International Cooperation of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the fight against human trafficking

Trafficking in persons, as one of the most dangerous types of transnational organized crime, has become a problem for the world community, including in Uzbekistan. Therefore, the fight against this phenomenon in Uzbekistan is uplifted to the state level.

To take an effective measures to prevent the human trafficking on April 17th, 2008 Uzbekistan adopted the Law "On countering trafficking in persons" in which the concept of "human trafficking" set forth in accordance with the definition given in the Article #3 of the International Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic missions and consular institutions of the Republic of Uzbekistan abroad, along with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, National Security Service and Ministry of Health identified within the Law as public bodies directly involved in efforts to combat human trafficking.

In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan N PP-911 from 08.07.2008 "On measures to improve efficiency in the fight against human trafficking" every two years Uzbekistan approves the National Plan of Action to combat human trafficking.

Given the fact that no state can face the problem of human trafficking alone, and in order to coordinate actions in this sphere, Uzbekistan joined the main international documents that form the legal basis for the formation of a comprehensive international approach to ensure the rights of men, women and children, including measures to combat illegal trafficking, protect its victims and punish those involved in this criminal activity. The most important of them:

- The Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of Child Abduction in other countries of 1980;
- UN Convention on the Suppression of Traffic in Persons and Exploitation of the Prostitution and the Final Protocol thereto;
- UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime of 2000.;
- Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime;
- UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol, a repentant child trafficking, child prostitution and child pornography of 2000.

At the regional level, Uzbekistan signed the following documents in the prevention of human trafficking:

- Agreement on Cooperation in the field of labor migration and social protection of migrant workers (Moscow 15.04.1994) and the Protocol on introducing amendments and additions to it (Moscow, 25.11.2005).
- Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families of the CIS (Chisinau, 14 November 2008), which provides safe working conditions, decent pay for work, avoidance of forced labor, cruel, humiliating and degrading treatment, which determines special order placement and border crossing for citizens of the border regions and seasonal workers, regulating the issues of cooperation of the Parties to protect the legitimate rights and interests of migrant workers, including social, fiscal and other exemptions of identity documents, which permit the entry and others.

Compliance with the international obligations under the Convention will help address issues related to defining the status, legal status and about the activities of migrant workers and provide legal guarantees for their rights and legitimate interests.

Attaching the great importance to bilateral legal cooperation, primarily with the States receiving migrant workers from the Republic of Uzbekistan and in order to develop a regulatory framework following documents are signed:

- Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan on cooperation in the fight against illegal migration (Tashkent, 04.07.2007);
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the Russian Federation on the work and protection the rights of workers ¬ migrants - citizens of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Uzbekistan and migrant workers of Republic of Uzbekistan in the Russian Federation (Tashkent, 04.07.2007).

However, recognizing that the effective legal cooperation with international organizations is essential to effectively counter the threat of trafficking and address the problem at the state level, the Republic of Uzbekistan cooperates with the UN and the OSCE through its active participation in the practical implementation of their project documents in prevent trafficking and protect victims in Uzbekistan. Among these projects:

1. with the OSCE Programs Coordinator Office in Uzbekistan – “Promotion to improve the efficiency in the fight against human trafficking, labor exploitation and illegal migration".

OSCE Coordinators Office in Uzbekistan organized from March 25 to April 8, 2009 working visit of delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Moldova, Italy and France, where the group studied advanced standards and experiences of the competent authorities of those States in preventing and combating trafficking in human beings.

In 2009 Uzbekistan implemented Phase II of the project "Improving the effectiveness in combating trafficking for forced labor and sexual exploitation", which provides activities to support the efforts of government agencies and the Republican Interdepartmental Committee to Combat Human Trafficking to implement the National Action Plan for 2008-2010.

2. Of the UN Regional Representative’s Office on Drugs and Crime in Central Asia - "Improving the criminal justice system in combating illegal traffic of people in Uzbekistan."

During 14-15 May, 2008 Tashkent hosted a regional seminar on the "Strengthening the international legal cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination states to combat trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants and the countries of Central Asia". During the May 30-31, 2008 - ¬ National seminar for law enforcement agencies of Uzbekistan on the same issue, During the 5-7 May, 2009 - Training seminar for law enforcement agencies: "International and national mechanisms for combating human trafficking and protect victims of trafficking."

Uzbekistan maintained close partnership in the fight against human trafficking with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Due to the fact that IOM is not accredited in Uzbekistan and has no representation in the country, IOM project "Combating Trafficking in Persons in Central Asia" together with awareness-raising center for the youth "Istikbolli Avlod" implemented training seminars for employees of the Interior Ministry involved in combating human trafficking.

In addition in April 2008 a delegation of Uzbekistan has carried out a study tour to the United Arab Emirates, where studied the measures of the UAE Government to combat human trafficking.

In July 2009 a delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan took part in a working visit to Turkey, organized by the IOM project "Combating Trafficking in Persons in Central Asia" to familiarize themselves with the activities of the Turkish service and divisions in the field of combating human trafficking, including the development of practical cooperation in the identification of victims, protection and assistance to the victims, providing them with social support in rehabilitation centers, as well as co-victims with law enforcement authorities.

With the support from the project "Combating Trafficking in Persons in the Russian Federation", which is implemented by IOM in Moscow and of the Russian Foreign Ministry, in June 2010 delegation consisting of representatives of the Russian Interior Ministry and the IOM in Moscow visited Uzbekistan to review the activities of relevant ministries and departments in the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration.

Uzbekistan intends to actively develop international cooperation in the field of combating trafficking in persons.


Report on measures undertaken in the Republic of Uzbekistan in the field of combating trafficking in persons

The Republic of Uzbekistan carries out a systematic work to ensure the efficient fight against trafficking in persons, a form of transnational crime, and to prevent its negative consequences as well as provide assistance in rehabilitation for its victims.

During the years of Independence a normative-legal basis was established and is currently being systematically improved to eliminate crimes related to trafficking in humans. In particular, the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted on September 22, 1994 provides for a liability for recruiting human beings for exploitation.

Furthermore, Uzbekistan’s accession to such international acts as the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others of 1950, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime of 2000 and the Additional Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children has prompted the necessity to implement provisions of those acts into national legislation.

In this regard, on April 17, 2008 the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted a Law “On Counteracting Trafficking in Persons”, based on which the Presidential Decree N 911 “On measures to boost the effectiveness of the fight against trafficking in persons” was issued on July 8, 2008.

The Decree prompted introduction of amendments and addenda into the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan and established the Republican Interdepartmental Commission to Counter Trafficking in Persons. The Commission every two year elaborates the National Plan of Action to boost the effectiveness of the fight against trafficking in persons. The implementation of the 2008-2010 National Plan of Action was completed in 2010.

The adoption of the aforementioned legislative acts has enabled to improve the system of the guaranteed protection of vital interests of the person, society and state and laid the foundation for implementation of complex measures to counter trafficking in persons. The activities of the Republican Interdepartmental Commission have taken a central role in this process.

Within the framework of the Presidential Decree N 911 “On measures to boost the effectiveness of the fight against trafficking in persons” and the National Plan of Action, law enforcement agencies, state committees, departments and other nongovernmental and noncommercial organizations in the republic have carried out a great deal of work.

In particular, in light of adoption of the Law “On Counteracting Trafficking in Persons” and with an aim of bringing into accord certain provisions of the criminal legislation of Uzbekistan with requirements of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (New York, November 15, 2000), a Law “On Introduction of Amendments and Addenda into Article 135 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan” was adopted on September 16, 2008.

The Article in force “Recruiting human beings for exploitation” has been renamed as “Trafficking in persons” with toughened responsibility for this form of crime. The Criminal Code in force classifies trafficking in persons, committed in aggravating circumstances, as a grave and the gravest crime.

Thus, whereas the previous sanction of Article 135 of the Criminal Code for recruiting human beings for the purpose of exploitation under aggravating circumstances set a maximum punishment of up to 8 years of imprisonment, the new wording of the article for trafficking in persons under aggravating circumstances provides for punishment in a form of imprisonment from 8 to 12 years.

In accordance with the Resolution N 240 of November 5, 2008 by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Republican Rehabilitation Center was opened in Tashkent to provide assistance and protection for victims of trafficking in persons, which meets international standards.

The Center, designed for 30 bunks, exercises its activities guided by the principles of inadmissibility of discriminating victims of trafficking, confidentiality as well as their social and legal support.

Along with providing victims of trafficking in persons with appropriate living conditions and food, the Center also renders medical, physiological, legal and other assistance aimed at their social rehabilitation, establishing contacts with close relatives, job placement and obtaining specialization. The Rehabilitation Center has provided assistance for more than 250 victims of trafficking in persons.

The Ministry of Interior issued the Order N117 of July 30, 2008 “On Strengthening the Fight of Law Enforcement Bodies of the Republic against Trafficking in Persons”, which introduced a Special statistical service of crimes related to trafficking in persons.

This statistical service allows on a monthly basis to analyze the state of criminality in this sphere and timely undertake organizing-preventive measures to counteract such a form of crime.

Moreover, the Law “On Counteracting Trafficking in Persons” defines the Ministry of Interior of Uzbekistan as a main body empowered to carry out in Uzbekistan measures on suppressing, preventing and investigating crimes related to trafficking in persons. There is within the Ministry a Specialized Department with territorial units to combat trafficking in persons.

Besides, there are special investigating groups set up in regions to thoroughly and fully investigate criminal cases of this category, which exclusively deal with such a form of crime.

Upon the initiative of the Republican Interdepartmental Commission, the Center for Public Opinion Studies “Ijtimoiy Fikr” systematically conducts social and criminological studies of problems related to trafficking in persons In particular, from March 2009 through June 2010 the Center conducted 8 surveys on the following topics: “Citizens of Uzbekistan on crimes related to trafficking in persons”, “Social portrait of victims of trafficking”, “Women in informal labor market” and others.

Survey results indicate that 90% of respondents (88% via TV, 2,8% - press and 2,2% - radio) are quite well aware of committed in this sphere crimes and their grave consequences.

Results of the conducted studies and problems revealed in the process were discussed in sessions of the Republican Interdepartmental Commission.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, law enforcement agencies, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan have developed close cooperation with competent bodies of foreign countries in the field of combating crimes related to trafficking in persons. A special attention is paid to studying international experience in fighting against such a form of crime.

Thus, the MFA of Uzbekistan has examined experience in the filed of combating trafficking in persons of various CIS countries (the Ukraine, Azerbaijan and others) and foreign countries (Turkey, India, Belgium, Italy, China, Israel, UAE and others), which is applied in the activity of a Permanent analytical working group at the Republican Interdepartmental Commission.

Besides, with an aim of exchanging experience and studying contemporary practices of foreign countries in countering trafficking in persons, representatives of law enforcement agencies of the republic visited Moldova, France, Italy, Austria and UAE.

Along with it, under the recommendation of the Republican interdepartmental commission, in order to exchange experience between the counter human trafficking bodies, their employees have taken part in more than 72 conferences and seminars dedicated to this problem. In particular, by OSCE invitation they participated at the conference «Successful Case To Sue Human Trafficking – Challenges And The Best Practice» held in Helsinki (Finland) and at the seminar «The Sixth Alliance Against a Human Trafic» held in to Vienna (Austria).

By the initiative of the Republican interdepartmental commission, similar seminars, trainings and research conferences have been organized and held by the Women’s Committee, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan together with UNDP and by the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Questions of prevention and suppression of the crimes connected with a human trafficking, granting protection and rendering assistance to victims of a human trafficking, efficiency of fight against this kind of crimes, and also the international experience on rendering assistance to victims of a human trafficking have been discussed during these events.

At the same time, lectures on counteraction to a human trafficking have been organized at the Higher educational courses of the State Office of the Public Prosecutor and at Training center of lawyers under the Ministry of Justice.

Moreover, meetings on an exchange of experience on struggle against a human trafficking have taken place in the State Office of the Public Prosecutor and the Ministries of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan. In particular, in February, 2010 there has been held a meeting with the political adviser of the Embassy of the USA in Tashkent, and in June, 2010 - with delegations of the International Organization on Migration and representatives of the law enforcement bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

In order to prevent human trafficking, rendering legal and other assistance to victims as well as helping them in returning in the country, the State customs committee of Uzbekistan created a specialized website www.customs.uz.

The Center of preexit adaptation and training and the Agency of external labour migration under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection have organized consultations about the internal situation, the labour and migratory legislation, customs of the country of departure for the citizens leaving for work abroad. On the given question corresponding booklets are prepared.

Department of entrance-departure and registration of citizenship at the Ministry of Internal Affairs spends individual preventive conversation with each citizen who has addressed with the statement for departure abroad.

By the initiative of the Republican interdepartmental commission the Ministry of national education ordered its territorial divisions to carry out the lectures concerning human trafficking counteraction. Based on this order corresponding plans of measures are developed and special local orders have been issued in the regions.

In order to explain an essence and the content of the President Resolution in educational institutions, training courses and advanced professional training courses of pedagogy and preschool education there was organized round tables on a theme «Struggle against a human trafficking - our debt». More than 15680 teachers have improved knowledge, skills on efficiency of struggle against a human trafficking.

Articles of the Law of Republic Uzbekistan «About counteraction to a human trafficking» are entered into subjects of schools, in particular, on subjects «Our rights» for pupils of 1-4 grades, «the Rights, responsibility and duties of minors» for pupils of 5-9 grades. A the same time, corresponding methodical literature is widely used.

Methodical recommendations about introduction of the concepts connected with a human trafficking, with the account of age and psychological features in the course of lessons are developed for the professors teaching subjects «the Constitution Alphabet», «Travel to the Constitution world», and also «State and right bases»,.

Moreover, special lessons were introduced in the framework of subjects "A Spirituality Basis», « Constitution of The Republic of Uzbekistan , «The Person and a society», «Law Bases», taught at the State pedagogical institutes under the Ministry of national education.

At the same time, based on the book of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov «High spirituality - invincible force» («Юксак маънавият - енгилмас куч») the Commission prepared the movie which has been sent to the ministries and the departments under the Republican interdepartmental commission on counteraction to a human trafficking, the territorial interdepartmental commissions, and also to the regional Offices of the Public Prosecutor. The movie is widely shown among the population.

In order to strengthen legal base on counteraction to a human trafficking, in between 2008-2010 representatives of bodies of the Office of the Public Prosecutor actively participated in elaborating some laws, namely «About counteraction to a human trafficking»; «About ratification of the Report on the prevention and human trafficking suppression, especially women and children, and punishment for it, supplementing the UN Convention against the transnational organized crime»; «About joining of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Optional protocol to the Convention on the rights of the child, concerning trade in children, children's prostitution and a children's pornography».

Besides, in the framework of improvement of the legislation in the field of counteraction to a human trafficking, competent bodies developed and passed the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan «About modification and additions to the article 135 of the Criminal code of the Republic of Uzbekistan» adopted on September, 16th, 2008

Considerable work is done in the field of departmental legislation:

- the Order of the Minister of Internal Affairs №117 «About strengthening of fight of law-enforcement bodies of Uzbekistan to human trafficking» has come into force July 30, 2008.
- based on the order of the Minister of Internal Affairs for № 57 dated on June, 8th, 2010 the special working group was created which works on elaborating the manual «About the organization and tactics of activity of law-enforcement bodies on counteraction to a human trafficking».

In order to radically improve the activity of the law enforcement bodies on gathering the information on a human trafficking, realization of the project of the Regional UN Department on narcotics and crime in Central Asia UZB/S20 «Improvement of the system of criminal justice in the field of struggle against the human trafficking in Uzbekistan» is completed in 2010.

According to the Resolution of the President of Uzbekistan №911dated on July 08, 2008, the Republican interdepartmental commission and the Tashkent State legal institute prepared comments for the Law «About counteraction to a human trafficking». Besides, within the OSCE project «Improvement of efficiency of fight against a human trafficking, illegal migration and labour exploitation» the book «Legal documents: the international and national aspects» is published.

Completely understanding the danger of illegal migration of citizens of Uzbekistan abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, National Security Service, the State Office of the Public Prosecutor together with other departments take all necessary measures on returning the victims of a human trafficking back home. Both law enforcement bodies of foreign countries, and consular services of embassies of Uzbekistan in those countries actively assisted them in doing it.

It is necessary to notice, that by the initiative of the state bodies which are carrying out struggle against a human trafficking, with the assistance of the Youth educational centre «Generation of the Bright Future» (Истикболли Авлод) 807 persons were helped in returning to Uzbekistan.

Besides, 455 victims of a human trafficking have been returned at the close cooperation with the international organizations in 2008-2010. In particular, with assistance of the International organization on migration 387 citizens of Uzbekistan (67-128-165-16-11) have been returned from Turkey (67), Kazakhstan (128), the Russian Federation (165), Thailand (16) and Indonesia (11) as well as with assistance of the Fund for women and children 68 citizens have been returned from the United Arab Emirates.

In order to fulfill the Plan of measures on the further development of bilateral cooperation with foreign countries for 2010 confirmed by the Prime minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated on February 15, 2010, following projects of the international agreements on providing mutual legal assistance have been worked out:

- The Agreement between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Japan about legal aid on civil, family and to criminal cases;
- Agreement between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on Legal Assistance in Civil, Family and Criminal Cases;
- Draft Agreement between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Italian Republic on Legal Assistance, Recognition and Enforcement of Court Judgments in Civil Cases;
- Draft Agreement between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates on Legal Assistance and Judicial Relations in Civil, Family, Labor and Commercial Cases.

Issues of fight against trafficking in persons are regularly discussed by Law Enforcement officials of the Republic during the meetings with representatives of the UNODC, OSCE and U.S. State Department.

In turn, the international cooperation of the bodies of preliminary investigation of criminal cases on trafficking in persons crimes and kidnapping is carried out under the provisions regulated by Articles 5-6 of the Criminal Procedural Code of Uzbekistan, as well as according to the international treaties.

External relations with law enforcement authorities of foreign countries are carried out within the framework of interagency, bilateral agreements on cooperation in combating crime, as well as within the framework of Minsk Convention “On Legal Assistance and Legal Relations in Civil, Family and Criminal Matters” from January 22, 1993 which ensures the principle of the inevitability of punishment.

Law enforcement agencies of the Republic also actively cooperate in the fight against trafficking in persons within the framework of bilateral and multilateral agreements ratified by Uzbekistan with the CIS states and other countries. In practical terms, this cooperation is realized mainly through the direction and execution of individual orders for legal assistance on specific criminal matters and extradition of the accused.

Work on the creation and introduction of a unified local network of the specialized databases between law enforcement agencies engaged in combating trafficking in persons is being carried out.

In addition, there were held six training seminars in the current year on the issues of implementation and ensuring the exchange of information between law enforcement agencies.

State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan in order to identify, prevent and suppress the facts of trafficking in persons has worked out a comprehensive plan, as well as statistical reporting of persons traveling outside the country for employment purposes.

In addition, in order to combat trafficking in persons there have been created 16 teams on the ground (consist of 64 employees) from among the staff of the customs’ central administration and regional departments. The objectives of these groups are to find criminal groups engaged in trafficking in persons, gathering and analyzing information on their activities, as well as liaising with law enforcement and other public authorities to combat human trafficking. There were also established “hotlines” at the State Customs Committee.

On December 11-15, 2008 the 3-session of the UN Council on Human Rights Working Group took place in Genève, where Uzbekistan’s national report under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on the human rights situation, in particular on combating trafficking in persons was considered, during which a number of states have made recommendations. Currently, the Action Plan on implementation of the concluding observations and recommendations to the National Report of Uzbekistan under the UPR (paragraph 3 of Section IV of the National Plan) is being considered.

Series of seminars, round tables, conferences and training courses (more than 72 events) were held for employees of government authorities, including law enforcement agencies and courts, education, health, labor and social protection of population, migration and border services, as well as representatives of public organizations. The issues of combating trafficking in persons and improving the mechanism of providing assistance to victims of these crimes were addressed during these events.

In particular, on May 15, 2009 with the initiative of Higher Studies of the General Prosecutor's Office in cooperation with Tashkent State Law Institute and with the participation of representatives of other law enforcement agencies, members of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis, the Institute for Monitoring Current Legislation there was held a scientific-practical conference on the theme: “Combating Trafficking in Persons and Legal Problems of its Prevention”, which was covered in the media; on July 10, 2009 the Republican Scientific and Methodological Conference on “Combating Trafficking in Persons in Uzbekistan: Problems and their Solutions” took place at Prosecutor General's Office.

A similar conference was held in the regions of the country with the participation of prosecutors, khokims (governors), chiefs of police department, deputy prosecutors and khokims of Samarkand and Khorezm regions, as well as members and executive secretaries of territorial interagency committees, members of the regularly functioning analytical working groups, district and city prosecutors, deputy district and city khokims responsible for Economic and Social Affairs, heads of departments of regional prosecutors’ offices, representatives of the Women's Committee and the “Mahalla” Foundation, the first deputies of regional and city police departments.

In addition, the Republican Interagency Committee makes arrangements with international and public organizations, including joint projects with UNDP: “Legislative and Institutional Capacity Development for Women's Empowerment in Uzbekistan”, “Social protection of women participating in migration processes in Uzbekistan”. Under this project, there were organized training seminars on the topic: “The prevention role of the inspectors in combating trafficking in persons and family conflicts” for prevention inspectors by the General Prosecutor's Office and other agencies together with UNDP during 2009 in Tashkent, Nukus and Jizzak.

For example 8 meetings of the Republican interdepartmental committee were held in 2008-2010, in which the state of trafficking crime in certain regions, work of ministries and departments, the effectiveness of regional interagency committees and shortcomings were discussed.

Based on discussions there were made decisions aimed at further stabilizing the situation in the regions, minimizing the consequences of trafficking, prevention of socio-economic problems contributing to this negative phenomenon, as well as improving the performance of responsible structures that have specific tasks.

As a result of the implementation of the set of instructions, there was marked intensification of work on detection and suppression activities of separate individuals and criminal groups engaged in this type of crime.

Statistics show that during 2008-2010, Republican law enforcement agencies instituted 2477 criminal proceedings on trafficking in persons (670 in 2008, 1242 in 2009, 565 in 2010), 1926 of which (376-927-693) were sent to courts with indictment.

2736 individuals were prosecuted for committed crimes (647-1242-847). 1,797 of them are men, 939 – women.

Certain results were achieved during the detection and suppression of activities of persons involved in mediation in the trafficking in persons.

As part of the joint special actions by the National Security Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan 43 foreign nationals involved in trafficking were prosecuted in 2008-2010 (10 -18-15).

According to the Republican Interagency Commission’s Action Plan during the period of 2008-2009 and within 7 months of 2010 there were held about 32 thousands explanatory activities, including more than 15 000 media messages, 3224 of which were broadcasted on TV, 4447 - on radio, 8035 - in newspapers and magazines.

In order to improve the propaganda effectiveness, the Commission organized distribution of 1438 banners, about 350 thousand posters and more than 4 million brochures on this subject in all regions.

During 2010 only, 15 617 events (meetings, seminars, round tables) were held among the population of rural areas and cities, students of higher and secondary educational institutions, students of academic lyceums and schools. These events involved more than 1 million people.