points throughout Europe and eastward, including China.
The Government of Ukraine does not fully comply with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. In 2005, Ukraine increased its law enforcement capacity, proactively investigated trafficking, and strengthened its anti trafficking criminal code; however, two-thirds of convicted traffickers received probation instead of prison sentences. The government should strengthen the General Prosecutor's Office's (GPO) capability to effectively prosecute trafficking cases by creating a specialized unit of trial prosecutors and strengthen their anti-trafficking advocacy and trial skills through regular training courses. The government should also take greater steps to provide protections for government witnesses, ensure victims' rights are protected in court, and provide guidance to courts on procedures for handling trafficking cases with the goal of increasing the number of victims willing to testify against their traffickers. The government should collaborate with NGOs in providing victims with comprehensive protection and rehabilitation services, especially by increasing government funding of these services. Failure to increase effective trafficking prosecutions could lead to a more negative assessment in the next Report.
Prosecution
The Government of Ukraine in 2005 created an anti-trafficking department with over 500 officers assigned throughout Ukraine. During the reporting period, the government completed 78 trafficking investigations, prosecuted 95 trafficking cases, and convicted 115 traffickers. The sentences for 47 traffickers ranged from three to eight years, with the remaining traffickers being placed on probation. In 2005, the government amended its criminal code to address the full range of trafficking crimes and satisfy the requirements of the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. Ukrainian law covers both trafficking for forced labor and sexual exploitation; penalties range from three to 15 years and are commensurate with those for other grave crimes. During the reporting period, the government, in cooperation with international organizations, conducted specialized anti-trafficking training for investigators, prosecutors, and judges. The Ukrainian Government took steps during the year to improve and accelerate procedures for sharing evidence and investigating trafficking with its law enforcement counterparts in source countries. Trafficking-related complicity and official corruption continued to be problems, and reports of high-level intervention continued. The government investigated five anti-trafficking police for taking bribes related to trafficking.
Protection
The Government of Ukraine continued to rely on NGOs and international organizations to provide the bulk of victim assistance and protection in 2005. Through its consulates abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs repatriated 498 Ukrainian victims during the reporting period. The government reported 446 Ukrainian victims in trafficking cases and IOM assisted 720 victims in 2005. Law enforcement authorities continued to cooperate with NGOs at the port of Odessa and Boryspil airport to screen and refer victims repatriated or deported from abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs encouraged Ukrainian diplomats to refer all trafficking victims to IOM. The government failed to take steps to establish a credible victim witness program for trafficking victims in 2005. The government's inability to adequately protect victims continued to result in few victims safely cooperating in prosecutions; victims' confidentiality and dignity were not sufficiently respected.
Prevention
During the reporting period, the government's inter-agency commission coordinated and monitored the country's overall anti-trafficking efforts. High-ranking government officials spoke at various public events to warn citizens about the potential risks of trafficking, and underscored the in need to be compassionate and supportive of victims who are repatriated to Ukraine. Ukraine in 2005 slightly increased its resources for implementation of its Comprehensive Program for Combating Trafficking. In 2005, the Ministry of Labor withdrew some domestic employment agencies' licenses due to their involvement in trafficking. The Ministry for Education and Science helped conduct an information campaign on trafficking to raise awareness among both students and teachers.
Ukraine improved her ranking this year by going from the Tier 2 Watch List up to Tier 2. There are 3 tiers, with most countries falling into Tier 2, defined as Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act's (TVPA) minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards. Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman Rep. Chris Smith is the author of the TVPA. For link to reports, see: http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2006/index.htm
