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A RAPID ASSESSMENT OF ChILDREN’S VULNERABILITIES TO RISKY BEHAVIORS, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, AND TRAFFICKING IN KAZAKHSTAN Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan ROYAL NORWEGIAN EMBASSY Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan ROYAL NORWEGIAN EMBASSY A RAPID ASSESSMENT OF ChILDREN’S VULNERABILITIES TO RISKY BEHAVIORS, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, AND TRAFFICKING IN KAZAKHSTAN REPORT PREPARED BY DR. ROBIN N. HAARR UNICEF INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT 2012 This publication was made possible through support provided by U.S. Agency for International Development under the terms of Grant No. AID-176-IO-11-00001 and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, under the terms of Grant No. KAZ-11/0003. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessary reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway or the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Kazakhstan. 2 A RAPID ASSESSMENT OF CHILDREN’S VULNERABILITIES TO RISKY BEHAVIORS, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, AND TRAFFICKING IN KAZAKHSTAN TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 9 Chapter 1: Introduction 18 Background to the study 18 Equity-focused rapid assessment 19 Why study children’s vulnerabilities to trafficking and sexual exploitation in Kazakhstan? 19 Chapter 2: Research Design 21 Goal of the study 22 Research design 22 Study sites 22 Sample 22 Structured in-depth interviews 24 Geographic mapping 25 Pilot test and research team training 25 Data analysis 25 Chapter 3: Demographics and Vulnerabilities 26 Categories of children/youth 27 Sample demographics 27 Education 29 Institutionalization 30 Place of origin and family living arrangements 31 Experiences leaving home 32 Decision to leave home: Push and pull factors 33 Push factor: Poverty 36 Push factor: Family violence and conflicts 39 Push factor: Parents’ drug and alcohol problems 41 Push factor: Death of parents/caregivers 43 Push factor: Divorce 45 Push factor: Sexual assault/rape 46 Push factor: Lack of job opportunities 47 Push factor: Failing of the child protection system 48 Pull factor: Desire to live independently 49 Pull factor: Friends encouraged you to leave home 49 Pull factor: History of migration from the town 50 Pull factor: Family member migrated 50 A RAPID ASSESSMENT OF CHILDREN’S VULNERABILITIES TO RISKY BEHAVIORS, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, AND TRAFFICKING IN KAZAKHSTAN 3 Chapter 4: Trafficking and Exploitation 51 Categorizing trafficking victims 52 Pathways into sex trafficking and exploitation 52 Deceived by a “stranger trafficker” 52 Deceived by an “acquaintance trafficker” 54 Deceived by a “friend trafficker” 56 Deceived by a “lover trafficker” 59 Deceived by an “employer trafficker” 59 Sold into slavery by a parent or family member 60 Abducted/kidnapped and sold into sexual slavery 62 Sold for virginity 63 Debt bondage 63 Violence, intimidation, and control 64 Pathways into labor trafficking and exploitation 66 Deceived by a “stranger trafficker” 66 Deceived by an “employer trafficker” 68 Sold into labor debt bondage by a parent 70 Escape and rescue 70 Access to trafficking shelters and support services 73 Victim support services received 74 Contact with family before and after escape 75 Chapter 5: Trafficking Routes 76 Trafficking routes to Almaty 77 Trafficking routes to Astana 77 Trafficking routes to Atyrau 78 Trafficking routes to Karaganda 78 Trafficking routes to Kokshetau 79 Trafficking routes to Shymkent 80 Trafficking routes to Ust-Kamenogorsk 80 4 A RAPID ASSESSMENT OF CHILDREN’S VULNERABILITIES TO RISKY BEHAVIORS, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, AND TRAFFICKING IN KAZAKHSTAN Chapter 6: Risky Behaviors 81 Alcohol use/abuse 82 Drug use/abuse 83 Prostitution and sexual exploitation 85 Unprotected sex and sexually transmitted diseases 86 Self-harming and suicidal behaviors 87 Due to experiences of being trafficked and exploited 88 Due to conflicts with a parent/caregiver 90 Due to child abuse 90 Due to witnessing family violence 91 Due to divorce or death of a parent(s)/caregiver(s) 91 Due to abandonment 92 Due to the death of a sibling or best friend 92 Due to a fight with or loss of a boyfriend/girlfriend 92 Due to being mocked by peers at school 93 Due to institutionalization 93 After a sexual assault/rape 94 Due to poverty 95 Due to the loss of a child 95 Due to multiple stressors, strains and problems 95 Chapter 7: Child Protection and Support Services 96 Police contact and satisfaction 97 Legal problems, support, and satisfaction 99 Contact and satisfaction with lawyers and courts 101 Health problems, support, and satisfaction 102 Psychological problems, support, and satisfaction 105 Education and job skills training 107 Housing and/or relocation support 108 Help-seeking behaviors 109 Difficulties speaking about their situation 109 Chapter 8: Recommendations 111 PREVENTION 112 PROTECTION 113 PROSECUTION 117 PARTNERSHIP 118 ANNEX 1 120 ANNEX II 132 A RAPID ASSESSMENT OF CHILDREN’S VULNERABILITIES TO RISKY BEHAVIORS, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, AND TRAFFICKING IN KAZAKHSTAN 5 FOREWORD This report is the product of cooperation between UNICEF Kazakhstan and the National Human Rights Centre, with financial support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway. It contains comprehensive information on vulnerable children and youth in Kazakhstan that have been sexually exploited and trafficked to, from and within Kazakhstan. This report is available in Russian, Kazak, and English languages. This study was conducted with the recognition that around the world many children grow up in poverty and poor living conditions, and lack access to basic needs such as shelter, education, health care, and social services. Children also grow up in families wrought with conflict and violence, child abuse and neglect, and alcohol and drug abuse problems. Many children also suffer when their parents divorce, die, or desert the family. Children that experience one or a combination of these factors can become particularly vulnerable and face an increased risk of human trafficking and exploitation. According to UNICEF, every year some 1.2 million children are trafficked worldwide, and trafficking, which represents a multimillion dollar business, exposes children to physical violence, sexual abuses, and grave emotional distress. This report contains firsthand data which reveals that vulnerable children and youth in Kazakhstan and in the Central Asian Region are at increased risk of being trafficked to, from, and within Kazakhstan for purposes of sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, and begging. This report reveals that internal child traf- ficking in Kazakhstan is a serious issue; among the 103 trafficking victims interviewed 65% were internal trafficking victims and only 35% were cross-border trafficking victims (31% were cross-border trafficked into Kazakhstan, and 4% were cross-border trafficked from Kazakhstan). This study also uncovered the push and pull factors that influenced the decision of children and youth to leave home, and their pathways into exploitation and human trafficking. Sadly, exploited and trafficked children and youth reported they were often forced by their traffickers and exploiters to engage in risk behaviors, such as alcohol and drug use, and unprotected sex. A significant proportion also admitted to engaging in self-harming and suicidal behaviors because of the physical violence, sexual abuses, and grave emotional distress they experienced at the hands of their traffickers and exploiters. Although many of the children and youth that were interviewed had con- tact with the child protection system, the police and justice system, and victim support services, there were numerous gaps in these systems. The identities of the vulnerable, exploited, and trafficked children and youth who participated in the study are fully protected. Data analysis was performed to reveal differences between vulnerable children, traf- ficking victims, and sex workers (or sexually exploited girls) that were sampled; however, we did not run comparisons by regions in an effort to protect the identities of those that participated in the study. In no way does this study claim to be representative of all vulnerable, exploited, and/or trafficked children and youth in Kazakhstan; nevertheless, it does provide us with an understanding of children’s vulnerabilities to and experiences of sexual exploitation and human trafficking in Kazakhstan. Findings from this study and the recommendations that follow can serve as a guide for developing a compre- hensive national action plan for the prevention and elimination of all forms of child trafficking and exploita- tion in Kazakhstan, and for enhancing the protection of vulnerable, exploited and trafficked children. It also highlights the need to increase and improve efforts to investigate and prosecute cases of human trafficking. Clearly, a wide range of actions must be taken and a variety of organizations and stakeholders need to be involved, including governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and other civil society institutes. 6 A RAPID ASSESSMENT OF CHILDREN’S VULNERABILITIES TO RISKY BEHAVIORS, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, AND TRAFFICKING IN KAZAKHSTAN We are particularly grateful to the children and youth who participated in the study as without their willing- ness to share their time, experiences, and voices this study would not have been possible. We also would like to acknowledge and thank