Human trafficking is prevalent both domestically and internationally in Kazakhstan, particularly along the border with Uzbekistan. Traffickers often deceive people to come to the country for specific jobs and then force them to work in deplorable conditions. In some instances, even travel, employment and marriage agencies take part in the process by persuading women to come to the country by producing attractive advertisements for prestigious work in the country, and then coerce them into the sex trade. As a result, pimps, criminal gangs, and other organizations benefiting from the trade harass and threaten those working to provide legal assistance, psychological counseling and other services to trafficked persons. In August 2011, organization Sana Sezim (SS) began receiving increased threats due to its work with persons involved in sex trafficking. In order to ensure that their work could be carried out safely, its members requested funds to increase security measures in the office through the purchase of iron doors, a safe storage space, and the installation of bars on windows and surveillance cameras.
SS promotes the rights of women and children in terms of building civil society and democracy, the formation of non-violent practices, and developing a movement to protect their rights. The mission of SS is to provide social services and legal and psychological counseling to women and children victims of trafficking and domestic violence.
