On October 11, 2021,the Second National Simulation Exercise "Combating Trafficking in Persons on Migration Routes" has started in Almaty. More than 60 participants from the prosecutor's office, law enforcement agencies, labor inspectors, social services and NGOs in Kazakhstan participate in the event.

The simulation exercise was organized by the Regional Hub for Combating Global Threats under the RK General Prosecutor's Office at the M. Yesbulatov Almaty Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with the support from the US Embassy, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and the UNHCR. The five-day simulation exercise will give front-line officers the opportunity to simulate antitrafficking responses using professional actors to create realistic trafficking scenarios. Moreover, the exercise will help improve interagency cooperation on human trafficking issues.

Ms. Caroline Savage, the newly appointed U.S. Consul General in Almaty, attended the opening of the simulation exercise. In her remarks, Ms. Caroline Savage discussed the importance of the U.S. Consulate General in Almaty to the fight against trafficking in persons. In addition, Ms. Savage congratulated Ms. Balabayeva and Ms. Khassanova with receiving hero award of the 2019 and 2020 U.S. Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report.