The event titled “Fight with human trafficking: partnership and innovation to prevent violence against women and children” was held within the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, 3 April.

The UN News Center said at any given time across the globe, some 2.4 million people are victims of human trafficking, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which adds that the crime generates US$32 billion annually, rivalling the profits reaped by the illicit trade in arms and drugs. Every year, thousands of people fall into the hands of traffickers, in their own countries and abroad, with women comprise two thirds of trafficking victims.

Murad Askarov, Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan at the UN, said that the resolution of the President Islam Karimov “On measures on improving efficiency of fighting with human trafficking” from 8 July 2008 served as powerful stimulus for combating this crime and wide-scale preventive work in Uzbekistan. Based on the resolution, national action plan on improving efficiency of fighting with human trafficking for 2008-2010 was adopted, he said.

Ambassador said that specialized establishments were created to assist and protect victims of human trafficking in Uzbekistan. The main task of them is to help to rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking and to assist them to return to normal life.

He said that Uzbekistan actively participates in international efforts with human trafficking. Uzbekistan joined to all main conventions and protocols on fighting human trafficking and transnational organized crime.

According to Murad Askarov, interactive dialogue gave an opportunity to discuss ways of improving efficiency of joint efforts of international community in eliminating this evil. Ambassador said that the Government of Uzbekistan is planning further contribute to fight against human trafficking both in Uzbekistan and international level.