Subari: Georgia has serious successes in fighting trafficking

A meeting on trafficking problems was held in the office of the Ombudsman (People's Defender) of Georgia. The participants were representatives of the Religious Board under the Ombudsman's office, the State Foundation in Defence of Trafficking Victims, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), International Organization on Migration (IOM) and International Labour Office (ILO), as well as Secretary of the Coordination Interdepartmental Board for Actions against Trade in Humans.

Ombudsman of Georgia Sozar Subari has noted positive steps of Georgia in fighting trafficking.

According to the USAID's representative Andro Gigauri, both directions - help to victims and problem prevention - are equally important in fighting trafficking. It is important for people to know how not to fall victim, therefore it is necessary to disseminate information as broadly as possible.

"Just three years ago Georgia was at the third stage of counteraction trade in humans. If a country is at this stage, the USA stops rendering any financial help, except for humanitarian one. However lately, thanks to actions of the authorities and NGOs, Georgia - the only one from the post-Soviet countries - managed to went up to the first stage," Mr Gigauri has noted.

Marina Meskhi, Director of the State Foundation in Defence and Help Trafficking Victims, said that the Foundation operates since 2006 and renders legal, psychological and medical aid to the people who have the status of trafficking victims.

She has noted that today according to statistical data 50 percent are victims of labour not sexual trafficking.