Contributed by Eduard Grigoryan, Women's Rights Center
A LAW AGAINST TRAFFICKING
Some People Support It, The Others - Not
A round table organized yesterday at Armenia-Marriott hotel was dedicated to the elaboration of a new National Action Plan for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons and to the implementation of such programs in 2004-2006. The event was initiated by the OSCE Yerevan office and the Interagency Commission against Trafficking in Armenia.
Welcoming the participants of the round table, VLADIMIR PRYAKHIN, Head of the OSCE office in Yerevan, emphasized that “The OSCE Action Plan envisages a multifaceted mechanism in the combat against trafficking, involving protection of victims, and prevention of trafficking as well as the punishability of the persons supporting and committing the crime.”
To what extent is it possible, and how much can be ruled out, an application of a double standard while assessing a country in terms of combating trafficking? According to HANA SHNAYDROVA, member of the European Union expert group for combating trafficking, representative of the Foreign Ministry of the Czech Republic, she can only speak on behalf of her country. “I think that in our case it was fair to appear in the second list, because our measure of punishment for criminals was quite low. Our legislation envisages a maximum of 2 years of imprisonment, which is not very serious.”
It is interesting to get acquainted with interpretation of Mr. VALERI MKRTUMYAN, Chairman of the Inter-Departmental Commission Against Trafficking in Armenia, Head of the Department of International Organizations of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, regarding the assessment given to Armenia by the US Department of State in its most recent report, particularly, taking into account the fact that the neighboring states are in a more favorable position in comparison with our country.
“The Americans are of the opinion that our measures of punishment for pimps are very mild. We have already started working in that direction; a proposal has been made by interdepartmental commissions to make voluntary decisions by the judicial bodies impossible,” said our interlocutor.
As to the steps made by our country and by neighboring states, their similarities (however, Armenia has effected the same steps as Azerbaijan and Georgia, and perhaps even more) and at the same time the differences between the assessments given to them, it is evident that Mr. Mkrtumyan does not completely share the opinion of the State Department. “Generally, we have been the first in the region to undertake elaboration of the national doctrine and the national action plan. I mean, our progress has been more visible than our neighbors’.”
"In the meantime, taking into account that Azerbaijan has recently taken specific steps in that direction, the United States has encouraged that country by granting it the status of the second group, taking its name out from the watch list. Besides, in the Azerbaijani case, the United States attaches importance to the obligations Azerbaijan has undertaken, its promises, particularly focusing on the fact that the Trafficking Code, which was prepared in the country, has already come into effect, and the US Government has praised this fact.”
That means Armenia is the only country that has gaps in legislation, doesn't it? According to V. Mkrtumyan, some officials are of the opinion on the trafficking issue that application of this kind of law is indispensable for Armenia, as the problem has already become widespread; but the others think that in reality trafficking has not got any substantial scope to elaborate and adopt a special law against it.
Anyway, the issue requires a special consideration and after discussion the Inter-Departmental Commission Against Trafficking in Armenia is going to submit its opinion to the Prime Minister and the Government.
Now let’s refer to the new National Plan. What does it represent, is it substantially different from the preceding one and is it a turning point in the combat against trafficking? According to V. Mkrtumyan, “Certain directions will be preserved to secure the continuous nature of the program. A special attention will be focused on raising public awareness. We will strengthen our struggle even more in certain areas, especially focusing on the execution of penalties and the length of punishment.”
How much money will be allocated to this new program? “The new program will probably be envisaged for three months. For the implementation of the first program 350 thousand US Dollars have been equally provided by the governments of two countries: Holland and Norway. In addition to the symbolic amount of money allocated by our government, the total sum will make up around 720-730 thousand Armenian Drams.”
Anna Amiryan
Published in: “Hayots Ashkharh” Daily, #106 (2169), 9 June 2006 (Unofficial translation)