The workers of the PA LCWI "Sana Sezim" has conducted the first session of the three-month long "Smart Navigator" program in offline format, with keeping all the necessary precautions and preventive measures against coronavirus infection. The program will train 30 students from the Industrial and Technical College about emotion management, communication skills and learn about human trafficking, including safety measures when migrating. The program will provide a safe space for students to discuss their emotions, goals and issues in migration.

The Smart Navigator pilot program was launched as part of the “Safe Migration in Central Asia” project, which is funded by the USAID and implemented by the Winrock International.

Despite the quarantine measures imposed in connection with the pandemic, the Zhibek Zholy checkpoint on the state border of Kazakhstan with Uzbekistan remains open for certain categories of citizens, such as those visiting close relatives or those sent for medical treatment, as well as migrant workers returning to their home country.

On January 28, 2021,a regular meeting of the Coordination Council was held at the office of the PA LCWI "Sana Sezim" in the framework of the project the "Protection of children in migration processes in Shymkent and Turkestan region" with the support of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the European Union. The meeting was attended by representatives of state bodies of city and oblast levels interested and involved in working with children in migration processes, such as the Department of Migration Service of the PD, Department of guardianship and trusteeship of Education Department, Health Department, KSU "Center for adaptation of minors", KSU "Samgau Senim", etc.

Within the framework of the project the "Together against human trafficking through capacity building of civil society organizations!" staff of the PA LCWI "Sana Sezim" conducted a series of information campaigns in places of greatest concentration of people in Shymkent city, as well as on the border of Kazakhstan with Uzbekistan at the "Zhibek Zholy" checkpoint.

As part of the USAID-funded “Safe Migration in Central Asia” project, implemented jointly with the Winrock International, an information campaign on human trafficking prevention was conducted in front of the Public Service Centers in Shymkent. Booklets developed under the project were distributed among the population and were also given to the migration officers of the Yenbekshi, Al Farabi, Karatau and Abay Districts of Shymkent City Police Department for further distribution.

January 22, 2021a regional meeting of the ECPAT Network members in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region was held on the ZOOM platform. The following issues were put on the agenda:

Bina Emanvel's presentation on the SF development process, input and consultation, key considerations and responses to preliminary consultations, fit for purpose: a theory of change for the Strategic Framework 2021-2025. The meeting ended with a group discussion of key issues and next steps by the network participants.

On January 20, 2021employees of the PA LCWI "Sana Sezim" together with law enforcement officers of Saryagash district of the Turkestan region conducted an information campaign to prevent human trafficking on the border of Kazakhstan with Uzbekistan at the "Zhibek Zholy" checkpoint. Leaflets and booklets developed as part of the "Safe Migration in Central Asia" project were distributed to migrants crossing the state border, as well as to the local population.

The migrants whose documents had been taken away were directed to the PA LCWI "Sana Sezim" by the Consulate General of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Kazakhstan. While return certificates were being prepared, the migrants were provided with housing and meals from December 29, 2020, through January 15, 2021, as part of the U.S. Government-sponsored "Together Against Human Trafficking through Capacity Building of CSOs!" project.

October 27-31, 2020

We, the participants of the 3rd Annual Regional Forum, which again brought together representatives of government agencies, public organizations, lawyers and the expert community of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation in order to exchange experience in combating human trafficking and strengthen the interaction of partners united by the desire to eradicate modern slavery in the Central Asian region and beyond, we appeal to all interested government agencies, civil society institutions, media representatives and other social partners in connection with the new risks and challenges posed by the COVID-2019 pandemic.