The necessary work is carried out against trafficking in Armenia.

The aforesaid is stated in the 2016 Trafficking in Persons Report by the US Department of State, and which Secretary of State John Kerry presented on Thursday, according to the Voice of America Armenian service.  

In this year’s report, Armenia is among the highest first group, since 2013.

“Armenia is a source and, to a lesser extent, destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex and labor trafficking. Armenian women and children are subjected to sex and labor trafficking within the country as well as sex trafficking in United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Turkey. Chinese women have been subjected to sex trafficking in Armenia. Armenian men are subjected to forced labor in Russia and, to a lesser extent, in Turkey. Armenian women and children are vulnerable to forced begging domestically.

“(…). The Government of Armenia fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. (…). It also affords foreign trafficking victims the same rights and services as Armenian citizens. (…). The government maintained strong collaboration with anti-trafficking NGOs, local media, donor organizations, and regional partners.

“(…). In 2015, the government allocated 46,259,000 drams ($95,000) for assistance to trafficking victims,” the report specifically notes regarding Armenia. 

In this connection, Susan Coppedge Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, stated that Armenia made progress in this report. She noted that progress is made when governments evaluate the recommendations in the report, help fight against human trafficking, prevent crime, bring the guilty to account and help persons who have suffered from trafficking, and that it is in this case that these countries—just like Armenia— appear in a higher group.