04.06.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Trafficking in Persons Report 2008 ("Trafficking in Persons Report 2008") [ID 23417]

Document(s): Country Narratives: A through G
Full Report

12.06.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Georgia is a source and transit country for humans trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor; progress in the prosecution and punishment of traffickers, protection of victims and prevention of trafficking ("Trafficking in Persons Report 2007") [ID 20424]

"Georgia is a source and transit country for women and girls trafficked primarily to Turkey and the U.A.E. for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. Women and girls from Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, and other former Soviet states are trafficked through Georgia to Turkey, Greece, the U.A.E., and Western Europe. Men are trafficked for the purpose of forced labor; victims are trafficked for the purpose of forced labor in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.  

The Government of Georgia fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. Over the past year, the government made considerable progress in the prosecution and punishment of traffickers, protection and assistance for victims, and prevention of trafficking. Georgia developed and implemented a victim-centered national referral mechanism, provided a building for the country's first trafficking victims' shelter, dedicated on-going funding for victim assistance, passed comprehensive trafficking legislation, aggressively prosecuted and toughened penalties for traffickers, and initiated multiple proactive prevention programs. The government should ensure proactive identification of all potential and returning trafficking victims and ensure consistent implementation of its national referral mechanism. "

Document(s): Country Narratives: A through G
Full Report

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

There were some reports of child abuse, particularly of street children; incidents of sexual exploitation of children, particularly girls; street children vulnerable to trafficking ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19332]

"There were some reports of child abuse, particularly of street children, although there was no societal pattern of such abuse.  

Incidents of sexual exploitation of children, particularly girls, were reported. Child prostitution and pornography are punishable by up to three years' imprisonment. The Ministry of Internal Affairs sponsored a center for the rehabilitation of minors, which regularly provided medical and psychological assistance to child and adolescent victims of prostitution before returning them to guardians.  

There were unconfirmed reports of trafficking in children (see section 5, Trafficking). Street children and children living in orphanages were reportedly particularly vulnerable to trafficking. "

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Georgia was primarily a point of transit and origin, and very rarely a destination for trafficked persons; many were forced into prostitution; victims most likely came directly from Tbilisi ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19333]

"Although the law prohibits trafficking in persons, the country was primarily a point of transit and origin, and very rarely a destination for trafficked persons. Women were trafficked from the country to Turkey, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, North America, and Western Europe to work in hotels, bars, restaurants, or as domestic help. Many were trafficked into the adult entertainment sector or forced into prostitution. Victims most likely came directly from Tbilisi or the impoverished former industrial centers of Poti, Kutaisi, and Rustavi. Local NGOs reported that men were trafficked to Russia, Greece, Spain, Portugal, and other destinations to work in construction, agriculture, and other manual labor. There also was evidence that Ukrainian and Uzbek women, as well as women from other countries of the former Soviet Union, were trafficked through the country to Turkey, sometimes using fraudulently obtained passports. […]  

Traffickers were largely freelance domestic operators with connections abroad, as well as some small international operations. They often used offers of employment from friends and families or offers of overseas jobs from tourism or employment agencies to lure potential victims. "

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Prostitution is criminal offence but is widespread; reportedly it increased during 2005; trafficking of women for sexual exploitation remains problem; new antitrafficking unit was created which made arrests in 5 cases; Georgia is primarily transit country or country of origin for trafficked persons ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144],  [ID 5249]

"Prostitution is a criminal offense but was widespread, especially in Tbilisi. Several NGOs claimed that prostitution increased during the year due to continuing poor economic conditions.
Trafficking in women for the purpose of sexual exploitation was a problem. [...]
On January 3, a new antitrafficking and illegal migration unit (ATIM) was created within the MOIA. In its first year of existence, the ATIM made arrests in five trafficking cases, one of which included a government official.
In January the new ATIM arrested Georgian members of an international trafficking operation, involving Georgia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan, which had actively recruited impoverished women. Women were sent to Azerbaijan where they were confined, injected with drugs, and sexually abused before being trafficked back through Georgia to Turkey for forced prostitution. Victims were eventually returned to Tbilisi after their Turkish tourist visas expired. The local leader of the operation was incarcerated pending prosecution, and the case continued at year's end. [...]
Ashot Hovhannesian, charged in 2004 with organizing a trafficking network and seeking to traffic 14 Uzbek women to Dubai, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. The sentence was suspended due to many victims' unwillingness to testify. [...]
The extent of trafficking was not large, and the country was primarily a transit country, country of origin, and very rarely a destination, for trafficked persons. Women were trafficked from the country to Turkey, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, the US, and Western Europe to work in hotels, bars, restaurants, or as domestic help. Many worked in the adult entertainment sector or as prostitutes. There also was evidence that Ukrainian and Uzbek women, as well as women from other countries of the former Soviet Union, were trafficked through the country to Turkey, sometimes using fraudulently obtained passports. Georgian victims most likely came directly from Tbilisi or the impoverished former industrial centers of Poti, Kutaisi, and Rustavi."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Incidents of sexual exploitation and trafficking of children were reported; NGOs say there are approximately 1,500 street children in the country, 1,200 of them in Tbilisi; cases of 2 maternity hospital employees on charges of child trafficking are under investigation ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144],  [ID 5267]

"There were some reports of child abuse, particularly of street children, although there was no societal pattern of such abuse. Child abuse other than sexual abuse is not specifically criminalized.
Incidents of sexual exploitation of children, especially among girls, were reported. Child prostitution and pornography are punishable by up to three years' imprisonment. The MOIA sponsored a center for the rehabilitation of minors, which regularly provided medical and psychological assistance to child and adolescent victims of prostitution before returning them to guardians.
There were unconfirmed reports of trafficking in children. Street children and children living in orphanages were reportedly particularly vulnerable to trafficking.
Difficult economic conditions broke up some families and increased the number of street children. NGOs estimated that there were approximately 1,500 street children between 3 and 15 years old in the country, with 1,200 concentrated in Tbilisi, due to the inability of orphanages and the government to provide support. The private voluntary organization Child and Environment and the MOE each operated a shelter in Tbilisi; however, the two shelters could accommodate only a small number of street children. The government took little other action to assist street children. There were unconfirmed reports of police violence against street children, but the patrol police routinely transferred street children to a 24-hour care center or orphanage.
Orphanages were unable to provide adequate food, clothing, education, and medical care; facilities lacked heat, water, and electricity. Staff wages, which had been poor and often many months in arrears, were increased and paid on a more regular basis. Due to reported mismanagement of resources, staff members often diverted money and supplies provided to the orphanages for personal use.
In August the ombudsman's office reported that corrupt practices led to unsanitary conditions at the Gldani orphanage in Tbilisi. Management reportedly purchased inferior products and skimmed from employee salaries. Children lacked clothes, food, toothbrushes, blankets, and other necessities, and the first floor of the orphanage was flooded due to plumbing problems. By year's end the orphanage had been repaired, but reports of financial mismanagement persisted. [...]
During the year MOIA representatives from the Department for Combating Trafficking and Illegal Migration detained Ivlita Djavakhishvili and Nanuli Kendadze, a maternity hospital employee, on charges of child trafficking. In Kutaisi, MOIA representatives detained Laura Obladze, Liana Kovzadze, and Zaira Areladze--also employees of local maternity hospitals--on charges of child trafficking. Investigations by the general prosecutor's office in both cases were under way at year's end."

Document(s): Open document

03.03.2006 - Source: EurasiaNet

According to IOM 500 women are trafficked every year; due to poverty and unemployment experts fear that the numbers will increase ("Human Trafficking takes toll on Georgia") [#45992],  [ID 5250]

Document(s): Open document

01.2006 - Source: Human Rights Center

Government is working out programs to address trafficking, but more needs to be done; estimates say that hundreds of people a year are trafficked within or outside Georgia; especially women trafficked as prostitutes are later ostracized from society ("Next Stop – Belarus?; Human Rights Report 2005; Georgia") [#43007],  [ID 5252]

For documentation of individual cases please refer to the original document

"Although very much existent in practice, the problem of trafficking has always been denied in the Shevarnadze era. Currently it has come into the spotlight and government is working out programs to address the issue. For sure, a lot still needs to be done. Although some arrests are carried out regularly, they are no match to the magnitude of the problem. As investigation into the matter has started only recently, no figures exist at all. Estimations range that hundreds, or even more people a year, are trafficked within and outside of Georgia. The most favorite foreign destinations are Greece, Turkey and some europen countries as well as United Arab Emirats
As programs are still only in preparation, not much has been done until now. No public warning campaigns have been held. Also, no arrangements exist for the support of people who manage to escape their slavery and return home devastated. This is especially important for women, as trafficking is usually conflated with work in the sex industry and the reputation of prostitute in Georgia stands equal to social ostracism. The problem in question is of course closely related to the economic situation within the country. It is safe to say that as long as poverty and unemployment are not addressed, there is little chance to eradicate trafficking. Another barrier that needs to be overcome is the likelihood of involvement of certain public officials in this very lucrative business. This could endanger a full-scale crack down on criminal groupings involved in the trade in human beings."

Document(s): Open document

12.2004 - Source: Human Rights Center

In spite of improved US rating regarding Georgia`s combat of trafficking, little changes in trafficking conditions; men and women are usually trafficked to Russia, Turkey and Greece ("One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: Human Rights in Georgia after the “Rose Revolution”") [#27594],  [ID 5255]

For a documentation of individual cases please refer to the original document

"Summary on human trafficking

[...] On June 15 2004 the US State Department made a report, which stated that Georgia moved to Tier 2 from Tier 3 given its achievements in combating trafficking. This success is less a consequence of significant changes in the Georgian legal system nor trafficking conditions in the country. Rather, external actors like the U.S. have an interest in making Georgia look good.
The previous government adopted the amendment on trafficking in the criminal code of Georgia. The Anti-Trafficking unit of the Interior Ministry (that was established in March of 2003 based on the demand of International and national organizations/NGOs) has been cancelled. Even more, the Plan of Action (combating against trafficking) approved by the former government has not been implemented by the new government. It should be mentioned as well that there are no rehabilitation or legal services for the victims of Trafficking.
[...]

Trafficking in Georgia

In the parlance of human trafficking, Georgia was a “tier 3” country, meaning the worst possible record, where trafficking flourishes and is not obstructed, until the middle of last year. This is not because huge numbers of people are trafficked in Georgia, but rather because the government does little or nothing to stop it. Last year, Georgia’s status was upgraded to “tier 2”, which had less to do with significant changes in the Georgian legal system or trafficking conditions in the country, and more to do with outside countries like the U.S. not wanting to make Georgia look bad.
According to Marc Hulst, representative of the IOM (International Organization for Migration) in Georgia, the Georgian government tends to react to interest in specific issues raised by other countries, especially regarding human trafficking, as the lack of coordination between government agencies and the lack of incentive to act means that legislative and/or enforcement action is driven mostly by complaints rather than by independent governmental initiative. Currently, trafficking is addressed both by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior, which has a specific countertrafficking department.
For obvious reasons, reliable statistics on illegal human trafficking are difficult to obtain. It is known that most people being trafficked are women, who are often forced into prostitution. However, men are also victims of trafficking. In fact, more men than women are trafficked from Georgia into Russia, primarily to work as migrant laborers. Turkey and Greece are also frequent trafficking destinations for Georgian men. Greece is especially popular as a destination for Georgians seeking employment abroad because a relatively large diaspora population already lives there.
[...]"

Document(s): Open document

14.05.2004 - Source: UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

No new special measures for women (like quota systems) were adopted; according to government, no discriminatory practices against women exist in Georgia; new law entered into force in July 2003, criminalizing trafficking in persons and imposing sanctions for it ("Consideration of reports submitted by States Parties under article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; Combined second and third periodic reports of States parties; Georgia [CEDAW/C/GEO/2-3]") [#48220],  [ID 5256]

Please refer to the original document for information on other measures taken

"49. [...] no temporary special measures (e.g. preferential treatment, quota systems, etc.) have been used to women. As regards measures which discriminate women in a positive way, the comments of the initial report regarding, for instance, labor conditions or maternity protection remain valid.
59. [...] no discriminatory practices in connection with polygamy, dowry systems, repudiation, etc. exist in Georgia. At the same time, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in recent times many criminal cases were instituted owing to the violation of the article of the Criminal Code envisaging sanctions for illicit restriction of the woman’s personal liberty in order to marry her. In 2002, 65 criminal proceedings on such acts were initiated by law enforcement bodies. In the first six months of 2003, the above bodies have already instituted 34 cases on the crimes under review. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Internal Affairs considered it expedient to note that normally it is not easy for law enforcement bodies to elicit such facts, because victims are reluctant to inform police of them, unless grave consequences have taken place (e.g. severe body injuries were inflicted, due to which the victim has to be placed to a medical facility, etc.).
64. Lately the US State Department categorized Georgia as a “Tier 3” country that fails to meet minimum standards for combating trafficking in persons. [...]
65. On January 29, the Anti-Trafficking Unit was established within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Amendments to the Criminal Code criminalizing trafficking in persons and trafficking in minors, and imposing relevant sanctions for this crime (Article 1431 and Article 1432) were passed by the Parliament of Georgia. The Law entered into force on July 10, 2003.
66. In conformity with the above amendments, selling or buying of persons (minors), or subjecting them to other illegal deals, also recruiting, transporting, harbouring or taking them on for purposes of exploitation, with the use of force, blackmail or deception is punishable by imprisonment up to 12 years The same offence, committed repeatedly, against two or more persons, against a pregnant woman, knowing about her pregnancy, with the abuse of official authority, by taking a victim abroad, with the use of life threatening or heath threatening violence, or threatening to use violence, knowingly, against a vulnerable person, or against a person, who is financially or otherwise dependant on the offender is punishable by imprisonment from 8 to 15 years. Offence, stipulated by first and second paragraphs of this
article committed by an organized group, which resulted in a death of a victim or caused other serious consequences, is punishable by imprisonment from up to 20 years or life imprisonment (in the case of minor victim).
67. In 2002, 471 criminal cases have been instituted against persons who were preparing false documents for leaving abroad. As a rule, the criminals promising citizens to arrange employment abroad extorted money from them.
68. Recently Anti-Trafficking Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Human Rights Department of the Prosecutor-General’s Office have established special hotlines. The Prosecutor- General’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs submitted the numbers of hotlines in all regions of Georgia. [...]
69. Thanks to all above-mentioned measures Georgia has been returned to the “Tier 2” group, which means that the State has succeeded to address the problem of trafficking and for the time being the situation in this field has become more manageable.
At the same time, according to the new Criminal Code, the following acts are classified as crimes:
- Inveigling into prostitution through use of violence, threat of violence or of destruction of property, as well as by blackmail or fraud (Article 253);
- Keeping of the den or premises for prostitution (Article 254);
- Inveigling a minor into prostitution or other sexual lechery (Article 171, Paragraph 1);
- Compulsion of a person to sexual intercourse (Article 139).
Various sanctions are imposed for commitment of these crimes: from fine to imprisonment up to 2-5 years.
72. Furthermore, pursuant to the Criminal Code, illegal production or distribution of pornographic materials and items (Article 255) and inveigling of a minor into illegal production or distribution of pornographic materials or items (Article 2551) are also considered crimes."

Document(s): State report
Concluding observations of 25 August 2006 [CEDAW/C/GEO/CO/3]