Penalties for trafficking in persons increased in Armenia, finds the U.S. State Department report on trafficking in persons. “Although Armenia increased the use of its anti-trafficking law, increased the number of convicted traffickers serving time in prison, and prosecuted its first labor trafficking case in December 2006 – marking the first time trafficking victims were awarded financial restitution – the government failed to make progress in victim identification and referral or in combating official complicity in trafficking,” the report holds. “In 2006, the government investigated 16 trafficking cases, up from 14 cases in 2005. Authorities prosecuted 13 people for trafficking, compared to 16 prosecutions in 2005,” runs the report. “During the reporting period, a new law was implemented that significantly increased the penalties for trafficking in persons and distinguished the crime of trafficking from that of organized prostitution or pimping,” the U.S. Department of State finds. “In order to improve anti-trafficking efforts, Armenia must vigorously investigate, prosecute, convict, and sentence corrupt government officials complicit in trafficking,” holds the U.S. State Department’s annual report on trafficking in persons. “The government demonstrated inadequate efforts to protect trafficking victims in 2006. NGOs provided most victim assistance, rehabilitative counseling, and shelter, although the border guards ran a short-term victim shelter at the border crossing point with Georgia and referred victims to NGOs. The penalties are defined by 132 Article of RA Criminal Code, which anticipates from 13-15 years of imprisonment, which is a quite serious penalty.
