[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

TURKMENISTAN (Tier 3) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of Turkmenistan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and, even considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity, is not making significant efforts to do so; therefore Turkmenistan remained on Tier 3.  Despite the lack of significant efforts, the government took some steps to address trafficking, including by granting access to an international organization to monitor the cotton harvest, providing in-kind support for anti-trafficking awareness campaigns and training officials in collaboration with international organizations.  However, during the reporting period there was a government policy or pattern of forced labor; the government continued to direct policies that perpetuated the mobilization of adults for forced labor in the annual cotton harvest, in public works projects, and in other sectors in some areas of the country.  As in previous years, the government did not report any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions; did not hold any officials accountable for their complicity in forced labor crimes; identified no victims; and did not fund any victim assistance programs.

Prioritized Recommendations

Grant independent observers full access to freely and independently monitor cotton cultivation and deliver an unfiltered report of the annual cotton harvest.

End government policies or actions that compel or create pressure for the mobilization of forced labor, to include eliminating the cotton quota, mandatory participation in public works, and ensure local officials do not impose fees for replacement pickers and for businesses and entrepreneurs to support the harvest.

Amend the provision, under Article 8 of the Labor Code, that allows for the mobilization of civilians into public works, which would include cotton harvesting.

Investigate and prosecute sex and labor trafficking offenses under Article 128/1 of the criminal code; convict traffickers, including government officials complicit in human trafficking, including in the mobilization of forced labor, and seek adequate penalties, which should involve significant prison terms.

Ensure victims are not inappropriately penalized solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked.

In accordance with the provisions of the 2016 anti-trafficking law, provide victim services directly or by otherwise funding organizations to do so, including for male victims, and train relevant government authorities on those provisions.

Finalize, implement, and train police, migration officers, and other relevant stakeholders on SOPs to identify and refer victims to services.

Develop, adopt, and implement a comprehensive NAP and allocate resources for its implementation.

Establish, train relevant personnel on, and implement labor inspection and recruitment oversight protocols to improve forced labor identification and prevention.

Train police to detect and investigate sex and labor trafficking crimes under Article 128 of the criminal code.