Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- An international round table on the topic: "Combating human trafficking in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic" was held online on 29 July 2020.

The event dedicated to the World Day against Trafficking in Human Beings was organized by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, the National Commission on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the General Prosecutor's Office of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the OSCE Project Coordinator in the country and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The participants in the discussion were experts in the field of combating human trafficking and forced labor from more than 50 government agencies and non-governmental non-profit organizations of Uzbekistan, as well as a number of international organizations.

The fight against human trafficking in Uzbekistan has risen to the level of state policy, and the participation of representatives of ministries and government departments at this event is evidence of the great importance that the country attaches to this issue. This was highlighted in the speech of the Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Forced Labor Tanzili Narbaeva.

The participants of the round table discussed issues related to countering new forms of human trafficking that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing rehabilitation services to victims of human trafficking at the national level, providing them with practical assistance by diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The importance of mutual exchange of experience in the field of preventing and combating this crime was noted.

“In the face of a security threat like COVID-19, we must remain united. Joining efforts against human trafficking is not only the duty of law enforcement agencies, it is the need for the participation of every person and the whole society to ensure security,” Ambassador John McGregor, OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan, stressed during the discussion.

Participants noted the need to strengthen cooperation between government bodies and civil society institutions in the field of combating human trafficking.