Abstract
Assisting survivors of trafficking is considered one of the pillars of a human rights-based response Shelter, medical, psychological and legal assistance in the short term and job placement, accommodation and reunification with family and community in the long term are critical steps for helping them recover and feel in control of their lives and futures. This paper examines survivors’ experiences of trafficking and recovery in the Azerbaijani context, using questionnaire responses from 22 women who were trafficked for sexual exploitation between 2006 and 2009 and who were assisted upon their return. It finds that while Azerbaijan has been quite successful at short-term assistance, there are still significant gaps in longer-term assistance, especially with regard to job placement and family reunification. Survivors point to these gaps as significant impediments to full reintegration into society. Looking at their experiences can provide insights into improvements in assistance programmes that can be implemented in both Azerbaijan and elsewhere.
Highlights
In both national and international law, states have committed to assisting victims of trafficking, yet this promise has been unevenly carried out in practice
It finds that while Azerbaijan has been quite successful at short-term assistance, there are still significant gaps in longer-term assistance, especially with regard to job placement and family reunification
The results of this study largely confirm the findings of other studies on the importance of multiple types of post-trafficking assistance for both short and long-term needs
Summary
In both national and international law, states have committed to assisting victims of trafficking, yet this promise has been unevenly carried out in practice. Key forms of assistance include shelter, medical, psychological and legal assistance as well as help finding jobs, permanent accommodations and reunification with family and community. The secular Soviet legacy combines with a post-Soviet resurgence in Islamic practices (over 95 per cent of Azerbaijan’s population identifies as Muslim) and the forces of globalisation and Westernisation.[6] Azerbaijani victims of trafficking must navigate a predominantly patriarchal societal context in which women, highly educated, often have lower status than men and where economic opportunities are limited.[7] Looking at their experiences can provide insight more broadly into what survivors need and the difficulties of providing it, even when the laws on the books promise generous benefits
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