July 30 marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013. On this day, global attention turns to one of the gravest human rights violations: the exploitation of men, women, and children in various forms.
According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, 134 human trafficking-related crimes were recorded in the first six months of 2025. The country has maintained an anti-trafficking program since 2002, implemented with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Over this period, 1,891 victims of labor and sexual exploitation have received assistance.
“This day reminds us that human trafficking remains one of the most serious violations of human rights, affecting millions of men, women, and children around the world. No country is immune, whether it is a country of origin, transit, or destination,” the IOM stated.
Organized Crime and Exploitation
The 2025 IOM campaign theme is “Human Trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation.” According to the UN, 74% of traffickers are affiliated with organized criminal networks. Between 2020 and 2023, over 200,000 cases of human trafficking were officially reported worldwide, though experts caution the real figure is likely far higher due to underreporting and lack of awareness.
Kazakhstan’s Role in Regional Trafficking Trends
IOM data from 2004 to 2020 indicate that Kazakhstan was the leading destination country for human trafficking victims in Central Asia, with 1,741 cases of exploitation documented. Other destination countries included the UAE (61 cases), Turkey and Russia (28 each), and Iran (7), among others.
In terms of origin countries, Uzbekistan accounted for the highest number of trafficking victims (944), followed by Kazakhstan (774), Kyrgyzstan (72), and Russia (28). Smaller numbers came from Tajikistan, Mongolia, Ukraine, the Philippines, and several other countries.
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Victim Demographics and Exploitation Types
Among the identified victims, 52% were men (981), 47.9% were women (907), and 0.1% (3 individuals) identified as transgender. The majority were working-age adults: 35.8% were aged 18-25, while 36.4% were over 30.
Labor exploitation was the most common form, accounting for 1,151 cases (60.9%), followed by sexual exploitation with 711 cases (37.6%). Other forms, such as forced begging, childbirth, or participation in armed conflicts, made up 1.5% (29 cases).
Support Mechanisms and Legal Developments
Until 2020, IOM played a central role in assisting victims with repatriation, shelter, psychological support, medical care, and documentation. In recent years, these responsibilities have increasingly shifted to the state.
In 2024, Kazakhstan enacted a new Law on Combating Trafficking in Persons, developed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs with IOM’s technical support. The legislation outlines protections for victims and mandates public awareness campaigns.
