International Organization for Migration

This paper discusses trafficking in Central Asia. It begins by describing the social, political and economic conditions that fuel trafficking in the region. An overview of trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation and the differences between trafficking and smuggling are then discussed. The paper also discusses definitional debates and the blurry line between trafficking and other forms of irregular migration that involve exploitation and human rights violations.

This report was prepared for the Seminar on Exchange of Information and Best Practices Regarding Protection Schemes for Victims of Trafficking in Selected EU Member Countries, Candidates and Third Countries held in Madrid in 2002. The authors argue that current European anti-trafficking measures fail to prioritize the rights of victims of trafficking and overemphasize the needs of law enforcement. They recommend that a successful response to trafficking involves a combination of prevention, prosecution of traffickers and protection of victims' human rights.