2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Kazakhstan
KAZAKHSTAN (Tier 2)
The Government of Kazakhstan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Kazakhstan remained on Tier 2. These efforts included elevating the status of its law enforcement unit dedicated to anti-trafficking efforts and increasing the number of its specialized anti-trafficking police officers. The government identified more trafficking victims. The President amended the Law on Migration and Law on Special Social Services, which entitled foreign victims to the same benefits as Kazakh citizens, including temporary residency with permission to work. However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas. It prosecuted and convicted significantly fewer traffickers, and civil society and government interlocutors reported legislative insufficiencies continued to hinder effective anti-trafficking enforcement and victim identification efforts. Authorities continued to identify few foreign victims and efforts to address forced labor remained inadequate. >>>Read the full report here>>>