|
[ Country-by-Country Reports ]
CZECH REPUBLIC (TIER 1)
[Extracted from U.S. State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report, June 2008]
The Czech Republic is a source, transit, and destination country
for women from Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Belarus, Moldova, Slovakia, Bulgaria,
China, and Vietnam trafficked to Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and
Denmark for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. The Czech Republic
is a destination country for men and women trafficked from Ukraine, China,
Vietnam, Moldova, and Belarus for the purpose of labor exploitation. Roma
women are trafficked within the country and abroad for sexual exploitation.
The Government of the Czech Republic fully complies with the
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. During the reporting
period, the government increased the number of convicted traffickers serving
time in prison and conducted aggressive trafficking investigations, leading
to the arrest of dozens of suspected traffickers and freeing more than 100
victims including nearly 50 victims of forced labor.
Recommendations for
the Czech Republic: Continue anti-trafficking training for judges and prosecutors
to ensure sustaining the trend of increasing the number of convicted
traffickers serving time in prison; increase use of Section 232a of the
criminal code to ensure higher penalties for sex and labor trafficking; and
continue efforts to investigate and prosecute labor trafficking cases.
Prosecution
The Government of the Czech Republic demonstrated increased law enforcement
efforts over the previous year. The Czech Republic prohibits trafficking for
the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor through
Sections 232a, 216, and 204 of its Criminal Code, and prescribes punishments
ranging from two to 15 years’ imprisonment. These punishments are
sufficiently stringent and commensurate with those prescribed for other grave
crimes, such as rape. In 2007, police conducted 11 investigations and
prosecuted 121 persons for trafficking offenses, compared to 16 investigations
and 151 persons reported prosecuted in 2006. The government convicted 78
traffickers during the reporting period, compared to 72 convictions in 2006.
In 2007, 29 percent—23 out of 78 convicted traffickers— were
sentenced to serve time in prison. This was an increase over 2006, when 17
percent—12 out of 72 convicted traffickers—were sentenced to
serve time in prison. In 2007, 20 traffickers were sentenced to one to five
years’ imprisonment, and three traffickers were sentenced to five to 15
years’ imprisonment. This was an increase from 2006, when 10
traffickers were sentenced to prison terms of one to five years, and no
traffickers were sentenced to more than five years in prison. In 2007, the
government extradited one trafficking suspect.
During the reporting period, anti-trafficking courses became
required for new judges at the Czech judicial academy; approximately 60
judges and prosecutors received the training during 2007. In July 2007, the
country’s forced labor unit of the Police dismantled a labor trafficking
ring, rescuing approximately 50 mostly Ukrainian and Bulgarian victims. The
government subsequently initiated prosecutions of three Ukrainian leaders of
the trafficking ring. Several other large-scale raids resulted in dozens of
trafficking arrests and prosecutions. There were no confirmed cases of
government officials involved in trafficking. The government provided labor
inspectors and representatives of the Work Registration Offices with training
in identifying cases of labor trafficking.
Protection
The government sustained strong efforts to protect and assist victims. In
December 2007, the government increased the reflection period granted to
identified victims from 30 to 60 days; during this time, victims can decide
whether to cooperate with law enforcement. NGOs in 2007 provided
approximately 75 victims with government-funded comprehensive assistance and
shelter, compared to 67 victims in 2006. The government also funded NGOs to
assist both foreign and Czech victims with repatriation and reintegration.
Victims were encouraged to assist in investigations and prosecutions; victims
who cooperated with investigators were granted temporary residence and work
visas for the duration of the legal proceedings. Upon conclusion of the
prosecutions, qualifying victims had the opportunity to apply for permanent
residency; three victims were granted permanent residency in 2007, compared
to one victim in 2006. NGOs stated the majority of victims referred to them
during the reporting period made initial contact through the police,
demonstrating the continued effectiveness of police training. Victims were
not fined or otherwise penalized for unlawful acts committed as a direct
result of their being trafficked.
Prevention
The government sustained its trafficking prevention efforts during the
reporting period. The government continued funding a demand reduction
campaign that informed foreign tourists visiting the Czech Republic for the
purpose of adult sex tourism about human trafficking and provided guidance
for anonymously reporting suspected trafficking cases. In April 2007, the
government provided trafficking awareness training to 65 senior military
officers prior to their deployment on international peacekeeping missions.
The government monitors migration and immigration patterns for evidence of
trafficking. The Czech Republic has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol.
|