[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

AZERBAIJAN (Tier 2) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report - Azerbaijan

The Government of Azerbaijan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.  The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Azerbaijan remained on Tier 2.  These efforts included sentencing all convicted traffickers to prison terms in an improvement from previous years and identifying more victims of internal trafficking.  The government increased funding for NGO-run shelters and amended a sub-law to establish the Interagency Commission composed of representatives from various ministries and local NGOs to improve coordination of anti-trafficking efforts.  Additionally, the Anti-Trafficking Department (ATD) recognized 34 NGO leaders with monetary awards.  However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas.  The government prosecuted fewer defendants and convicted fewer traffickers.  Authorities often failed to recognize psychological coercion as a means of control over victims or required a transnational element for trafficking, which led to internal sex trafficking cases reclassified as lesser offenses.  The government continued to lack screening and proactive identification efforts, particularly for vulnerable populations, and continued its moratorium on scheduled and unannounced labor inspections through 2023.

Prioritized Recommendations

Vigorously investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes and convict traffickers.

Continue to sentence convicted traffickers to adequate penalties, which should involve significant prison terms.

Increase proactive identification efforts, particularly for internal trafficking, forced labor, and child trafficking.

Implement SOPs and indicators for screening trafficking victims and train officials on screening for trafficking among individuals in commercial sex, migrants, children begging, and other at-risk populations.

Increase and allocate adequate funding to NGO-run shelters providing victim support services.

Train investigators, prosecutors, and judges on victim-centered approaches to trafficking cases, including for children, and provide advanced training on trafficking investigations and prosecutions.

Lift the moratorium on scheduled and unannounced labor inspections.

Strengthen the capacity of the Labor Inspectorate to identify and refer victims of forced labor.

Adopt and implement specific procedures to protect potential child victims, including identification and referral procedures, indicators, and interview questions.

Train judges on restitution in criminal cases and inform all identified victims of their right to pursue compensation and encourage them to do so.

Allow victims to enter Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA)-run shelters and receive services while they are seeking all required documents.