The Government of Uzbekistan has approved a new procedure for providing social services to persons affected by human trafficking. The relevant resolution was adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on October 6.
Victims can receive support through 'Inson' social service centers, specialized institutions, via a mahalla social worker, or by calling the hotline of the National Agency for Social Protection at 1146.
Applications for social services can be submitted within one month of the person being recognized as a suspected victim of human trafficking or within one year of being officially granted victim status.
Victims will receive emergency medical, psychological, and legal assistance. Additionally, they will be helped to restore lost or unusable documents, obtain residence permits, and go through citizenship procedures.
Furthermore, victims may be directed to vocational training and receive employment assistance through employment promotion departments.
Specialized institutions will provide free accommodation for up to six months, during which time victims will receive safe housing, food, and hygiene items.
An individual rehabilitation program will be developed for each victim, which will be conducted by an interdisciplinary team including a social worker, a lawyer, and a psychologist.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has been instructed to ensure continuous support for victims during their transportation to specialized institutions.
Accompanying minor victims can also stay in such institutions, along with one legal representative of the minor victim and one caregiver for a Category I disabled victim.
Discharge from a specialized institution is possible after completing the rehabilitation program or based on the victim's personal application. Other grounds for discharge may include systematic violation of internal rules, a court decision regarding serving a sentence, and other cases provided for by law.
After discharge, 'Inson' social service centers will monitor the victim's condition at their place of residence for six months. Monitoring results will be entered into the Unified National Information System for Social Protection.
The resolution also establishes a staffing limit of 11 positions for the Republican Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Human Trafficking under the National Agency for Social Protection. The center has also been allocated one official vehicle.
The National Agency for Social Protection, jointly with the Ministry of Digital Technologies and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is tasked with improving and integrating the Unified National Information System for Social Protection by November 1.
This measure is aimed at automating the provision of social services to victims of human trafficking. The new support system for people affected by human trafficking has been in effect in Uzbekistan since September 1, under which victim status can be granted for a period of no more than one year.
