Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 15 / Trend K.Zarbaliyeva /
Azerbaijan is a source and transit country for human trafficking, Council of Europe Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs Danuta Wisniewska-Cazals said at a seminar on combating and preventing human trafficking in Baku today.
The two-day seminar is organized by the Council of Europe and the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry's Department for Combating with Human Trafficking.
Female victims of human trafficking are sent from Azerbaijan to Turkey and Arab countries for sexual exploitation. Male victims are sent to Russian for labor exploitation, she said.
Noting that women are the main target, Wisniewska-Cazals said women became the victims of sexual exploitation and are often forced to beg for money in a country. She said a limited number of victims have been brought to Azerbaijan.
Europe adopted the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings only this year. The convention was undersigned by 33 countries and ratified by 30 countries. Azerbaijan joined the convention in February.
The Department for Combat with Human Trafficking has recorded 70 incidents of human trafficking so far this year. Thirty-four people were brought to responsibly.
In 2010, the department recorded one incident of forced labor. Three Azerbaijani citizens were involved in forced labor in Poland. A criminal case was opened and an investigation is underway.