From 14 to 16 November 2023, UNODC, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Estonia, facilitated a study visit by the delegation of Estonia to Uzbekistan. The objective of the visit was to strengthen bilateral efforts and implement joint strategies to address trafficking in persons in migration pathways between the two countries and beyond.
In recent years, Estonia, an EU and Eurozone member, has seen an increase of labor migration from Central Asia, particularly from Uzbekistan, due to better employment prospects. However, this surge in migration has also increased the risk of labor migrants becoming victims of trafficking in persons due to illegal recruitment and employment practices, as well as social isolation.
The Estonian delegation, led by the National Coordinator on Combating Trafficking in Persons, included representatives from key ministries and enforcement bodies such as the Ministries of Justice, Internal Affairs and Social Affairs, the Social Insurance Board, the Labour Inspectorate, and the Police and Border Guard Board. They engaged in meaningful discussions with their Uzbek counterparts from the National Commission on Combating Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labor, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Agency for External Labor Migration.
The visit began with a bilateral meeting between UNODC and the Estonian delegation, followed by substantive discussions on combating trafficking in persons with the National Commission on Combating Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labour of Uzbekistan. The Estonian delegation also met with the Agency for External Labour Migration under the Ministry of Poverty Reduction of Uzbekistan to understand the complexities and challenges surrounding labor migration and its intersection with trafficking in persons.
The highlight of the visit was a comprehensive roundtable moderated by the UNODC on November 15. Specialists discussed emerging trends of trafficking in persons and labor migration, best practices, and joint actions to prevent trafficking in persons and protect and assist labor migrants. The roundtable also featured the development of a pocket guide on safe labour migration between Uzbekistan and Estonia, which will aid specialists and labor migrants in navigating the complexities of labor migration practices..
The visit concluded with a tour to the Employment Monocentre “Ishga Marhamat”, where discussions focused on exploring partnership opportunities and setting up contacts for continued cooperation beyond the visit. This initiative is organized within the framework of the UNODC Global Programme against Trafficking in Persons, implementing the UNODC Programme for Central Asia 2022–2025, with financial support of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
