Over a thousand Kazakhstan residents have vanished without a trace.

In Kazakhstan, Human Trafficking Remains a Concern

Over 1,000 Kazakhs, including 22 children, have gone missing as reported by the head of the Criminal Police Department, Duman Taev. Men frequently vanish due to business trips and seasonal work, while women with alcohol problems and troubled teenagers also disappear.

A recent large-scale operation, "Stop Trafficking," uncovered around 50 human trafficking-related crimes, including a farm owner forcefully exploiting a 40-year-old man for labor. Meanwhile, children and teenagers often run away from home, particularly due to argumentative alcoholic parents. Sadly, these escapes often end in tragedy, as two women recently coerced a 16-year-old girl into prostitution for five months in Almaty.

While women are often subjected to sexual slavery, men are typically exploited for labor. Kazakhs have been taken abroad to Bahrain, Turkey, and South Korea for forced labor. Authorities have arrested 15 people involved in human trafficking, but Anna Ryl, head of the "Korgau Astana" foundation, notes that those responsible for labor exploitation in Kazakhstan often escape consequences.

In neighboring Uzbekistan, recruiters face severe penalties for labor exploitation, but in Kazakhstan, this rarely occurs. In 2020, 26 Kazakhs were convicted for human trafficking-related crimes. Annually, around 80 people fall victim to this, encompassing both locals and foreigners in the country.

Data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) shows that people are often trafficked abroad for sexual exploitation, with 15 pimps arrested in recent years. Regarding financial pyramids, Kazakhs have invested around 1 billion tenge in them as per official representative Nurdilda Oraz.

The Investigative Department of the MVD of Kazakhstan is currently investigating several Kazakh and foreign citizens for creating a financial pyramid called Questra World, Questra Holding, Atlantic Global Asset Management, and Five Winds Asset Management in 2016 and 2017.

Human Trafficking in Kazakhstan: A Deeper Look

Human trafficking in Kazakhstan takes several forms, primarily forced labor and prostitution. Both migrant workers and local Kazakhstani citizens from rural areas are vulnerable to trafficking.

Types of Exploitation:

Forced Labor: Migrant workers and rural residents are often exploited for labor in urban centers. This exploitation can occur in various sectors, including construction and agriculture.
Prostitution: Trafficking for sexual exploitation is another significant concern, with victims often being forced into prostitution in urban centers.

Frequency:

While the exact number of human trafficking cases in Kazakhstan is not clear, it is acknowledged as an ongoing issue for both domestic and migrant populations. Human trafficking continues to pose a major challenge in many countries, including those in Eurasia such as Kazakhstan.

Arrests:

Specific arrests or law enforcement actions related to human trafficking in Kazakhstan are sparse. However, the Kazakh government has made efforts to address human trafficking, as indicated by recent discussions at the Kazakh Foreign Ministry aimed at combating human trafficking.

Consequences for Perpetrators:

In Kazakhstan, perpetrators of human trafficking can face prosecution and punishment according to the Kazakhstan penal code. While the exact penalties for convicted traffickers in Kazakhstan are not widely reported, they can face prison terms among other penalties. International pressure and cooperation with organizations like the U.S. State Department can impact how countries respond to human trafficking cases and punish offenders.

To tackle human trafficking in Kazakhstan, it requires collaboration among law enforcement, social services, and international partners to identify victims, prosecute offenders, and provide support to those affected.

Investigations by the Investigative Department of the MVD of Kazakhstan have uncovered over 50 human trafficking-related crimes, some of which involve forced labor, such as the farm owner exploiting a 40-year-old man.
Alzhanova, head of the "Korgau Astana" foundation, laments that those responsible for labor exploitation in Kazakhstan often escape consequences, citing the case of a 40-year-old man forcefully exploited for labor.
Tragically, two women coerced a 16-year-old girl into prostitution for five months in Almaty, illustrating the sad fate that often awaits those who run away from home due to argumentative alcoholic parents.
In general-news and crime-and-justice sectors, it's crucial to continue efforts to combat human trafficking in Kazakhstan, given that it remains a concern for both domestic and migrant populations, with many falling victim every year.