Tbilisi: Natia Merebashvili, Deputy Prosecutor General of Georgia, spoke on Georgia’s fight against human trafficking (trafficking). She also talked about the various measures taken by the prosecutor’s office against this global problem of human trafficking.
Speaking specifically on the role of the prosecutor’s office against this crime, Natia Merebashvili stated that the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has a strict criminal policy towards human traffickers and will continue its consistent and coordinated measures to fight trafficking.
This is evidenced by the report of the United States State Department for 2023, which shows that with measures against human trafficking, Georgia still maintains its place on the highest level – “first basket”.
It is to be specifically mentioned that Georgia is the only one in the region this year too Among the “expansion countries” that hold this mark for its effective fight against trafficking along with European Union countries, including Germany, France, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands and Sweden.
Natia Merebashvili further mentioned that “The United States Department of State’s report for 2023 is positively evaluated and regarded as an indicator of trafficking case investigation and prosecution, as well as law enforcement activities to detect crime and hold traffickers accountable proactively”.
Human trafficking is still a big challenge for law enforcement agencies. A number of regional and international conflicts have forced millions of people to reach any safe place.
These people from conflict regions often fall into the trap of human traffickers. The human trafficking network, which are operated by organised criminal gangs, difficult to detect as their network is often expanded across many countries.
Most people who want to migrate to other countries belong to the Middle East and African countries. The most tragic thing is that there are many forms of human trafficking. These include buying, and selling people for bonded labour or for sexual exploitation. This is a grave kind of crime committed against humanity. It is also a grave violation of human rights that have been ensured by many international treaties, conventions, etc.
There are many reasons behind human trafficking; however, the biggest reason is socio-economic problems.It also includes the illiteracy rate and lack of legal migration options. The violation of human rights in their own countries is also a major reason for the big-scale migration.
it is to be specifically mentioned that Countries without democratic governments are also responsible for human trafficking at large scale. These undemocratic governments are blamed by many human right organisation for human rights violations in their own countries that forced people to take the illegal route to reach a safer place for a better future for themselves as well as their children.
Natia Merebashvili, Deputy Prosecutor General of Georgia, also made it clear that general awareness among the public can play a significant role in the prevention of human trafficking. She also stated that the Prosecution office is planning to launch a special drive to make the general public aware of this heinous crime.
Natia Merebashvili, Deputy Prosecutor General of Georgia, also said that the international community need to take an immediate call for joint efforts so that this inhuman practice can be eliminated.
