January-March 2013 - IOM Moscow - International Organization for

Central Asia Regional Migration Programme
Programme News, January – March 2013
Republic of Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic
Russian Federation
Republic of Tajikistan
Regional events
News from partner organizations
Media coverage
Real-life stories
For all questions and suggestions, please contact Pawel Szalus, IOM, PSZALUS@iom.int,
Nargis Azizova, UN Women, nargis.azizova@unwomen.org or Stepan Titov, World Bank, stitov@worldbank.org
Republic of Kazakhstan
 CARMP partners’ coordination meetings
On 15 February the partners of the Central Asia Regional Migration Programme (CARMP) came to Almaty for
a coordination meeting. It was attended by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Migration
and Remittance Peer-Assisted Learning network (MIRPAL), managers and representatives from the Almaty
Department of Labour Inspection and Social Protection, the Almaty Directorate of Employment and Social
Welfare Programmes, the Almaty Migration Police, Philip Morris Kazakhstan and NGO partners of IOM
involved in the project.
The participants discussed changes to the legislation in force affecting the taxation of self-employed foreign
nationals. Since January 2013 migrant workers seeking to obtain a work permit must provide their unique
identification number (UIN) which is difficult for foreign nationals to obtain. The issues around obtaining a
UIN also causes problems for families seeking access to education for their children, since the children of
migrants also need this number. The CARMP partners also talked about the simplification of the procedure for
obtaining a work permit for agricultural workers. In conclusion, the meeting produced recommendations for
improvements to migration legislation which were passed on to the group which is producing a special report
on the rights of migrants.
On 22 February the concluding coordination session took place in
Aktobe in the conference hall of the Aktobe Hotel, attended by the
IOM Head of Mission in Kazakhstan. During the three years of the
Programme’s implementation, the Migrant Support Centre (MSC),
based at the Women’s Support Centre in Aktobe, has provided over
7,000 legal consultations and 1,300 migrants have received welfare
or other support. Over the course of the Programme a number of
gaps and issues with Kazakhstan’s migration legislation have
become apparent and a large number of undocumented persons have
been identified whose problems will have to be resolved at intergovernmental level. The Programme partners, together with the
IOM, have submitted proposals to the Kazakh Parliament on this and on many other issues.
The coordination meeting was attended by the IOM Chief of Mission in Kazakhstan, Dejan Keserovic, and
representatives of government agencies and organisations in Aktobe Province, trade unions, employers,
diasporas, NGOs and the media.
 Course on migration management piloted at Aktobe University
On 22 February, in the main building of Zhubanov State University of Aktobe, certificates were presented to
the students and staff who had completed an optional introductory course on the principles of migration
management. Twenty-seven of the best students and teachers from the university’s Law Faculty had taken the
course.
In partnership with the OSCE Centre in Astana, UN Women and
the Kazakh Ministry of Internal Affairs, the IOM delivered
training to prepare instructors to teach a course on migration
management for migration police staff at Karaganda Police
Academy. The course was also attended by Gulnura Idigeeva, a
lawyer from the Migrant Support Centre (MSC) set up through the
Women’s Support Centre in Aktobe.
In October 2012 staff from the Academy had attended a course at
the Belarus Ministry of Internal Affairs training centre and in June
2012 the Ministry of Internal Affairs approved the development
and introduction of a special course on migration management for
Migration Police staff at the Karaganda Police Academy. The IOM then decided to run the optional
introductory course on the principles of migration management in Kazakhstan at Zhubanov State University in
Aktobe. Up-to-date teaching materials were produced specially for the course by experts from the IOM and the
OSCE Centre in Astana.
The IOM and the State University of Aktobe signed an agreement on further cooperation.
 12 March, meeting at Rudik Adamyan Conference Hall at the UN Office in Almaty
To mark International Women’s Day, Nadezhda Gladyr, Director of
the Podrugi (Friends) Crisis Centre and member of the Kazakh
President’s National Commission for Women’s Affairs, Family and
Demographic Policy, presented her experiences of implementing the
pilot project, Almaty – Safe City, for UN Women, UNESCO and the
municipal government of Almaty in 2010.
It is intended that this experience will be used in Shymkent in the
development of a strategy to promote the social integration of migrant
workers into the host community of South Kazakhstan Province.
The event also included a screening and discussion of the film Ptitsasoika [Jay Bird], directed by Ruben Kazaryan with support from Philip Morris and UN Women. The event was
attended by representatives of Almaty Department of Internal Affairs, civil society, international organisations
and the media.
The film is available here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRT0czyBYFA
Kyrgyz Republic
 Monitoring the implementation of economic initiatives
A UN Women expert on community development in Kyrgyzstan visited various projects to monitor the
implementation of the joint economic initiatives set up by self-help groups and supported by CARMP.
25 February – visit to a cotton-carding workshop in the village of AkSuu in Leilek District (Batken Province). Active use is made of the
workshop by the villagers and the workers there have a stable income. Head
of the Community Development Fund (CDF), Matlyuba Razykova,
explained that all the financial tasks associated with setting up the workshop
(the business plan, cashflow, feasibility study and risk assessment) were
undertaken by members of the CDF, based on what they had learnt during
training courses on setting up and developing small businesses.
In the future the CDF members plan to use their funds to establish a
microbusiness (within three years 30% of the grant for the cotton workshop
will be repaid to the CDF). The CDF plans to use a proportion of the funds (between 30% and 50%) to buy
seeds for the new self-help groups and some for the establishment of microbusinesses, such as a sewing
workshop. Those members of the CDF who wish to set up their own microbusinesses will be offered training
based on the International Labor Organization’s GET Ahead methodology, with practical advice on and
assistance with completing the necessary financial tasks.
One CDF currently operates in the village of Ak-Suu and brings together 18 self-help groups comprising 111
village women. Every September the CDF members collect subscriptions to the joint fund which are then
transferred into the account of an NGO, the Agency for Development Initiatives (ADI). In spring the local ADI
coordinator then provides the CDF with the seeds which were ordered (tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, carrots
etc). The seeds are then distributed by the CDF among its members. Since 2012 the CDF has been growing –
establishing new groups and distributing seeds – and has attracted 72 additional women within the space of two
years.
The ADI works actively with the United Nations World Food Programme and each year CDF members have
received food for work. In each of the three years since 2011 the Ak-Suu CDF has repaid 100% of the cost of
the seeds – evidence that this mechanism of providing seeds is accepted by all the members of the CDF, the
allocation of the seeds is transparent and the necessary control is thereby
ensured. Each stage in the repayment of resources, as well as orders for
particular types and varieties of seeds, are discussed at the general meeting of the
CDF. This guarantees the sustainable functioning of the CDF.
26 February – meeting with the Kulundu CDF, in the village of Kulundu,
Leilek District, Batken Province
This CDF has also been working on setting up a carding workshop. The
workshop started offering wool-carding services to the local population on 23
December 2012 and has two employees. By 26 February it had provided services
to 27 individuals and had carded 172kg of cotton for a total of KGS 1,376 and
156kg of wool for a total of KGS 1,248.
With the support of the local authorities, the CDF was able to acquire land on which to construct a new
building. It is planned to set up equipment for cotton and wool carding on the ground floor, while the upper
floor will be used for a workshop for making traditional chapans (caftans) and rugs from natural wool. Before
setting up the workshop an assessment had to be made of its financial viability. The head of the CDF, who has
had business training, will help the CDF members with the financial processes
necessary for the establishment of the new manufacturing units.
At the beginning of 2013 the Kulundu CDF comprised 207 women from
families of migrants. Since 2012, the CDF has independently set up 23 self-help
groups comprising 174 women. This work was made possible because, since
2011, the CDF has had a centralised fund-raising system and each spring
vegetable seeds have been distributed, in accordance with the orders submitted
by the self-help groups, who have also received agricultural training.
28 February – meeting with the Birimdik CDF in the village of Ak Tash,
Kara-Suu District, Osh Province
The CDF is currently engaged in the construction of a greenhouse for eco-friendly cultivation. At the time of
the monitoring visit, several stages of the work had already been completed: a trench had been prepared for the
construction of the greenhouse and all the necessary building materials and polythene sheeting had been
purchased. It is anticipated that the construction of the greenhouse will be completed in April 2013.
5 March – meeting with the Bolshevik CDF in the village of Ak Beshim, Chuy District, Chuy Province
The CDF is implementing a project to establish a small unit for the production of eco-friendly eggs in the
village. Work is currently in progress to refurbish the living quarters for the birds: an existing building has been
reconstructed, with one wall being removed to turn two rooms into one, and ventilation units have been
installed. Cages for 300 chickens have been purchased. The refurbishment is expected to be completed, with the
equipment installed, by the end of April.
7 March – meeting with the Orok CDF in the village of Zhal, Sokuluk District, Chuy Province
The CDF has a project to build a greenhouse for agricultural cultivation. At the time of the monitoring visit, the
CDF had purchased bricks, sheeting, metal wire and pipes. The greenhouse foundations had been laid and
measurements done so that the greenhouse will be sited so as to receive sunlight throughout the daylight hours.
The greenhouse will be constructed using energy-saving technology about which members of the CDF received
training in autumn 2012.
CDF operating funds: over a period of two years, beginning in autumn 2011, members of all the CDFs
operating within the framework of CARMP have established operating funds. The CDF operating funds grow
each year as follows:
 through work with other funders. For example, at the end of 2012 the operating funds of the Kulundu
CDF had grown from KGS 62,500 to KGS 165,000. This was due to an increase in CDF membership
from 32 to 207 women and collaboration with the German Society for International Cooperation
(Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit – GIZ) from which they have received
wheat and maize seed; and
 CDF member subscriptions and joining fees from new members (although these sums are relatively
small and, in the north of the country they are spent on the internal work of the CDF: for example, the
CDF director’s salary, stationery and cultural and other events, such as harvest festivals).
The monitoring work undertaken in February and March of this year showed that the CDFs are repaying almost
100% of the cost of the seeds they receive. New seeds are available centrally for CDF members by ordering
them through the ADI regional coordinator. The head of the CDF distributes the seeds to the leaders of the selfhelp groups who in turn pass them on to their members. The CDF members received their seeds for the 2013
season at the end of February 2013. The CDF members acknowledge the effectiveness of the centralised fundraising system on the basis of the following indicators:
 the money raised by the CDF can always be monitored (funds are kept in the organisation’s account
and the accounts are monitored by the regional coordinators);
 the seeds are purchased centrally and wholesale from one place where their quality is guaranteed and
the necessary certification is in place;
 the CDF members receive essential agricultural training;
 the work of the CDF is continuously monitored by the ADI regional coordinator;
 new CDF members receive food for work from the UN World Food Programme (flour and vegetable
oil); and
 the ADI regional coordinator helps to establish new self-help groups and thereby to expand and
strengthen the CDF.
The meetings with representatives of local authorities revealed the support and close partnership they provide in
the implementation of the initiatives of the community development funds aimed at improving living standards
for the families of migrants.
 Prospects for collaboration between self-help groups and partners from other countries
Self-help groups involved in making handicrafts are in discussions about
potential collaboration with partners in Germany. The German partners
found the products made by the self-help groups through an electronic
catalogue produced at the end of 2012. They expressed interest in
supporting the self-help groups in the design of felt products which might
in future be sold on the European market. In early March members of the
self-help groups made some test products (felt covers with leather inlay for
tablet computers) to a design produced by a German designer. They were
then sent to Germany for evaluation by the German partners.
The design is currently being refined by the German partners (to determine
colours, patterns, materials etc.). Decisions will then be taken about the investment needed by both parties. The
German partners are planning to visit self-help groups in Chuy Province in order to learn more about the work
of the women and how they live.
On 8 March craftswomen from the self-help groups took part in a charity fair organised by the Kyrgyz business
community as part of a corporate social responsibility initiative. In December 2012 the women received a
special commission to make 400 embroidered felt coasters. Some of these were sent to Rome from where they
received very positive feedback. Discussions are currently underway about the possibility of presenting some of
the products made by the self-help groups (jams, scarves and felt items) at the business forum to be held in
Bishkek in autumn 2013.

Discussion of a ‘Strategy for managing labour migration abroad from the Kyrgyz Republic for
the period to 2020’ (part of the MIRPAL network video conference on 14 March 2013)
In March the MIRPAL network of experts discussed a proposed strategy for the management of foreign labour
migration from Kyrgyzstan for the period to 2020. The document was prepared for implementation by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs which had responsibility for migration issues. However, shortly before the
MIRPAL video conference the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan confirmed a government reorganisation which saw
the management of foreign labour migration move to become part of the remit of the Ministry of Labour,
Migration and Youth. This strategic decision reflects Kyrgyzstan’s specific perspective on the issue of
migration: the difficulty experienced by young people in finding work on the domestic labour market
encourages labour migration abroad by a significant proportion of the country’s working age population.
An analysis of the country’s labour migration situation shows that the reasons behind the sustained large-scale
labour migration lie primarily in the circumstances of the domestic labour market and demographic changes in
Kyrgyzstan. Thus in recent years the rate of growth of the working-age population has increased significantly
with the inclusion of the cohort of young people born in the 1980s and early 1990s. As a result there is an
imbalance in the labour market between labour supply and demand.
Each year between 80,000 and 100,000 young people in Kyrgyzstan reach working age. An analysis of the
domestic labour market reveals that, in recent years, the numbers of people of working age have increased at
more than twice the growth rate of employment.
During the discussion, experts from the MIRPAL countries shared experience from their countries in relation to
developing a migration policy strategy. In particular, there was animated debate around the issue of predeparture advice and training for migrants. Although there is some positive experience in this area, Kyrgyz
nationals leaving to work in Russia largely rely on information from people they know, as a result of which
they quickly join the ranks of illegal workers and illegal migrants.
 28 March, Bishkek, documentary film screening
Supported by UN Women and the civil society partnership platform, Central Asia On the
Move, the conference hall of the Vefa Centre in Bishkek was the venue for a screening of two
documentary films, Jaybird and Working Guests by film-maker, Ruben Kazaryan. The films
were made as part of the Central Asia Regional Migration Programme and deal with the
problems encountered by migrant workers from Central Asia in Kazakhstan. They include
real-life accounts of migrant women seeking to access healthcare, education and other social
services in the host country.
The films were accompanied by a speech from Sabine Machl, UN Women Representative for
Kyrgyzstan who said: “We must start from the principles of universal human rights for all when we talk about
labour migration and migrants, irrespective of their origin, citizenship, sex, race or residence status in the host
country. I would like to draw your attention to the need to protect the rights of female migrant workers. The
Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women has developed
separate recommendations on the rights of female migrant workers. They include the responsibility of states to
provide services in the areas of education, healthcare (especially reproductive healthcare), social assistance
and legal protection based on compliance with the principles of non-discrimination and accessibility. This
responsibility pertains both to the migrants’ countries of origin and to destination countries. There is useful
and interesting international practice available with regard to solving these problems – we hope that the
countries in our region will take this into account as they develop policies and agreements for the management
of labour migration”.
The film screening was accompanied by a detailed discussion of the issue of
foreign labour migration from Kyrgyzstan, with active participation from
representatives of various ministries and departments, representatives of UN
agencies, international organisations, civil society and migrants themselves.
“Wherever we are, whoever we are, we should treat people like human beings” –
this was the concluding comment by the heroine of the film, Working Guests, and
it expresses very succinctly and precisely the feelings and position of migrant
workers in terms of the importance of resolving the issues of labour migration
based on an acknowledgement of and respect for human rights.
Russian Federation
 Risks of labour migration in the Russian Federation. Labour disputes or exploitation? Round
table on non-payment of wages to foreign workers, Moscow, 11 January
The round table was organised by the IOM Office in Moscow together with the Migration and Law Integration
Centre. It was attended by employees of the representative office of the Migration Service of Tajikistan in
Russia, the Moscow Federation of Trade Unions, the Union of Construction and Building Materials Industry
Workers of the Russian Federation and lawyers from the IOM Office in Moscow, the Migration and Law
Integration Centre, the Civic Assistance Committee and the Union of Migrant Workers.
According to Kamil Dilmuradov, a lawyer with the Union of Migrant Workers, the trade union documents the
widespread practice of non-payment or late payment of wages and refusals by employers to sign employment
contracts. The union seeks to provide assistance to migrant workers. “In almost 90% of cases, despite the
requirements of Russian legislation, the migrant workers who approached us did not have employment
contracts. This makes them more vulnerable to infringements, such as in relation to pay, and limits their
options when seeking protection from the authorities. Employers delay payment of wages, make unexpected and
illegal deductions or refuse to pay at all. Employees who refuse to work for nothing may experience violence
and threats on the part of the employer. Exploitation is so widespread that it is not unusual for people to work
for months without being paid, in the hope that they will eventually be paid what they are owed.”
Over the course of seven years lawyers from the Union of Migrant Workers have examined 896 individual and
collective cases of non-payment of wages. The amount of unpaid wages, according to data from the claimants,
is 18.5 million roubles1. Roman Rybakov, a lawyer from the IOM Office in Moscow, shared the experience of
the Information and Resource Centre (IRC) which has been operating since 2010 within the framework of the
Central Asia Regional Migration Programme. He highlighted the difficulty of defining legal relationships in the
absence of documents pertaining to them (e.g. employment contracts or civil-law contracts for the work
performed or services provided).
1
Dilmuradov, K. ‘Regulirovanie trudovykh otnoshenii c inostrannymi rabotnikami’ in Vesti trudovoi migratsii, 2013, No. 1 (49), pp.
1-2.
“In practice the Moscow courts handle a significant number of cases involving claims relating to the
recognition of civil-law relationships as employment relationships. In such cases the courts often rule that the
agreements are civil-law contracts and do not qualify as employment contracts. Bearing in mind the special
procedural arrangements for the recognition of labour relations in cases where documents are missing, a
written request should always be made to the employer. This letter can play an important role in court”.
In the opinion of a lawyer from the Civic Assistance Committee, Illarion Vasiliev, “The problem of resolving
labour disputes is linked to the need to establish the existence of the labour relationship, since such
arrangements are often not formulated officially or documented. This makes it difficult to establish the
existence of a legal entity for whom the migrant is working, and the location of the court at which any legal
action will take place is dependent on the legal seat of the defendant. In such cases it makes sense, before
taking legal action, to apply for the relevant extract from the commercial register. Courts will even accept
commercial extracts from the internet.”
The process of establishing the existence of employment relationships also involves ascertaining the exact dates
of employment with a company. “Any evidence can be used here: documents, company passes, uniforms, etc. If
you work as a janitor, tell them when the fire brigade or the police came etc. If logbooks were kept you can ask
for them. One very effective piece of evidence, which I would advise you to use from the outset, is a request for
information from the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation. If the employer has made any payments into the
Pension Fund, this is evidence that the individual was working”.
The lawyer went on to say: “However, there is a potential snag here: if we establish the existence of an
employment relationship, this does not mean we will establish the level of earnings. That’s a separate fact
which must be established. Obtaining information from the Pension Fund only provides evidence of the
minimum amount earned by the migrant. In practice the claim will be higher.”
The lawyers from the Migration and the Law Integration Centre talked about the problems of unpaid wages
among migrants of undetermined status. Lawyer Anastasia Ostrikova talked about how they approach such
cases.
“To start with you need to establish a link with the employer even at the lowest level. Every group of migrants
has the telephone number of an intermediary. With that you can start to act. It is possible to resolve everything
starting with just one phone call. They’re afraid of migration experts. If there’s no answer when we phone, we
write an official letter of notification, addressed to the managing director, to the company’s registered address,
outlining what is going on in their organisation. We ask that the problem be resolved at this stage of the
process. Sometimes this works. If it doesn’t, it’s time for a personal meeting with the employer and further
letters.
“The next step is to contact the authorities. A claim is lodged with the court and the prosecutor’s office. If more
than two months elapse, a request can be made to the prosecutor’s office to institute criminal proceedings on
the grounds of non-payment of wages. A copy is sent to the employer. However, even if the case is successful,
the judgement is often not enforced. Russian citizens encounter the same problems, but the situation is then
slightly different. The issue here is with the attitude of the migrants. They very rarely take a case to court and if
they do it is with the assistance of an NGO.” In practice the Centre has had cases where they managed to obtain
payment of the unpaid wages after lawyers went to the employer’s office accompanied by a TV crew.
At the end of the meeting the round table participants put forward a number of proposals to facilitate the
resolution of problems associated with the non-payment of wages to migrant workers. In particular, the
proposals seek to increase the responsibility borne by employers and intermediaries for violations of the law; to
establish a system of incentives and conditions for employers which would make it advantageous for them to
come out of the shadows; to join forces between the authorities, business and civil society; and to publicise
these joint initiatives in the media.

Report: ‘Migrant workers: socio-economic benefits and risks’
On 27 February a seminar entitled ‘Migrant workers: socio-economic benefits and risks’ was organised by the
Migration 21st Century Foundation, with support from the Committee for Citizens’ Initiatives and within the
framework of the World Bank’s MIRPAL project. During the seminar Vice President of the Migration 21st
Century Foundation, Natalya Vlasova, presented an outline of the report on the same topic produced by the
Foundation to an audience of academics and experts. The most topical and acute problems of current Russian
migration policy were put forward for discussion:
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the situation on Russia’s domestic labour market;
the factors (socio-economic, demographic etc.) affecting the rate of recruitment of foreign
workers;
the cost-effectiveness of recruiting foreign workers for the hosting and sending countries;
the economic losses for Russia and the countries of origin due to the illegal recruitment of
foreign workers;
measures to increase the effectiveness of the use of foreign workers and to mitigate the negative
consequences of this process; and
the changes and additions which need to be made to Russian law in order to make improvements
in the recruitment and use of foreign workers.
More information about the points raised by the report and the presentation can be found on the MIRPAL
website: www.mirpal.org
 The media and migration
The media and migration is a collection of resources produced and published as part of a joint initiative by the
non-profit Partnership of Journalism Faculties, the Faculty of Journalism at Moscow State University, the Russian
Union of Journalists and UN Women through CARMP. The publication is intended to be used as the basis of a
course on the media and migration for students at the Faculty of Journalism. The main aim of the course is to
explore the topical relevance of issues associated with migration and to discuss the main trends and forms of
migration and the issues of intercultural communication with regard to migration. The
publication is also recommended for teaching staff at journalism faculties and departments,
journalism students, media researchers, journalists and anyone who has an interest in migration
issues in the media. The publication is available here: http://togetherlive.ru/wpcontent/uploads/2013/03/SMIMigration.pdf
The media and migration was launched on 28 March at the
Central House of Journalists. Virtually all the speakers
agreed that the issues around migration management
should be incorporated into the courses offered to students
by journalism departments and faculties as well as into
continuing professional development courses for journalists.
During her presentation the Dean of the Faculty of Journalism, Elena Vartanova, noted that the publication will be
made available to all departments and faculties of journalism in the country. Representatives of regional
universities who took part in the discussion said they would be happy to include similar courses in their 2013-2014
timetables.
Participants also heard about the development of the togetherlive.ru website which hosts lively discussions about
the need to transform the public image of the migrant (including through the media). One of the site’s successes
has been an online discussion about the image of migrants on the internet and the importance of dialogue among
young people about cultures and traditions. This discussion was initiated at the beginning of the year and has
already attracted a considerable number of participants, primarily young people and students. They are developing
new ways of talking about these issues and looking for new forms of dialogue, without which it is difficult to
negotiate the antagonistic language which is so widespread on the internet.
Republic of Tajikistan
 27 February, seminar on ‘Migration legislation in the Russian Federation and its practical
application’
A seminar on the application of Russian migration legislation was organised by the Human Rights Centre,
together with the Memorial Anti-discrimination Centre (ADC) (Russia) for lawyers from the migrant support
centres (MSCs), NGO representatives, Tajik Migration Service employees and employees from the Tajik
Ombudsman’s Office. The following topics were discussed:
 the residence and employment of foreign nationals in the Russian Federation;
 access for migrant workers and their families to education, medical services and social security
in the Russian Federation; and
 changes in migration legislation in the Russian Federation.
The seminar was led by Memorial ADC lawyer, Sergey Mikheev. The participants familiarised themselves with
the latest changes due to the implementation of Russia’s National Migration Policy Framework. These changes
include increasing criminal responsibility for the organisation of illegal migration, issues around the
documenting of refugees and stateless people and the issuing of basic documents confirming a migrant’s status
(migration card, notice of arrival, work permit, labour licence (‘patent’) etc.).
Another part of the discussion was devoted to the problems of racism and xenophobia in Russian society. The
seminar participants discussed the rights and responsibilities of police officers. In particular, the practical
experience of the ADC lawyers was closely examined in relation to counteracting police lawlessness and
protecting victims of violence.
This seminar was made possible through financial support from the Soros Foundation (New York) and
technical support from the IOM in Tajikistan.

Self-help groups implement joint economic initiatives
Within the framework of the Central Asia Regional Migration Programme, self-help groups in three pilot
districts in Sugd Province have successfully implemented a number of joint economic initiatives. In September
2012, UN Women started to provide support for the activities of self-help groups by awarding small grants for
joint economic initiatives.
Six self-help projects were developed and presented within the framework of the guidelines developed to
provide methodological support for the implementation of economic initiatives and taking into account the
analysis of the results of completed projects and the potential of the self-help groups and programme partners.
These six projects were intended to improve the welfare and economic and social status of vulnerable families
of migrants and the idea was that self-help groups, consumer cooperatives, NGOs, the Association of Women’s
Dehkan Farms (medium-sized peasant farms) and other community organisations engaged through the
programme could take part. All six projects were implemented with financial support from UN Women and
contributions from the self-help group members, with a grand total of USD 68,800.
Greenhouse project: Through this project the members of the self-help group
from Ovchi-Kalacha Jamoat in Bobojon Ghafurov District, who grow
horticultural crops, built a greenhouse for eco-friendly tomato and vegetable
cultivation during the winter months. The greenhouse is 52m x 10m x 3.8m, with
a 1.5m pitch and an overall area of 500m2. It provides work for 15 women from
the families of migrant workers. The project was implemented by the Iskandarov
Dehkan Farm.
Shop project: Following this project a shop was built for the sale of ecofriendly dairy produce from the Guncha dairy cooperative. The shop is
facilitating successful dairy production, thereby enabling an increase in
production volumes by the members of the self-help group; improved
social and economic conditions for the women; the creation of new jobs
for women; and a guaranteed supply of dairy products to the local
market. The shop provides work for six women who are members of the
self-help group and from families of migrant workers.
Compact tractor project: Through this project members of the selfhelp group/Khodji Mashrab Cooperative have enhanced the services provided to their members by acquiring a
compact tractor and providing highly sought-after agricultural services in Kulkent
Jamoat, Isfara District.
Rabbit project: Following the implementation of this project, support was provided
for the development of rabbit-farming self-help groups in Bobojon Ghafurov District
by setting up a workshop for processing rabbit skins and making articles from rabbit
fur. The workshop provides 13 jobs and it is planned to recruit another seven women
to make rabbit-fur items.
Plough and trailer project: This project helped to further develop the activities
of the Khodzhai Alo Cooperative in Isfara District, by fitting the cooperative’s
existing MTZ 82 tractor with a plough and trailer. The acquisition of the
plough and trailer is intended to make farming work easier for the self-help
group members and improve their effectiveness.
Greenhouse project 2: This project involved the construction of a greenhouse for
the cultivation of eco-friendly vegetables and to improve the standard of living of
the self-help group members in Kulkent Jamoat, Isfara District. The greenhouse is
6m x 8m and 2.5-2.1m high and provides work for 25 women who grow herbs,
cucumbers, sorrel and bell peppers.
 Booklets on farming topics for self-help groups
Booklets on farming topics have been produced through the Regional
Programme for self-help groups active in agricultural production. The aim
is to enable the groups to learn more about greenhouse fruit and vegetable
cultivation, rose propagation (grafting) methods, vegetable preserving and
the propagation of coniferous plants. 2,500 copies of the booklets have
been printed in Russian, Tajik and Uzbek and distributed among self-help
group members in the target regions.
 The impact of joint economic activities by the families of migrant workers on their household
circumstances
The results of the project on ‘Social mobilisation of labour migrants’ families’, undertaken on the initiative of
the NGO Women and Society and with advisory support from the UN Women gender expert, have been put
together in a report entitled ‘Impact of the social mobilisation of labour migrants’ families on the position of
households – the beneficiaries of the Central Asia Regional Migration Programme in Tajikistan’.
The report was produced using database information with the aim of identifying the impact of the project on the
quality of life of the target group and priority areas for development of the self-help groups, as a factor in
reducing poverty and improving the welfare of the families of migrant workers. An electronic version of the
report in Russian and English is available here: www.unwomen-eeca.org/ru/resursi/?p=1040
 28 March, meeting of the CARMP Coordinating Committee
The meeting of the Coordinating Committee focused on a discussion of the results of the implementation of
CARMP in Tajikistan. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Executive Office of the President of
Tajikistan, the Tajik Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the Tajik Migration Service, the UK Department
for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, UN Women and the IOM in Tajikistan.
Representatives of each organisation involved in implementing CARMP provided detailed information on the
Programme’s progress, the approaches used and the results achieved.
In his presentation, the IOM representative concentrated on aspects of the three basic components of the
Programme:
 labour migration management policy;
 improving regional cooperation in relation to labour migration; and
 delivering a broad spectrum of services to migrant workers and their families in the field of labour
migration.
For each component details were given of the results achieved.
The UN Women representative reported on the results of the component dealing with work with the families of
migrant workers in Tajikistan with the aim of improving their standard of living. The presentation can be found
here: www.unwomen-eeca.org/ru/resursi/?p=1040
The World Bank representative provided information about joint work with the Tajik Migration Service on
developing a ‘National Strategy on Labour Migration 2011-2015’.
After the presentations on the results of the project, the representatives of the Tajik Migration Service praised
the close and positive partnership developed during the implementation of the Programme and expressed their
hope that it would be continued, which would facilitate the realisation of the plans outlined by the Migration
Service. The representatives of the Executive Office of the President, the Tajik Migration Service and the
Ministry of Labour and Social Protection thanked DFID for its financial support for CARMP.
Regional events
 Practical seminar: ‘Managing economic migration: existing mechanisms and practice in the
recruitment, selection and admission of foreign workers and the potential for the coordinated
management of labour migration in Eastern Europe and Central Asia’, Higher School of Economics,
Moscow, 28-29 January
The seminar was organised on the initiative of the International Organization for Migration together with the
Institute of Demography of the Higher School of Economics National Research University (HSE NRU). The
aim was to explore the consequences of migration policy in the countries of Central Asia and Russia over the
last three years. This is also the period covered by CARMP. Over 100 people took part in the seminar – experts
and practicians in the field of migration and representatives of government bodies and research institutes
working on migration policy from Russia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Belarus.
The seminar included sections on topics such as mechanisms for regulating economic migration (e.g. quotas, a
points system for the selection of migrants, programmes for the organised selection of foreign workers and
labour licences (‘patents’) as a tool for regulating the employment of foreign workers in private households).
The second day’s discussions focused on the regulation of the migration of investors, entrepreneurs and
specialists who are in demand on the labour market. They also covered the specific issues of regulating the
mobility of foreign workers in areas with visa-free regimes.
During the seminar, international experience was presented through contributions by international experts
(Muzaffar Chishti of the Migration Policy Institute and Professor Lindsay Lowell of the Institute for the Study
of International Migration at Georgetown University), experts from the Higher School of Economics and the
IOM, as well as representatives of government institutions in the countries of the region operating in the field of
migration management.
Based on the results of two days’ work at the seminar, it is planned to produce a publication with the
participants’ presentations. The main presentations by seminar participants can be found here:
http://moscow.iom.int/russian/ractivities_labormigration_CARM_publications.html
During the seminar the participants also had the opportunity to discuss the new international agenda in the field
of development for the period following 2015 (the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals). More
detailed information on these discussions can be found at: www.unwomen-eeca.org/ru/resursi/?p=1040
 Research report on ‘The correlation between labour migration to Russia and early marriages and
divorce in the countries of Central Asia’
The report, produced by the regional NGO, the Migration Research Center, and supported by UN Women,
explores the impact of labour migration on divorce, in particular in relation to early marriages among labour
migrants from Central Asian countries who go to work in Russia.
The research looks at the reasons behind the behaviour of married labour migrants, especially young couples,
which lead to increased risks of marriages failing. The report also includes recommendations and potential
measures to prevent the rise in divorce among families of migrant workers, especially in relation to migrants who
marry young and younger migrants. The report can be found at: www.unwomen-eeca.org/ru/resursi/?p=1040 and
on the Center’s website: http://migrocenter.ru/news/news092.php
 Results of the Share your Story media campaign
On 18 December, to mark International Migrants Day, the IOM missions in Russia,
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan organised a campaign among migrants
entitled ‘Share your Story’. Migrants from Central Asia, both men and women, were
invited to send in photos and a short description of themselves, their families and
friends and to share the story of why they had gone to another country, how they
were getting on there, their dreams and what they would like to achieve.
Eleven of the participants were selected as winners and their contributions will be
published in a collection of migrants’ stories to be issued in spring 2013. Here are
our winners and their philosophy of life:
Dilshod Usmonov: “And I’d like to say – I believe in myself and I definitely know
my goals!”
Meerim Kurmanbekova: “And when it seemed like I couldn’t go on any more, life
smiled on me, a gentle, open smile. I just needed to hold my head up and open my
eyes to the world!”
Viktor Sviridov: “I’m following my dreams and trying to find
happiness in Russia.”
Solizhon Yusupov: “When I help people, even if it’s just by
something I say, it makes me happy. We should always help each
other.”
Tatyana Garbar: “What else do you need for happiness? Just peace, tranquillity and well-being, the feeling of
being needed and confidence in the future.”
Aziza Guldzhabaeva: “I would like all the experience I’m gaining to be useful for the lives of every person in
Kyrgyzstan.”
Meerim Sultankul: “Like Moscow, Bishkek doesn’t believe in tears. But there are still lots of good people… I
wouldn’t want to leave Kyrgyzstan because this country needs me… And I need this country.”
Ratibzhon: “We hope things will be easier for everyone in the New Year.”
Avazbeka Umarova: “There’s a saying, ‘A clever tongue will get you everywhere’. Well, for
my family our ‘tongue’ brought us to the village of Tausugur.”
Goiboyevykh Family: “Our heroes aren’t losing hope of a bright future in Aktobe. That’s
probably why there’ll soon be yet another representative of the happy international Aktobe
family.”
The International Organization for Migration would like to congratulate the winners and hopes
that they will continue to radiate such good cheer and commitment!

Recognition of training for returning migrants in Moldova: realities and trends
On 13 February the MIRPAL network held a regional video conference. The network comprises nine countries
in Europe and Central Asia, including Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. A report produced by
network experts from Moldova was presented which focused on research into the mechanisms for recognising
and evaluating informal and unofficial training for migrant workers returning home.
It is often the case that workers returning home are unable to find work which corresponds to their experience,
as there is no mechanism for verifying and evaluating the skills they have gained through informal means. The
authors of the report recommend looking at the experience of European countries, in particular Sweden, France
and Romania, which are already using a mechanism for recognising and evaluating qualifications obtained
through informal or unofficial learning.
During the course of the discussion it was noted that Ukraine can also offer some specific experience in this
area. A mechanism has been developed and was formalised through the new Law on Employment which came
into force on 1 January 2013. It provides the means to verify vocational skills acquired
through informal training, and it is intended to involve employers in the process of
recognising and evaluating these skills. The evaluation criteria will be agreed with the
Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science and the Federation of Employers of Ukraine.
A different approach was put forward by experts from Uzbekistan. In their opinion the issue
of skills recognition should be resolved by the hosting and sending countries together. This
would mean that a migrant worker who had obtained an official work permit would be
entitled to receive a certificate testifying to their skills in the country in which they were
employed. More specifically, it would be possible to set up a system of criteria for individual
professions within the CIS which would apply to all migrant workers from Central Asia
working in Russia. This would also represent a practical step towards the establishment of a
single labour market within the CIS.
This proposal was supported by the video conference participants from Tajikistan. In their opinion, the
establishment of a single labour market should be a migration policy priority for all the countries of Central
Asia. Resources from the video conference are available on the World Bank website.
 Migrant workers from Ukraine in the countries of the EU and their remittances in the post-crisis
period
On 28 March a report was presented during the MIRPAL video conference by a network experts from Ukraine.
They had undertaken research into models of behaviour by Ukrainian migrants and their families in relation to
cash remittances. As part of the research they conducted a survey among migrant workers living abroad as well
as an expert survey among leaders of emigrant communities in the host countries.
They received responses from 422 people, of whom 294 were women and 128 men. The average age of the
migrant workers covered by the survey was 37.9, which corresponds to the results of previous research. The age
difference between male and female respondents was insignificant. The youngest respondents were migrants
working in France (average age 34.8) and the oldest were those working in Portugal (40.2), Italy (39.5) and
Greece (39.2).
The majority of respondents are the main breadwinners for their families. However, in the households of 43.6%
of those surveyed there are other people in employment or self-employment. The average income of the
migrants, according to the survey responses, is EUR 727.90 per month. The highest incomes, according to the
information provided by the migrant workers, are earned in France (around EUR 1,000) and the lowest in
Poland (EUR 460).
The respondents reported that the average one-off remittance by Ukrainian migrants was EUR 469 (the men
said EUR 627, the women EUR 401). Using the information obtained about the frequency of remittances
(around seven remittances per year per migrant), it can be calculated that, on average, one migrant sends around
EUR 3,300 home per year.
The low standard of living in Ukraine means that the remittances sent from abroad by migrant workers tend
largely to be spent on day-to-day necessities (food, clothing, payment of utility bills etc.). After this, money
received from migrants is most frequently used to pay for medical treatment, to purchase consumer durables
and to buy or build houses or flats, renovate and rebuild old housing and to repay debts. A very small proportion
of those in receipt of remittances use the money for investments or to start or expand their own business (7.7%)
or to develop agricultural production (6.2%). Only one in six households put the money they receive into
savings.
The results of this research were greeted with great interest by the experts from the MIRPAL network countries.
There was a lively discussion among the seminar participants of how remittances are spent, the main objectives
of labour migration for Ukrainian citizens and the methods chosen by migrants for sending money home.
Resources from the video conference are available on the World Bank website.
Media coverage
http://rus.azattyk.org/content/kyrgyzstan_cinema_migrants/24945042.html
www.kabar.kg/rus/society/full/52057
http://novosti.kg/news/12423.html?ecid=1bb112b0c687b7adb194cd8e6b94a247
www.24kg.org/kino/150820-v-stolice-kyrgyzstana-pokazhut-dokumentalnye.html
http://news.mail.ru/inworld/kyrgyzstan/culture/12510993/
http://bllogs.ru/news/198248.html
http://rss.novostimira.com/n_4306598.html
https://twitter.com/bish_feminists/statuses/315022108654698496
www.facebook.com/events/519544748091946/
www.zpress.kg/news/news_only/33/39382/414.py
http://migrocenter.livejournal.com/#migrocenter107875
www.bbc.co.uk/russian/international/2013/03/130321_tajikistan_demographics.shtml
www.news.tj/ru/news/defitsit-muzhchin-stal-prichinoi-prinuditelnykh-rannikh-brakov-v-tadzhikistane-otchet
Media and Migration Network
- www.facebook.com/pages/%D0%9F%D1%83%D0%BB%D0%9C%D0%98%D0%93%D0%A0%D0%90%D0%A6%D0%98%D0%AF/263824663633385
- http://caucasia.at.ua
CARMP resources:
- http://moscow.iom.int/activities_labormigration_CARM_general.html
- www.unwomen-eeca.org/ru/resursi/?p=1040
-
www.worldbank.org/eca/migration
www.mirpal.org
www.togetherlive.ru
www.ruj.ru
News from partner organizations
 22 January, Aktobe, Kazakhstan, legal training for migrants
A legal training workshop for migrants was organised by the Women’s Support
Centre in Aktobe. A lawyer and a community worker from the Centre answered
questions from migrants and dealt with their concerns. They also explained their
rights and options.
 Legal training for migrants in Shymkent
On 23-24 January, the Shymkent Migrant Support Centre held a training session for migrant workers living in
South Kazakhstan Province. The aim was to raise their awareness of the law and to prevent extortion and
arbitrary treatment by law enforcement officers which migrants often encounter.
At the training session discussion centred around issues such as the types of
rights violations, broken down by category of migrants, as well as the local
organisations and bodies involved. Other topics covered included obtaining a
residence permit, proving financial solvency, changes to the tax system in
Kazakhstan and changes to the Kazakh Code of Administrative Offences,
specifically in relation to the imposition of administrative sanctions for
failure to accept electronic payments, etc.
 How to obtain identity documents for an undocumented migrant – the practical experience of the
IOM Information and Resource Centre (IRC)
Obtaining new identity documents for migrants who have lived in the Russian Federation for a long period
without documents requires painstaking legal work. If the migrant has been abroad for a long time, as a rule
they will have lost their citizenship. If the migrant also has children, it is even more difficult to obtain a birth
certificate and proof of citizenship for them. What should be done in such cases?
The Moscow IRC was approached by a woman who had previously been a citizen of the Republic of Tajikistan
and had been in Russia since 1996 without any identity documents. Her older daughter who had arrived with
her was now an adult and was also living in Russia with no documents. Subsequently, the woman had had two
more children who, when she came to the IRC, were still minors and were living in a children’s home, due to
the fact that their mother’s status was irregular and one of them had no birth certificate.
Through a legal consultation with the Moscow IRC lawyer and legal assistance provided in completing an
application to the Moscow Directorate of the Federal Migration Service, the woman made her application and
obtained acknowledgement that she was a statelessness person residing temporarily in Moscow. A similar
document should also have been issued to her eldest, adult daughter. In order to obtain documents for her minor
children, she went to the courts with an application for the re-issuing of her youngest child’s birth certificate.
Once the court makes its decision, the children will be able to return to the care of their mother.
In addition, the woman and her family received advice about the fast-track procedure for obtaining citizenship
on the basis of the Federal Law No. 182-F3 of 12 November 2012 amending the Federal Law ‘On citizenship of
the Russian Federation’. In accordance with this law, legally capable persons who on 5 September 1991 were
citizens of the USSR and who came to live in the Russian Federation before 1 November 2002 and have not
acquired citizenship of the Russian Federation through the established procedure have, if they are not citizens
of another state and do not possess documents entitling them to residence in another state, the right to obtain
citizenship of the Russian Federation through a fast-track procedure, i.e. without having to obtain a temporary
residence permit and residence card.
Real-life stories
 Awareness-raising campaign on changes to the Kazakh Tax Code
The Almaty Migrant Support Centre, which operates through UNICEF in Kazakhstan, began to be contacted
increasingly frequently by migrant workers working in the city’s markets. For example, on 24 January, three
Tajik nationals came for a consultation. They explained that, with their temporary registration, they were not
allowed to work at Almaty’s Green Market.
The Centre’s lawyer clarified that, following the legislative amendments regulating work by foreign nationals
in the Republic of Kazakhstan, individuals must be registered as self-employed in order to work in this way
and, to register as self-employed, they must obtain a residence permit. Under current rules they can work once
they have received a permit for the employment of foreign nationals from the Almaty Work and Employment
Office. Attention was also paid to the main points which should be included in an employment contract in order
to comply with the Kazakh Labour Code.
 Voluntary return to the migrant’s home country
The Shymkent Migrant Support Centre was contacted by a Kyrgyz national, G., with a request for help to return
home. In 2007 she came as a permanent resident with her family to Kazakhstan. Her relatives immediately
submitted their documents in order to obtain their residence permits, but she was unable to do so, as she had
lost her passport. She had therefore been living in Shymkent since 2007 without any identity documents and
had not taken any steps to have her documents replaced.
The Centre’s lawyer contacted the Migration Police in order to obtain a verification letter on the loss of the
passport. However, due to the fact that G.’s authorised period of stay in Kazakhstan had expired, the Migration
Police wanted to impose administrative sanctions for illegal residence. Next the lawyer contacted the Kyrgyz
Consulate with a request for help for G. to return home. A covering letter was written, after which the
Migration Police issued a letter verifying the loss of the passport. With this letter G. was able to go to the
Consulate to obtain a return certificate.
 Experience of dispute resolution with employers
Mr and Mrs M. came to Kazakhstan to work in 2005 from the village of Kenesh in Nookat District, Osh
Province, in Kyrgyzstan. They worked on several different farms and in 2007 they were employed in vegetable
cultivation at Dilshat Farm in the village of Koram. At the end of the season they were paid and borrowed
money from the farm director – KZT 30,000, on the understanding that they would return to work at the farm in
2008. However, circumstances arose which meant they were unable to go back to Dilshat Farm to work.
In January 2013, during a visit by the mobile unit of the Federal Migration Service (FMS) to the village of
Karaturyk in Enbekshikazakh District, M., a migrant from Kyrgyzstan working in Karaturyk, approached them
with a request for help in recovering his identity documents which were still with Mr Eskindirov at Dilshat
Farm in Koram where he and his family had worked farming vegetables in 2007.
When FMS officers went to Dilshat Farm they were met by the son of Mr Eskindirov, a young man called
Dilshat, who said that his father was not at home, as he was in hospital. When asked where M.’s identity
documents were, Dilshat replied: “When M. left with his wages, he borrowed KZT 30,000 from Mr Eskindirov.
He promised that he would repay the debt and left his identity documents as security. However, they haven’t
repaid the debt or returned for their documents so the documents are still at the farm.” Through a process of
negotiation the issue was resolved, the document was returned to M. and Mr Eskindirov cancelled M.’s debt.
 Best practice: Astana MSC working independently from March 2013
Astana MSC, under the auspices of the Red Crescent Society, has become self-sustaining in providing support
to migrants and, since March 2013, has become an independent entity. The main achievement of the Centre,
through the organisation’s humanitarian mission, has been tailored social welfare work with migrants. Through
a project of the Astana branch of the Red Crescent Society, a major contribution has been made to integration
for migrants.
Migrants who come to the country to work do not generally attend cultural events, indeed many of them are
afraid to go out. For this reason, cultural events have been organised for them around major festivals, such as
New Year, International Women’s Day, Eid, Nowruz, Children’s Day and Knowledge Day. At these events
they have the opportunity to meet and relax with each other and talk about a range of topics. Trips have been
organised for children to recreation centres and competitions and games held with presents donated by
sponsors. Kazakh nationals have been invited to some of the events, providing an opportunity for the two
groups to get to know one another better, strengthen relationships and discover more about the lives of
migrants.
To raise awareness among migrants of the services provided by the Centre, migrants themselves were recruited
as volunteers to help with organising mobile advice sessions and conducting surveys to identify the migrants’
needs and problems. The volunteers have remained in constant contact with the Centre and where applicable
invited migrants to events and training courses. Incentives were provided for the volunteers with certificates
and gifts and the IOM organised trips to recreation spots and training courses with them.
Training has been provided for migrants on issues relating to their rights, disease prevention, first-aid skills etc.
The topics covered in training courses were selected following consultation with the migrants themselves. For
example, for migrants working in markets sessions were held on obtaining a residence permit and registering
with the tax authorities as self-employed. Training is held at the MSC office as well as in places where migrants
live and work. There are also Sunday Russian and English classes for the children of migrants, which are
provided by student volunteers from Nazarbayev University. During the project support was provided to 3,159
migrants.
 Complete contrasts – observations from a legal advisor from Karaganda
Two completely different individuals came to us for help, one from Kyrgyzstan and one from Tajikistan. One
categorically refused to write anything down for us, while the other one was the very opposite and described his
problems in detail so that the same thing wouldn’t happen again in the future.
1. The story of Hassenbek as told to the MSC: “… I am a Kyrgyz national living in Karaganda. This year I
built my own home, but it hasn’t yet been officially approved for living in. I have a residence permit for
Kazakhstan and work as a house builder. With my two sons I had a verbal agreement to build a house for one of
the heads of the Migration Police in Karaganda Province. We had agreed the cost. We did the work and built
the house, but the client paid much less for the work than had been agreed. Administrative sanctions were
imposed on my sons and they were deported from Kazakhstan. Now I have to hide my wife and grown-up
daughter because we were threatened that they would also be expelled from Kazakhstan if I demanded the
money I was owed. The fact that my sons weren’t living where they were originally registered was used as the
official reason for imposing administrative sanctions.”
Hassenbek is not willing to risk doing anything to seek protection of his rights.
2. Azimjan’s story: “At 1pm on 25 March 2013 I was arrested at Altyn-Arba Market by members of the
Central District Migration Police and taken by car to 118 Tereshkova Street, where I was held until 9.30pm on
the fourth floor (as you go up the staircase on the right). They pulled me in to check my documents. All my
documents are in order so when they didn’t find anything illegal they said I should pay a fine of KZT 45,000,
but that if I paid KZT 17,000 straight away they’d let me go. Since I only had KZT 3,000, they took that and let
me go at 9.30pm. I gave them the money because they threatened to take me to court on criminal charges. They
arrested seven other people (Tajiks) apart from me and took money from them too. I’m worried they might get
me again and harm me. I’m seeking legal protection for my rights.
The Centre can use this statement to take action, relying on the powerful means to protect rights provided for in
Kazakh law.
 Education for children who are non-Kazakh nationals and are temporarily resident in North
Kazakhstan Province – information from a legal advisor from Petropavlovsk
On 21 February a meeting took place of the Interdepartmental Commission on Combating Illegal Human
Trafficking under the auspices of the Akimat (provincial government) of North Kazakhstan Province. The
meeting comprised members of the Interdepartmental Commission, including Alina Orlova, President of the
Women’s Support Centre, and other invited individuals.
One of the items on the agenda was information from Petropavlosk education department on ‘Education for
children who are non-Kazakh nationals and are temporarily resident in North Kazakhstan Province’. The
Director of Petropavlovsk education department, Akzhunus Musyrman, reported that there are 174 foreign
nationals and stateless children at the city’s schools, including:



Kyrgyz nationals – 35 children;
Tajik nationals – 26 children; and
stateless children – 2 (ethnic Tajiks).
Foreign nationals attend the city’s comprehensive schools on the basis of Article 8.2 of Kazakh Education Law
and the ‘Regulations on pre-school, primary and secondary education for foreign nationals and stateless persons
living permanently in the Republic of Kazakhstan’ as established by the Decree of the Kazakh Ministry of
Education and Science of 28 September 2010, No. 468.
A methodical approach is taken to working with foreign school-age children: a record is taken of their place of
residence and the existence of documents entitling them to reside in Kazakhstan and specifically in
Petropavlovsk.
The education department works consistently in the organisation of children’s activities. As part of the goal of
improving leisure activities in the city’s schools through clubs for children and young people, the children of
foreign nationals can attend sports clubs and arts and crafts activities, as well as biology clubs and others.
With the aim of reducing the potential for criminal behaviour among young people and preventing
homelessness and neglect, juvenile police units, together with inspectors, carry out campaigns in the areas
around schools to identify children and young people who are not attending school. Dialogues are then held
with the young people and their parents to explain expected standards of behaviour and compliance with
administrative legislation.