Vienna
December 03, 2024
Freedom for Eurasia welcomes the recent sanctions imposed by the Global Magnitsky Act (GloMag) on three Uzbek officials involved in heinous acts of human trafficking and gender-based violence, particularly against vulnerable children in state-run orphanages.
In the spring 2023 Yulduz Khudaiberganova was sentenced to 5.5 years in prison and barred from holding leadership and financially responsible positions for one year. She received this sentence for trafficking minors, embezzlement through the abuse of her official position, and official forgery. Meanwhile, Aybek Masharipov and Anvar Kuryazov were initially sentenced to 1.5 years of restricted freedom, which was later revised to 3 years in a penal colony for each. According to Nemolchi.uz, Yulduz Khudaiberganova, who was the orphanage director selected three girls and for 10 months, from May 2021 to February 2022, ‘used them for sexual relations with different men for financial remuneration’. At the time of the offence, the girls were 15, 16 and 17 years old. The former heads of the Khorezm Oblast Justice Department, Aibek Masharipov, and the Yangiaryk District Department of Emergency Situations, Anvar Kuryazov, are accused by US authorities of ‘human trafficking and gender-based violence, including physical and sexual abuse of children in a state-run orphanage’.
This decisive action, coinciding with the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on December 2, marks a significant step towards accountability for those who exploit and abuse the most marginalized members of society. Human trafficking and gender-based violence are grave violations of human rights that demand urgent attention and action. By targeting these officials, the U.S. government has sent a powerful message that such actions will not be tolerated and that those who engage in the exploitation of children will face consequences.
This marks the fourth case under the GloMag focused on human trafficking, and notably, the first to specifically address the egregious violations against child victims. It is imperative that the international community continues to prioritize the protection of children and hold accountable those who perpetuate such abuses.
We urge other nations to follow suit by enhancing their own mechanisms for accountability and support for victims of trafficking. It is crucial that the fight against human trafficking becomes a global priority, and we commend the U.S. for its leadership in addressing these critical human rights issues.
Freedom for Eurasia remains committed to advocating for the rights of all individuals, especially the most vulnerable, and we will continue to monitor the situation in Uzbekistan and call for robust measures to protect children from exploitation.
