Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 24 March 2021, a meeting of the National Commission on Combating Human Trafficking and Forced Labor was held.

It was attended by members of the National Commission and territorial commissions, heads of relevant ministries and departments, as well as representatives of the media.

The meeting was chaired by the Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Chairperson of the National Commission Tanzila Narbaeva.

The meeting presented information prepared by the National Rapporteur on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Forced Labor, talked about the work done by the National Commission and further tasks.

In particular, it was noted that the information prepared by the National Rapporteur reflects the work done to improve the national legislation, organizational and practical measures taken, existing problems and proposals for their solution.

As a result of the measures taken, 93 crimes related to human trafficking were registered, of which 51 were crimes of sexual exploitation, 3 were the use of labor, 39 crimes related to trafficking in children.

In order to prevent forced labor, 5,684 organizations were studied, administrative fines were imposed on 106 officials who allowed forced labor, and on 125 officials who did not pay timely wages and did not create working conditions.

With the adoption of the new version of the Law on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, relations in this area have also been regulated.

Third party monitoring of the use of child labor and forced labor in the cotton harvest was carried out, as well as National Monitoring by the Federation of Trade Unions. Senators and deputies exercised parliamentary control with the participation of journalists and bloggers.

According to the monitoring results, it was noted that the systematic use of child and forced labor in cotton growing has been completely eliminated.

In addition, more than 50 projects have been implemented jointly with international organizations aimed at combating human trafficking and forced labor, and protecting the rights of migrants.

Representative offices of the Agency for External Labor Migration have been established in the Russian cities of Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk.

During the meeting, along with the work carried out in our country to combat human trafficking and forced labor, the existing problems and shortcomings were also critically discussed.

The reports of the heads of the subcommittees on combating trafficking in persons (Ministry of Internal Affairs) and forced labor (Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations), as well as territorial commissions (Andijan, Bukhara and Khorezm regions) were also heard, relevant conclusions and instructions were given to the National Commission.

The draft "Action Plan (" Road Map ") for the implementation of the proposals set out in the information on the work done to combat human trafficking and forced labor in 2020" was also considered and approved by the National Commission, together with the relevant ministries and departments.