Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery Poverty drives the unsuspecting poor into the
hands of traffickers Published reports & articles from 2000 to 2025 gvnet.com/humantrafficking/Azerbaijan.htm
Azerbaijan is a source, transit, and limited destination
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. Women and children from
Azerbaijan are trafficked to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for
the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. Men and boys are trafficked to
Russia for the purpose of forced labor. Men and women are also trafficked to
Iran, Pakistan, and the UAE for purposes of sexual exploitation and forced
labor. Some men are trafficked within Azerbaijan for the purpose of forced
labor and women and children are trafficked internally for forced
prostitution and forced labor, including forced begging. - U.S. State Dept
Trafficking in Persons Report, June, 2009
Check out
a later country report here
or the full TIP Report here |
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CAUTION: The following
links have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation in HOW TO USE THIS WEB-PAGE Students If you are looking
for material to use in a term-paper, you are advised to scan the postings on
this page and others to see which aspects of Human Trafficking are of
particular interest to you. Would you
like to write about Forced-Labor? Debt
Bondage? Prostitution? Forced Begging? Child Soldiers? Sale of Organs?
etc. On the other hand, you might
choose to include possible precursors of trafficking such as poverty. There is a lot to the subject
of Trafficking. Scan other countries
as well. Draw comparisons between activity
in adjacent countries and/or regions.
Meanwhile, check out some of the Term-Paper resources
that are available on-line Teachers Check out some of
the Resources
for Teachers attached to this website. HELP for Victims International
Organization for Migration ***
FEATURED ARTICLE *** Azeri Trafficking
Victims Face Social Rejection Sabina Vaqifqizi - iwpr.net/report-news/azeri-trafficking-victims-face-social-rejection [accessed 20 January
2011] Esmira fell prey to
human traffickers after she confronted a group who had lured one of her
sisters. Her sister had been tricked
into an unregistered marriage with one of the traffickers, who had abandoned
her when she became pregnant. “When
[my sister] returned, she was afraid to say what had happened to her. I found
those who deceived her, but became their prey as well,” said Esmira. She told IWPR that
when she tackled the traffickers over the treatment of her sister, they
forced her to go to Turkey. Her third sister also fell into the hands of
traffickers and is still missing, she said.
In Turkey, Esmira was forced to work as a prostitute with other
abducted girls and was tortured. She still remembers everything, even though
three years have passed. “They push
for what they want. If you do not obey, they torture you by beating you. They
force you to do humiliating things. They didn’t pay us anything for the work
we did,” she said. Esmira said she
managed to escape with the help of Turkish police. “One of the workers knew a police officer.
He reported the traffickers. They came to the place we stayed in wearing
plain clothes and pretending to be customers. The traffickers were arrested
right on the spot,” she said. Azerbaijan probes
child-organ traffickers BBC News, 23
February, 2004 news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3513439.stm [accessed 20 January
2011] The Azerbaijani
government says it is keen to crack down on child traffickers who are believed
to take children abroad and sell their organs for profit. "Under the
guise of adoption, children who are allegedly afflicted by grave diseases are
taken out of Azerbaijan, ostensibly for treatment," Mr Abbasov told the
country's ANS television. "In the
course of our investigations, it has come to light that these children are
used for organ transplants, but we have no hard evidence," he said. ***
ARCHIVES *** HOTLINES for trafficking victims and
shelter
- 152 and 562-21-12. 2023 Findings on
the Worst Forms of Child Labor U.S. Dept of Labor,
Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Child Labor and Forced Labor Reports www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/azerbaijan
[accessed 19
December 2024] Minimal Advancement – Efforts Made but Continued Law
that Delayed Advancement- In 2023, Azerbaijan made minimal
advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The State
Labor Inspection Service increased the number of labor inspectors to 240,
from 182 in 2022. The Ministry of Internal Affairs also trained over 850
employees from 78 law enforcement entities on child labor and human
trafficking laws. In addition, the State Committee on Family, Children and
Women’s Affairs published an informational booklet on prevention of child
labor and sexual exploitation of children and held a series of educational
activities for over 1,000 participants on this topic. However, despite new
initiatives to address child labor, Azerbaijan is assessed as having made
only minimal advancement because it has a law that continues a moratorium on
all worksite labor inspections. While inspectors can conduct desk reviews in
response to complaints, this lack of proactive or onsite inspection
mechanisms may leave potential violations of child labor laws undetected in
workplaces. In addition, the government's priority crop production system in
Azerbaijan creates a risk that farmers and local officials may turn to
exploitative labor practices, including child labor, and in some cases,
regional and local government officials are held responsible for mobilizing
sufficient labor to meet established production targets for one or more of
these priority crops. Furthermore, in some instances, police treat children
forced to beg or engage in street work as a family issue, leading to child
labor cases not being properly referred for criminal investigation and
prosecution. 2020 Country
Reports on Human Rights Practices: Azerbaijan U.S. Dept of State
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, 30 March 2021 www.state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/azerbaijan/
[accessed 10 May
2021] PROHIBITION OF
FORCED OR COMPULSORY LABOR Foreign observers made
several visits to various regions of the country to observe the 2019 cotton
harvest, including the Sabirabad, Saatli, Imishli, Beylagan, Agjabadi, Barda,
and other districts located between Baku and the city of Ganja. No cases of
forced labor were observed during the harvest. PROHIBITION OF CHILD
LABOR AND MINIMUM AGE FOR EMPLOYMENT There is no legal
employment of children younger than age 15 in the country, and authorities
reported no instances of investigated child labor in legal sectors of the
economy. There were reports of children engaging in child labor, including
commercial sexual exploitation, forced begging, and agriculture. During
visits to observe the 2019 cotton harvest, foreign observers did not note any
instances of child labor. Some nongovernmental observers, however, reported
instances of rural children younger than 15 sometimes working on the family
farm or accompanying parents working as day laborers to agricultural fields. Freedom House
Country Report 2020 Edition freedomhouse.org/country/azerbaijan/freedom-world/2020 [accessed 19 March
2020] G4. DO INDIVIDUALS
ENJOY EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY AND FREEDOM FROM ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION? Legal safeguards against
exploitative working conditions are poorly enforced, and many employers
reportedly ignore them without penalty. The government has taken some steps
to combat forced labor and sex trafficking, including by prosecuting
traffickers and providing services to victims, but the problem persists,
notably among Romany children and foreign household workers. As a result of
corruption and a lack of public accountability for the allocation of
resources, the state’s oil and gas revenues tend to benefit privilege elites
rather than the general population, narrowing access to economic opportunity. 2017 Findings on
the Worst Forms of Child Labor Office of Child
Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking, Bureau of International Labor
Affairs, US Dept of Labor, 2018 www.dol.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ilab/ChildLaborReport_Book.pdf [accessed 15 April
2019] www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ILAB/child_labor_reports/tda2017/ChildLaborReportBook.pdf [accessed 23 April
2020] Note:: Also check out this country’s report in the more recent edition DOL
Worst Forms of Child Labor [page 126] Although the
government has implemented programs to address child trafficking, research
found little evidence to indicate it has carried out programs to assist
children working in agriculture or on the streets. NGO-run shelters
that are tasked by the NAP with providing victim services do not receive
consistent funding from the government. Directors of these shelters note that
the unpredictable nature of funding prevents long-term planning and capacity
building of shelters. (40; 28; 29) Child victims have limited access to
facilities that offer specialized care. (29) One shelter that provides such
services does not receive consistent government funding, and most of its
staff worked on a voluntary basis due to the lack of government funding and
an inability to receive foreign assistance caused by the government’s
restrictions on NGOs over the last three years. (40; 29). In 1st half of 2008
Azerbaijan revealed 244 facts of human trafficking abc.az/cgi-bin/wnews_one.cgi?nid=26250&lang=eng [accessed 20 January
2011] www.antitraf.net/home.php?mode=more&id=123&lang=en [accessed 16 January
2018] Deputy minister for
internal affairs Vilayat Eyvaov said that for the past six months the country
registered 244 facts of trafficking that exceeds the figure for 2007 relevant
period by 106 cases. 84 criminals
engaged in human trafficking held accountable in January –March in en.apa.az/news.php?id=47455 [accessed 20 January
2011] Human trafficking has
been increased by 2.4 times in comparison with last year. 84 criminals
engaged in human trafficking have been held accountable by now. Such crimes
against women have been increased by 5.1 times and half of criminals were
women. Victims of Human
Trafficking to Receive Compensation in K.Zarbaliyeva, Trend
News Agency, en.trend.az/news/society/rights/1093087.html [accessed 23 April
2020] The victims of
human trafficking will receive compensation in He added that a
Refuge Center was established in Baku and next year, four such centers will be
established in the regions. The victims of human trafficking will pass 15
days rehabilitation (if necessary 30 days) here. These periods for children
have been determined depending on the heaviness of the case. Officials May
Sponsor among Human Trafficking – Azerbaijani Deputy Internal Minister Trend News Agency,
December 12, 2007 – Source:
news.trendaz.com/index.shtml?show=news&newsid=1092735&lang=EN en.trend.az/news/society/1092735.html [accessed 23 July
2013] Most human
trafficking victims were women aged 18 to 40 years old. The women are brought
over from Middle Asia, Russia, Ukraine and Moldova to Azerbaijan and then
transported to other countries. In 2006 and 2007
there have not been any juveniles amongst the human trafficking victims,
Eyvazov said. There were no juvenile trafficking cases in 2004 and one was
registered in 2005. Azerbaijan’s
National Coordinator to Combat Human Trafficking Reported before
Parliamentarians I. Alizade, Trend
News Agency, en.trend.az/news/official/parliament/1049500.html [accessed 20 January
2011] As a result of
preventive and operative measures in Number Of Human
Trafficking Cases Increased In Azerbaijan P.Aliyeva, Trend
News Agency, Lankaran, 19.09.2007 en.trend.az/news/society/1012702.html [accessed 20 January
2011] Some 211 crimes
linked with human trafficking were registered in Within the first
six months in 2006, 187 crimes were registered, forty-four on human trafficking,
116 on brothels, and twenty-two for luring people into prostitution. So far for 2007,
criminal cases were filed against 112 people, with seventy-two of them
connected to human trafficking. Network of Lawyers
Established to Combat Human Trafficking in Azerbaijan S.Ilhamgizi, Trend
News Agency, en.trend.az/news/society/985891.html [accessed 20 January
2011] A network of lawyers
has been established to combat human trafficking in Trafficking – Serious Problem for Azerbaijan R. Ibragimkhalilova,
Press Review, 13.01.2007 At one time this
article had been archived and may possibly still be accessible [here] [accessed 3
September 2011] Victim of human
trafficking told how she found herself within the net of criminal elements - Rafiga
understood that she was deceived. But as her neighbor had her passport she tried
to persuade “mama Rosa” to give back her document. However, woman told that
Rafiga is her debtor as her marriage and ticket purchase were very expensive.
“I will return your passport when you work a debt out, and you will be free”,
“mama Rosa told”. Hotline will be
opened for victims of human trafficking [ Hotline
number 152 ] Today.Az, 08 July
2006 www.today.az/view.php?id=27983 [accessed 20 January
2011] In nearest future
hot line will be opened for victims of human trafficking In Baku, at present
talks continue with the government related to this matter. With the support of
the United States Embassy and OSCE, the International Organization for
Migration (IOM) conducted training for the future staff of a hotline and
shelter for trafficked victims. In Azeri-Press Agency
APA, 2006-05-08 www.ginsc.net/main.php?option=view_article&mode=0&article=1138&lang=ge [accessed 20 January
2011] In compliance with the
instruction of the Cabinet in Baku there was allocated three-floor building
for arrangement of the asylum with the purpose of ensuring safety of the
victims and proposed victims and also eye-witnesses of trafficking and
deliver psychological, medical and legal assistance to them. Russian Crime Boss
Arrested On Sex Trafficking Anthony M.
DeStefano, NY Newsday, March 18, 2005 -- Source:
www.nynewsday.com/news/local/crime/nyc-rus0319,0,7146811.story?coll=nyc-manheadlines-crime www.genderberg.com/phpNuke/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=110 [accessed 3
September 2011] A
reputed crime boss from the former Soviet Union has been arrested on charges
he ran a brutal sex trafficking ring in The Protection
Project - The www.protectionproject.org/human_rights_reports/report_documents/azerbaijan.doc [accessed 2009] www.protectionproject.org/country-reports/ [accessed 22
February 2016] FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE
TO THE TRAFFICKING INFRASTRUCTURE - Poor social and economic conditions for
women and children make them vulnerable to trafficking. Women’s lower social
status and lack of decently paid work opportunities compel them to seek
employment outside of Azerbaijan.
Furthermore, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the social welfare
system ceased to function effectively in Azerbaijan, thereby forcing many
children onto the streets, where they are vulnerable to exploitation. - htsccp Azerbaijan Human Rights
Report NetCent
Communications -- Data Source: US Department of State Bureau of Consular
Affairs www.ncbuy.com/reference/country/humanrights.html?code=aj&sec=6f [accessed 20 January
2011] Traffickers identified
by the IOM were either foreigners or ethnic Azerbaijanis who acted in loose
international networks, probably without central coordination. Victims were
approached directly and indirectly through friends and relatives. Traffickers
also used newspaper advertisements offering false work abroad. According to
the Society for the Defense of Women's Rights, draft-age men seeking to
escape military service in 2000 were invited by local traffickers to work in
the hotel industry in Turkey, but ended up in male brothels; however, the IOM
was not aware of such reports. Another NGO reported that families of young
women had been approached by individuals claiming that visiting Iranian
businessmen had seen their daughters and wished to marry them. Following parental
permission for such marriages, the women were transported to Iran to work as
prostitutes. According to the IOM, families sometimes willingly married their
daughters to wealthy men in Iran and turned a blind eye to their outcomes. Organization for
Security and Co-operation in [accessed 23 July
2013] The OSCE Office in "The events in
this sphere represent the most rapid progress anywhere, from a starting point
in November 2002, when the existence of trafficking in human beings was not
recognised, to the adoption of the National Action Plan," he added. The document is a result of the close
co-operation between the Azerbaijani Government and institutions and the
international partners. It is in line with the spirit and provisions of the
OSCE documents on the prevention of trafficking in human beings, which commit
all participating States to take actions to eradicate human trafficking. Adoption -
Azerbaijan Alert ! Ministry of Children
and Family Development, lukespencer954.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/azerbaijan-alert/ [accessed 20 January
2011] Both international and
domestic adoptions have been suspended for reasons that include an
investigation of a hospital that has possible involvement in domestic child
trafficking, and serious concerns about corruption and transparency in
international adoptions. Traffickers identified
by the IOM were either foreigners or ethnic Azerbaijanis who acted in loose
international networks, probably without central coordination. Victims were
approached directly and indirectly through friends and relatives. Traffickers
also used newspaper advertisements offering false work abroad. According to
the Society for the Defense of Women’s Rights, draft-age men seeking to
escape military service in 2000 were invited by local traffickers to work in
the hotel industry in Turkey, but ended up in male brothels; however, the IOM
was not aware of such reports. Another NGO reported that families of young
women had been approached by individuals claiming that visiting Iranian
businessmen had seen their daughters and wished to marry them. Following parental
permission for such marriages, the women were transported to Iran to work as
prostitutes. According to the IOM, families sometimes willingly married their
daughters to wealthy men in Iran and turned a blind eye to their outcomes. Human trafficking
in Azerbaijan The PUSH Journal,
30/04/2004 At one time this
article had been archived and may possibly still be accessible [here] [accessed 3 September
2011] Many victims of
trafficking are mostly taken to Opponents of Human
Trafficking from Transcaucasia Tour Gohar Grigorian,
UCLA International Institute, 2/11/2003 web.international.ucla.edu/burkle/article/3122 [accessed 30 August
2014] Nine government and
police officials from the three republics of Transcaucasia-- Source: Ekho, At one time this
article had been archived and may possibly still be accessible [here] [accessed 3
September 2011] The head of the
Azerbaijani centre for legal aid to migrants, Alovsat Aliyev, has said that
the country might become flooded by thousands of Iraqi refugees in the event
of a Human Rights
Overview Human Rights Watch www.hrw.org/europecentral-asia/azerbaijan [accessed 20 January
2011] ***
EARLIER EDITIONS OF SOME OF THE ABOVE *** Freedom House
Country Report - Political Rights: 7 Civil Liberties: 5 Status: Not Free 2018 Edition freedomhouse.org/country/azerbaijan/freedom-world/2018 [accessed 23 April
2020] G4. DO INDIVIDUALS ENJOY
EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY AND FREEDOM FROM ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION? Domestic violence
remains a problem, and Azerbaijan is a source, transit point, and destination
for forced labor and sex trafficking. Roma children are particularly
susceptible to forced labor, including by being forced to work in restaurants
or as roadside vendors, or to engage in forced begging. The government has
taken some efforts to combat trafficking, including by prosecuting
traffickers and providing services to victims. 2017 Country
Reports on Human Rights Practices U.S. Dept of State
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, 20 April 2018 www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2017/eur/277141.htm [accessed 12 March
2019] www.state.gov/reports/2017-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/azerbaijan/ [accessed 24 June
2019] PROHIBITION OF
FORCED OR COMPULSORY LABOR During the year
there were reports that some schools were closed to allow Ministry of
Education employees and students outside of the capital to participate in the
autumn cotton harvest. Migrant workers were at times subjected to conditions
of forced labor in the construction industry. Forced begging by children was
a problem, and forced domestic servitude was an emerging problem. Men and
boys at times were subjected to conditions of forced labor within the
country, for example, in construction (see section 7.c.). The Ministry of
Internal Affairs reported it identified five cases of forced labor in the
first nine months of the year. During the year the antitrafficking department
in the Ministry of Internal Affairs inspected construction and agricultural
sector sites but did not identify any victims of labor trafficking. Human Rights
Reports » 2005 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61637.htm [accessed 4 February
2020] TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
– Women and girls were trafficked internally from rural areas to the capital
for sexual exploitation, men were trafficked to Traffickers
were either foreigners or ethnic Azerbaijanis who acted in loose concert with
international networks. They approached victims directly and indirectly
through friends and relatives, usually offering to arrange employment abroad.
Traffickers also used deceptive newspaper advertisements offering false work
abroad. Traffickers reportedly used forged documents to move victims.
Traffickers also used fraudulent marriage proposals from men posing as
Iranian businessmen to lure women into prostitution in neighboring All
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