According to experts, if 7-10 years ago the mostly isolated instances of human
trafficking had been effectively dealt with in the country, then today
Azerbaijan would be facing a far more manageable problem. "Before women of easy
virtue arrived in Azerbaijan particularly, in summer and settled down in
country's resorts. They were isolated instances", Allehveranov said.
Currently, according to him, the number of women transported to Azerbaijan for
sexual exploitation is soaring. As head of the MRCA says, it involves three
main factors.
"First, Azerbaijan is a stable and intensive developing state. Second, for the
last year various branches of foreign companies are opening in our country and
therefore, a lot of strangers who, as it known, are potential clients for girls
earning [through prostiution], are coming.
"Third, in Azerbaijan the number of entertainment complexes, recreation areas,
etc. is growing per annum. Particularly these factors influence upon the growth
of women transported to our country for sexual exploitation", explained
Allahveranov. He added that Azerbaijan frequently becomes a transit state for
girls involved in prostitution who stay there longer in order to earn money to
travel further afield.
Mainly they are women from Central Asian states going to Turkey, Western and
Eastern European countries via Azerbaijan. "There are cases when
law-enforcement agencies detained women stayed in our country temporarily who
did not engage in prostitution at all", Allahveranov was quick to point out.
The fact that the number of women transported to our country is constantly
growing, is compunded by the number of women leaving our country for the
purpose of prostitution, which is sharply higher as domestic Azerbaijani women
also enter the trade.
US Department of State Annual Report on Trafficking 2005 says that Azerbaijan
is a state from where and through which people are transported for sexual
exploitation and slave labor. It is known particularly, women and girls from
Azerbaijan, Russia and Central Asian countries have been transported via
Azerbaijan to the United Arabic Emirates, Turkey and Pakistan.
Moreover, girls and orphans from Azerbaijan's regions were transported to Baku
where they were also subjected to sexual exploitation.
In addition, the report said that Azerbaijan's Government does not fully
recognize the standards for suppression of trafficking, though it is taking
steps to attempt to comply to international standards.
The report also states that it is necessary for Azerbaijan to adopt appropriate
laws and develop a National Plan for combating the human trafficking. At the
same time the authorities are charged that there are no adequate measures aimed
at protecting trafficking victims are being taken and they do not provide
victim with necessary information to avoid exploitation.
