30 JULY — WORLD DAY AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS!

Every year on 30 July, the international community observes World Day against Trafficking in Persons. This international observance was established by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly adopted on 18 December 2013. It aims to prevent trafficking in persons, protect the rights and interests of victims, improve public legal awareness and access to information, and strengthen international cooperation among states.

Today, trafficking in persons is regarded as one of the most serious forms of transnational organised crime and poses a major threat to human security. It deprives millions of people of their rights and freedoms through forced labour, sexual exploitation, debt bondage, child exploitation, forced marriage and other unlawful practices. Combating this problem therefore requires the joint efforts not only of law enforcement agencies, but also of government institutions, civil society organisations, research institutions and the general public.

The primary purpose of World Day against Trafficking in Persons is to raise public awareness of this threat, promote a culture of safe labour migration, protect human rights, support victims and improve the effectiveness of preventive measures. In particular, strengthening legal literacy among labour migrants, promoting lawful employment mechanisms and identifying risk factors at an early stage are recognised as priority areas in this field.

Uzbekistan is also consistently improving its legal and institutional mechanisms for combating trafficking in persons, ensuring safe labour migration and protecting human rights. A wide range of preventive, analytical, informational and awareness-raising activities is being implemented through cooperation among government agencies, international organisations, non-governmental non-profit organisations and research institutions.

The Republican Center for the Study of Public Opinion “Ijtimoiy Fikr” regularly conducts scientifically grounded sociological research in this area. In particular, the Center carries out nationwide sociological surveys and comprehensive studies examining public awareness of the risks associated with trafficking in persons, citizens’ attitudes towards safe labour migration, the social factors influencing migration decisions, the population’s level of legal knowledge, public confidence in the protection mechanisms established by the state, and the effectiveness of preventive measures.

In addition, the Center’s regular research on labour migration, employment, social protection, human rights, gender equality and quality of life provides an important scientific and practical basis for an in-depth analysis of the social factors that increase the risk of trafficking in persons, the identification of citizens’ needs and expectations, and the improvement of government programmes.

The analytical materials, scientific findings and practical recommendations prepared on the basis of the Center’s research results are widely used by government bodies and other relevant organisations to improve preventive measures and develop programmes aimed at strengthening the population’s legal culture and ensuring safe labour migration.

World Day against Trafficking in Persons once again reminds us of our shared responsibility to protect human dignity, freedom and human rights. Scientifically grounded sociological research, the regular study of public opinion, improved public legal awareness and the promotion of a culture of safe migration remain essential conditions for preventing trafficking in persons and safeguarding human interests in society.