Regional Migration Program in Central Asia and Russia, implemented by UN Women, IOM and the World Bank with the support of the UK Government

Regional Conference of Ombudsmen (National Human Rights Institutions) in Central Asia and the Russian Federation

“Effective legal remedies for migrant workers: the role of Ombudsmen in Central Asia and the Russian Federation”

30-31 October 2012, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Conference report

Dushanbe 2012

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List of abbreviations and acronyms ............................................................................................ 3

I. Goals and objectives of the Regional Conference ............................................................... 4

II. Thematic discussions and outcomes ................................................................................... 4

2.1 Effective legal remedies for migrant workers: overview of international standards and national mechanisms ............................................................................................................... 5

2.2 Effective policies and measures to protect the migrant workers’ rights in the countries of destination and origin.............................................................................................................. 7

2.3 Open discussion of the Human Rights Ombudsmen of the Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and the Russian Federation .................................................................................................................. 9

2.4 Discussion and results of the working groups ................................................................... 11

2.5 General summarization of the working groups’ results .................................................... 17

2.6 Prospects for cooperation of Ombudsmen in Central Asia and the Russian Federation with NGOs involved into protecting the rights of migrant workers and members of their families . 18

2.7 Discussion and adoption of participant’s Joint Conference Statement .............................. 19

III. Conclusions and final recommendations ....................................................................... 20

Annexes .................................................................................................................................... 22

Annex 1 ................................................................................................................................. 22

Annex 2 ................................................................................................................................. 26

Annex 3 ................................................................................................................................. 29

Annex 4 ................................................................................................................................. 37

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List of abbreviations and acronyms

ADC Antidiscrimination Center EECA Eastern Europe and Central Asia CRMWMF UN Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of their Families CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women CRC Convention on the Rights of Child KR Kyrgyz Republic IOM International Organization for Migration ILO International Labor Organizations ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICESCR International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights MS Migration Service NGO Non-governmental organization UN United Nations Organization UN Women

UN agency on issues of gender equality and expanding women’s right and opportunities

RK Republic of Kazakhstan RT Republic of Tajikistan RF Russian Federation CIS Commonwealth of Independent State MW Migrant worker HRO Human Rights Ombudsman AFSEP Administration of Federal Service for execution of punishments FMS Federal Migration Service CA Central Asia MRC Migration Research Center PEA Private Employment Agency

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I. Goals and objectives of the Regional Conference

Regional Conference of Human Rights Commissioners (Ombudsmen) of Central Asia (CA) and the Russian Federation (RF) "Effective remedies for migrant workers’ legal protection: the role of Ombudsmen in Central Asia and the Russian Federation," held in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan (RT) on 30-31 October 2012 was the result of joint efforts undertaken by several organizations committed to protecting the rights of migrant workers. They include Human Rights Ombudsman (HRO) in RT, HRO in Sverdlovsk Region of Russia, UN Women that implements a Regional Migration Program in Central Asia and Russia, jointly with IOM and the World Bank through financial support rendered by the UK Government, and Tajik non-governmental organization “Human Rights Center” (HRC) that implements the project “Strengthening the capacity of Tajikistan Human Rights Ombudsmen to protect the migrant workers’ rights” supported through Swiss Program to Promote Human Rights. Objectives of the Regional Conference included assisting the development of specific interaction mechanisms between the Human Rights Ombudsmen in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and various regions of the Russian Federation to protect human rights and promote interests of migrant workers and their family members. The Conference included both reports, and active plenary discussions and working groups in order to develop practical cooperation mechanisms, ways to respond to violations of migrant workers’ rights and to prevent violations of rights of migrant workers and their family members, both in the countries of origin and destination.

II. Thematic discussions and outcomes The Conference was opened by Mr. Zarif Alizoda, HRO in the RT, who highlighted the aims and objectives of the HRO Institute, HRO’s priority attention towards labor migration and the desire to cooperate with the regional HROs of Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in this direction. Mr. Alisher Yarbabaev, Head of Population’s Social Welfare and Labor Department of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan delivered his speech on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. He noted that, despite actions of the Tajik Government to create jobs and to achieve some progress in this direction, efforts to increase the level of wages do not lead to high levels of wages. In this regard, Tajikistan population prefers to leave the country for labor migration, mostly heading to Russia.

Mr. Alexander Zuev, UN Resident Coordinator in Tajikistan addressed the conference participants with a welcoming speech on behalf of the UN agencies in Tajikistan. He stressed the timeliness of this Conference, the importance of labor migration for countries, and particularly noted about protecting the rights of women and children of migrant workers. He also drew participants’ attention to the fact that female migrant workers, usually domestic workers, have an invisible status and it is impossible to trace observance of their rights. He attracted participants’ attention to the obligation of States under the UN International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and the Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers and their family Members in the CIS countries: “In 2008, CIS adopted the Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers and Members of their Families of the CIS countries. This is an important document that reflects specifics of labor migration is the CIS, however needs effective

implementation."

Alexander Zuev, UN Resident Coordinator in Tajikistan

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Head of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan, Mr. Peter Mikula noted that migration is a consequence of globalization, and the protection of human rights of migrant workers and their families is important.

Mr. Bill Kilby, Head of the UK Department for International Development in Tajikistan, with the support of which the Regional Migration Program in Central Asia and Russia is being implemented for the third year, expressed that migrant workers are an important aspect for the Central Asian countries and the Russian Federation, and in connection with that the UK Government has supported this program in Central Asia and the Russian Federation to improve protection of human rights of migrant workers and situation of their family members. Technical support is rendered to countries for the collection of statistics on migrant workers’ impact on countries'

development, promotion of human rights of migrant workers and their family members and providing them with services. Mr. Kilby noted that such a Conference will contribute to the development of various policies and strategies to address the problems of migrant workers and their families. On behalf of the Regional Migration Program in Central Asia and Russia, implemented by IOM, UN Women and the World Bank and supported by the UK Government, Ms. Tajma Kurt, Chief of IOM Mission in Tajikistan, emphasized the need for the implementation of measures in the field of labor migration using human rights approaches in order to ensure real respect for human rights for migrant workers and their family members: “I want to emphasize today that measures in the field of labor migration should be made to ensure that human rights have become a reality, but not an abstract concept. I would be interested to know what measures will be developed by participants of the Conference in this direction.”

2.1 Effective legal remedies for migrant workers: overview of international standards and national mechanisms

Moderator - Ms. Lilia Zaharieva, Human Rights Adviser to UN Country Team in Tajikistan Three speakers delivered speech at this session: 1) Mr. Azad Taghizade, member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers, 2) Mr. Anvar Babaev, Deputy Head of Migration Service under the Government of RT, 3) Ms. Nargis Azizova, Program Specialist, UN Women Sub-Regional office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), Advisor to the Regional Migration Program. In his report Mr. Azad Taghizade noted the importance of utilizing the international human rights protection mechanisms towards migrant workers and their family members in the formulation and implementation of policies in the field of labor migration and the need to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CRMWMF) by the migrants’ destination countries. He noted that the HRO Institute, whose mission is to protect human rights, can lobby for the ratification of the CRMWMF. In their turn, members of the UN Committee are ready to provide technical

Tajma Kurt, Chief of IOM Mission in Tajikistan

Bill Kilby, Head of DFID Representation in Tajikistan

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support to countries in order to explain what reports are expected from countries. He explained provisions of CRMWMF and noted that in addition to the Convention, other mechanisms like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), ILO Conventions 97 and 143 impose obligations on host countries to protect the migrant workers’ rights. In this connection, the HRO may already be using these international human rights instruments and are acting within these treaties to protect the rights of migrant workers and member of their families.

Mr. Anvar Babaev informed participants about the measures undertaken by the Tajik Government in the field of labor migration, particularly, development of laws on external labor migration, Private

Employment Agencies (PEA), establishment of Migration Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in 2011, adoption of the National External Labor Migration Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan, cooperation with NGOs and international organizations, establishing mechanisms of organized recruitment of migrant workers, services for migrant worker, better registration of migration flows. However, he noted several problems in the field of labor migration, such as, inadequate servicing infrastructure for migrant workers, particularly, the lack of pre-departure training, low level and capacities of system to train professional skills of migrant workers, the lack of foreign language learning system for migrant workers, low awareness of migrant workers and outreach.

In her presentation concerning the situation of women's rights, violations of their rights and access to legal remedies, Ms. Nargis Azizova noted that the regional average out of the total number of female migrant workers experts estimate up to 30%, and out of the total number of migrants – home workers, their share is up to 80%. Women – domestic workers are generally beyond statistical registration and

remain outside the policies and laws. In this connection, countries are recommended to ratify ILO Convention 189 and review their legislation for compliance with the Convention. In addition to the Convention, EECA countries should comply with their obligations to protect the rights of female migrant workers and under CEDAW framework that includes a special General Recommendations No. 26 on female migrants, CRC, ICESCR, and agreements within the CIS, particularly, Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers and Members of their Family of the CIS member states and agreements to provide health care, etc. She drew

participants’ attention to the fact that the CIS Convention has limitations – it does not apply to migrant workers with irregular status, including a large number of women that contradicts with the provisions of international human rights agreements. Moderator noted that besides the Conventions on labor migration, there is also a mechanism such as the Special Reporter on labor migration, which also attracts the attention of the destination countries to the fact that obligation to protect the human rights of migrant workers derives not only from the

Nargis Azizova, UN Women

Anvar Babaev, Deputy Head of Migration Service of RT

Azad Taghizade, member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers

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CRMWMF, but also from other international human rights treaties. As a result of reports, participants raised a number of issues in respect to legal remedies and rights of migrant workers. One of the issues noted by participants was that the Central Asia and Russia have a number of obligations not only within international, but also interstate treaties, however, their provisions are poorly implemented in practice. Public authorities are concerned about the violations of immigration laws by migrant workers having irregular status; however they do not sufficiently protect their rights. It is necessary to pay attention to another problem, noted by participants – these are difficulties to protect the rights of migrant workers with irregular status, but not those migrant workers, who do not have documents. Participants also noted about the presence of such a labor migration phenomenon in Russia as the “presumption of guilt” of migrant workers, that is, when migrant workers always to blame. The gap in the CIS Convention, in other words, its limited focus to protect only migrant workers with regulated status causes that undocumented migrant workers cannot rely on the protection of their own rights in court. References were made to such examples of migrant workers’ human rights violations like deportation of migrant workers due to diagnosis of HIV infection. Deportation caused breakup of the family who remained in Russia.

The next problem, referred to by participants, was a problem of education and access of migrant workers’ access to schooling. Participants noted that the public awareness level towards the problem is only beginning to shape. In this regard, participants suggested HRO speed up this process and ensure that children have access to education. Participants also asked questions about the actions of UN Women to work with families: abandoned wives and children of migrant workers. In this regard, the positive practices were noted to increase the economic status of the families, to improve their access to micro-crediting, small business development, in order to provide women with formal employment and prevent unwanted and unprepared departure to labor migration. However, there are problems such as the lack of registration of marriages, lack of passports, children’s birth certificates, especially among women and girls, as they often do not see the need to obtain documents. 2.2 Effective policies and measures to protect the migrant workers’ rights in the countries of destination and origin Moderator – Mr. Mark Denisov, HRO Krasnoyarsk Region of Russia In this session, participants were presented with practical examples of HRO Sverdlovsk Region to protect the rights of migrant workers and members of their families, and the work of Tajik and Russian NGOs to protection migrant workers’ rights. NGOs have proposed a series of recommendations to the HRO to work more effectively to protect the migrant workers’ rights. Ms. Tatyana Merzlyakova, HRO in the Sverdlovsk Region of Russia presented its experience of working in the field of labor migration. She built her report around the following issues: HRO activities to protect migrant workers’ rights in case to decline payment of labor remuneration; HRO actions in case of complaints about the decision for

Mark Denisov, HRO Krasnoyarsk Region, RF

Lilia Zaharieva, Human Rights Adviser to UN Country Team in Tajikistan

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deportation; actions on complaints to issue a residence permit to family members of citizens of the Russian Federation; problem of access of migrant workers and their family members to health care services; HRO activities at the regional level aimed at arranging medical insurance for all migrant workers and their family members and benefiting from health care; participation of HRO in specification of quotas for foreign manpower in Sverdlovsk Region and resolution of complaints about the impossibility of employment and low quota. Ms. Nodira Abdulloeva from NGO HRC and Mr. Andrei Yakimov, the Anti-Discrimination Center (ADC) Memorial prepared a joint report on the strategies of Tajik and Russian NGOs concerning the protection of the rights of migrant workers and member of their families. Ms. Nodira Abdulloeva noted that the number of domestic legal remedies inside the Republic of Tajikistan is not enough, yet actions in this direction are mostly implemented by NGOs. Therefore, migrant workers trust NGOs, as they are quicker to respond to their address and their services are more accessible. Due to the low efficiency and poorly developed state and interstate mechanism to respond to violations of migrant workers’ rights, there are not many cases of joint responses of NGOs with participation of government in protecting the migrant workers’ rights. Another problem stated by N. Abdulloeva was the absence of NGOs in all regions of Russia, where migrant workers from Central Asia are massively concentrated, with which Tajik NGOs could collaborate and provide legal assistance. In this situation, the role of HRO is high in protecting the rights of migrants and members of their families. Mr. Andrei Yakimov told about the business directions of the ADC Memorial and approaches to protect the rights of migrant workers. Activities of ADC Memorial include research; provision of services in the form of counseling; human rights accompaniment in case of migrant workers’ rights violation; provision of legal aid in the European Court of Human Rights; work on access to education; legal education of migrant workers, including the use of interactive methods (through a specially designed game); participation in advocacy activities at the international level through the UN Committees, ODIHR; promote migrant workers to join trade unions in Russia. In his presentation, the following recommendations were made to both Tajik and Russian NGOs as well as for HRO, public authorities engaged into the protection of migrant workers’ rights:

To establish an international mailing list of HRO in Central Asian countries, Russia and relevant NGOs on the protection of migrants' rights that allows sharing information regularly. Press secretaries of the Ombudsmen of the Russian Federation and Central Asian countries could lead this;

To hold annual conference HRO of the Central Asian countries, and Russia with participation of NGOs on the legal protection of migrant workers and non-citizens.

It is necessary to sign an agreement / memorandum of cooperation between the HRO of Russian regions and Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation;

There is a need to create a separate section on the websites and report materials of HRO of Russian regions and HRO in RT, dedicated to protecting the rights of migrants, foreigners and stateless persons, and to highlight the working direction;

Andrei Yakimov, ADC Memorial, RF

Nodira Abdulloeva, HRC

Tatyana Merzlyakova, HRO in Sverdlovsk Region

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It is necessary to create public advisory / panel of experts, or working groups at the HRO Office in the Russian Federation represented by human rights NGOs, including those working with migrants;

HRO in RT should activate the work of the panel of experts; It is necessary to foresee monthly meetings of these panels, where HRO reports are presented

on the situation of compliance with migrants’ rights, and there would have been a rapid exchange of information;

To open round the clock hotlines for migrant workers in the migrant recipient regions (Saint Petersburg, Moscow), possibly with the involvement of an interpreter;

To simplify the operation of Russian HROs as well as to simplify procedures, including allowing application of foreign citizens and stateless persons for assistance, regardless of migrant’s status (documented / undocumented);

HRO in the Republic of Tajikistan to develop and implement Regulations to work with migrant workers for responsible office staff. These instructions should contain the sequence of actions for the HRO office staff, depending on the nature of the application (for example, what actions should be taken when there is a threat to life and health of a migrant, or when there are massive violations of migrant workers’ human rights, in which cases and where to refer migrant’s application, etc.) These instructions are necessary because it is not exception that a change will take place with personnel responsible for working with migrant workers.

HRO in RT to establish interaction between its public reception centers Migrant Support Centers (MSC) as well as other NGOs working with migrant workers (particularly, reception employees on the ground could go together to the information campaigns with population, register complaints of citizens on departure and provide further assistance to them in dealing with problems, etc.)

In his speech, Andrei Yakimov also noted the urgent need to open the Consulate General of the Republic of Tajikistan in St. Petersburg, because St. Petersburg is home to one of the largest Diasporas of Tajik citizens in the Russian Federation. 2.3 Open discussion of the Human Rights Ombudsmen of the Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and the Russian Federation Discussion of presentations in session 2 was combined with an open discussion of issues raised HRO. Mr. Alizoda noted that cooperation is already established between the HRO institutions in the CIS region, which needs reinforcement. He also noted that an opinion was expressed concerning the need for HROs to meet each year to discuss labor migration issues; however the number of participants should be expanded to include representatives of government agencies and NGOs. It makes sense to revive and implement the idea of holding an annual meeting of CIS HROs within the framework of CIS Inter-parliamentary Assembly.

Ms. Irina Skupova, HRO of Samara Region, noted that expert or public panels are already established, however there is a lack of coordination at the local community level. The need was highlighted in this regard to develop and adopt common guidelines or procedures for rapid response mechanism of HRO, NGOs in respect to violations of migrant workers’ rights in order to secure who and at what stage should act to help migrant workers. Moreover, Ms. Irina Skupova raised a number of questions with regard to the presented experience of the HRO of Sverdlovsk Region. She interested concerning HRO of Sverdlovsk Region in determining quota of foreign manpower,

Zarif Alizoda, HRO in RT

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creation of schools for migrant workers’ children from the RT in Sverdlovsk Region and HRO actions in cases of deportation and expulsion as well as preparation of relevant documents.

In reaction to questions raised, Ms. Tatyana Merzlyakova, HRO of Sverdlovsk Region, explained that the process of determining quota for foreign manpower is very transparent. In addition to HRO in the Sverdlovsk Region, NGOs take part in the Commission’s work. Quota is specified on the basis of requests from employers, subsequently verified by the Commission. Those employers, who have already been observed by HRO of Sverdlovsk Region in violation of the migrant workers’ rights, are immediately struck off the list.

Concerning the work on access of migrant workers’ children to education, the HRO of Sverdlovsk Region encourages inclusion of children into Russian schools, as well as opening of Sunday schools, depending on ethnicity, to learn the language and culture of the peoples. However, HRO noted that its objective is to promote integration, and she objects to opening secondary schools for children of a certain ethnicity, as this may result in isolation of children. Regarding the issue of deportation, Ms. Tatyana Merzlyakova explained that preparation of documents for deportation is too slow and the main problem is the slow response of the Tajikistan authorities. In this direction, general partnership is established between the HRO of Sverdlovsk Region and HRO of RT, within the framework of which HRO in Tajikistan helps speed up the process of obtaining documents. Mr. Anvar Babaev referred to a low degree of realizing intergovernmental agreements on labor migration or the lack of desire of both parties to sign agreements, such as those pertaining to social protection of migrant workers. Moreover, when signing and discussing such agreements, irregular status of migrant workers is not usually taken into account. It is necessary to develop practical measures to support migrant workers, including through the implementation of interstate agreements. Ms. Tatyana Merzlyakova noted that the issue of pensions is being poorly resolved as well. Activities are not in place to coordinate between pension funds on how to redistribute royalties of former citizens of Tajikistan, who have become citizens of the Russian Federation and receive a pension in RF. In this regard, it was also noted that former citizens of Tajikistan receive the lowest social pension, because Tajik authorities do not send timely information about pension contributions. Ms. Toktokan Borombaeva, Deputy HRO of Kyrgyz Republic (KR) said that many problems exist with regulation of labor migration in Kyrgyzstan, since KR is the country of host, origin and transit of migrant workers. She explained that one of the problems is the brain drain and youth population. According to official data, 560 thousand Kyrgyz citizens work in the Russian Federation and more than 100 thousand work in Kazakhstan. In view of constant reforms in the public administration system, labor migration management and regulation system is ineffective, and as a result – agreements concluded with the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan are not implemented. HRO of KR examines statements of migrant workers and members of their families about violation of rights taking place not only due to the citizens and government of the Russian Federation, but also citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic in the destination countries. Ms. Toktokan Borombaeva noticed that citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic are in equally deplorable situation as citizens of Tajikistan. They have no access to information on migration legislation, living conditions in Russia and access to health care services. They do not have decent housing in destination countries, remain unemployed for months. During recent years, the high growth

Toktokan Borombaeva, Deputy HRO in Kyrgyz Republic

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of professional and social diseases is observed in the Kyrgyz Republic. She also noted that it is necessary to improve not only interaction between HRO in the receiving and sending countries, but also to strengthen international mechanisms of operation between migration services, to lobby inclusion of migrant workers with irregular status in the inter-state agreements at the CIS level.

2.4 Discussion and results of the working groups Discussion in working groups was organized in the following thematic sequence:

1. Identification of priority issues; 2. Discussion of a role that could be played by Ombudsmen to address these issues; 3. Who should be involved: interested government agencies, NGOs, etc.? 4. Discussion of the operation methods (on the ground of dialogue between public authorities,

NGOs, monitoring of compliance with human rights NGOs involved in policy development, reports of Federal Migration Service concerning violations, police, etc.) Working Group 1: Protecting the rights of migrant workers: discussion and results Moderator – Mr. Alexander Muzykantsky, HRO Moscow. As part of this working group, participants were presented with two reports that formed the basis for discussion. Presentation by Ms. Gulnara Babajanova, lawyer of the “Civic Assistance” Committee highlighted problems related to protection of migrant workers’ rights and experience of the Committee in terms of protecting migrant workers’ rights. The second report, presented by Ms. Nurzidoy Bensgier of Interethnic Information Centre in Yekaterinburg was devoted to aspects of awareness as a factor of migrant workers’ security in labor relations. Within the framework of the working group members discussed various violations migrant workers’ rights in relation to work without a contract and work permit, delays and non-payment of wages, work without respecting the right to leisure, labor exploitation and slavery, identification of such cases, and identification of unscrupulous employers. General leitmotif of this group discussion was concluded that it is impossible or very difficult to protect the rights of irregular migrant workers due to the fact that such migrant workers often lack personal documents, no work permits, there are no labor contracts, etc. It was noted that there overwhelming majority of similar migrant workers in Moscow, and lawyer’s main work includes pre-trial and judicial withdrawal of salaries. Another issue identified in the discussion course is not a shortage of labor resources, but the availability of cheap migrant workers, who can be exploited.

In this regard, the working group discussed the basic question: what can be done in the Russian Federation to promote tougher penalties for employers who use migrant workers without formalizing paperwork. Members of the group came to the conclusion that the current system of penalties has demonstrated its ineffectiveness. Public organizations stay on to get compensation for migrant workers, but do not take action to bring the employers to liability. The role of HRO becomes visible in this situation, which can, using the application from an NGO, go through all the complicated process making unscrupulous employers accountable. In addition to holding criminally liable, it is necessary to establish an organized recruitment system in the sending countries so as to entrust the responsibility for learning

Alexander Muzykantsky, HRO Moscow

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a language, vocational skills development and legalization of permits to the PEA – public or private – to ultimately aim at legal employment of migrant workers. In case of violation of their labor rights, it will be easier to protect migrant workers who operate legally.

The working group also discussed the facilitation mechanism for establishing a regular information exchange from the database of Tajik citizens, whose entry to the Russian Federation is prohibited. HRO in Moscow decided to personally address this issue in order to prevent spending of migrant workers, in respect to whom decision is already made for deportation and prohibition of entry into the Russian Federation. To better protect the migrant workers’ rights HROs in Russia can jointly work with the national and ethnic groupings that operate in the Russian Federation; there are examples of involving volunteers wishing to study Russian. These associations can attract donor funds for this purpose. HRO can assist in dissemination of films and educational programs for migrant workers. It was noted that the overall situation would have become better if overwhelming majority of migrant workers are taken out of the shadow to the legal field. In this situation, one can solve a lot of problems, including replenishment of the regional budget through taxes levied by migrant workers’ earnings, since their stay needs expenses, such as the coverage of medical and social services. The working group participants also noted problems like corruption, particularly in respect to allocating quota for foreign manpower. Thus, the working group participants noted that both in the countries of origin and destination, operation of PEAs, organization of quota process, organized recruitment should be very clear and understood by all parties involved.

Group 2: Social protection of migrant workers in the countries of origin and destination: discussion and results

Moderator– Ms. Lydia Grafova, Chairman of the “Forum of resettlement organizations” Ms. Tatyana Bozrikova presented a report about social protection of migrant workers in sending and receiving countries. Themes like migrant workers’ access social protection services, social security, health care for migrant workers, problems of female out-bound labor migration were discussed after report presentation. Participants noted that, despite the fact that both the sending and receiving countries have different interests, the role of HRO in these countries is to protect human rights. This is a unifying factor. Main obstacles to the social protection of migrant workers in the countries of origin and destination:

Imperfect legislative and regulatory framework;

Lack of effective mechanisms for the implementation of national and ratified international legal instruments in the field of social protection, including in the CIS;

Poor integration of migrant workers’ social protection issues into national, bilateral and multilateral treaties, agreements on labor migration;

Lack of regular monitoring of compliance with migrant workers’ rights in the field of social

Lydia Grafova, Chairman of the “Forum of resettlement organizations”

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protection; High proportion of migrant workers in an irregular status; Low level of legal literacy and awareness of migrant workers and others.

In this working group members presented their recommendations to HRO and international organizations.

Recommendations to HRO: To hold regular monitoring and evaluation of migrant workers’ access to social protection based

on gender-sensitive indicators uniform for the receiving and sending countries and following their results, provision of proposals to address the problems of social protection in the government and non-governmental agencies.

To lobby measures and recommendations aimed at improving immigration legislation and regulations, bilateral intergovernmental agreements on reforming immigration status to include migrant workers into social and health insurance, to lobby for developing an effective system of migrant workers’ social and health insurance. To consider the possibility of using a combination of compulsory and voluntary health insurance for all migrant workers.

Full access of female women to gynecological and obstetric care both for consultation and treatment as well as for the pregnancy and childbirth management should be granted in all insurance schemes.

To provide easy access to health care for children of migrants on the same terms that are children of the host countries.

To legally secure the right of migrant workers with regular status to receive medical care to the extent necessary based on compulsory health insurance for migrants who have employment contract concluded for a period of 1 year or more.

For migrants working with patents and contracts signed for less than a year, access to social and health insurance should be based on the special scheme of compulsory insurance or affordable medical insurance schemes (possibly, such as refundable schemes, where part of money is returned to migrants, who did not seek medical help) that also apply to non-working family members of the migrant.

Retirement benefits (including irregular migrants) – it is necessary to lobby and to develop inter-state agreements regarding retirement agreement. In the country of origin to develop a mechanism for voluntary (privileged or specialized) pension insurance for migrant workers going abroad.

Development of cooperation between the Ombudsmen of the receiving and sending countries. To conduct annual thematic meetings of HROs and relevant organizations, including elaboration of

a mechanism to track the results of these meetings. To develop various forms of partnership with the Diaspora, public associations. We recommend establishing an expert advisory panel (with representatives of NGOs and

international organizations) on migration policy at HRO. To establish a public reception center through NGOs. To strengthen supervision over the observance of human rights, including the rights of migrant

workers at the stage of developing international agreements. To expand the coverage of one’s own work results on migration issues in the mass media. To

regularly hold press conferences on compliance with migrant workers’ rights. The following recommendations were presented to international organizations: To recommend including a component of regional cooperation for HRO in their programs. While holding consultations, to draw attention to the inclusion of human rights component into a

new international development agenda (Millennium Development Goals (after 2015).

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Ms. Lydia Grafova, group moderator noted that presently anti-immigration policies are being actively led in the Russian Federation. Russian NGOs did a lot to contribute to the adoption of the migration policy concept, which explicitly recognizes that Russian Federation needs migrant workers. However, recent actions of the Russian President are contrary to the policy, for example, measures were taken to increase the prohibition period for entry into the Russian Federation after deportation. Many rumors, stereotypes and misinformation are spread about migrant workers supposedly they come just to give birth. Figure was announced that more than 90% of Russians aggressively treat migrant workers. However, this situation is pushed through mass media and politicians. That was why the second working group expressed an idea for HRO to work with mass media as much as possible. HRO should follow the principle of human values’ globalization and remember that migrant workers are the most vulnerable groups in the CIS space.

Group 3: Respect the rights of children and migrant workers’ family members in the countries of origin and destination Moderator - Ms. Irina Skupova, HRO of Samara Region In this group, two reports were presented to participants concerning the situation of children's access to education in the Russian Federation and situation of migrant workers’ children abandoned in the Republic of Tajikistan. The first paper was presented by Mr. Dmitry Poletayev, Director of the Center for Migration Studies in the Russian Federation, based on this Center’s research results concerning the access migrant workers’ children to education in the Republic of Tajikistan. The second paper was presented by Mr. Arthur van Dizen, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Tajikistan. He presented the results of a study conducted by UNICEF in 2011, about the impact of migration on migrant workers’ children remaining in Tajikistan. Problems of limited access of migrant workers’ children to pre-school education and schooling in the Russian Federation, breakage of children’s contact with their migrant parents in Tajikistan, involvement of children into criminal activities, antisocial behavior, access of migrant workers’ children to health and social services in Russia were discussed following the report. Working group participants noted the following problems in the sector: 30% of migrant workers’ children do not attend school, and access to education was declined to

44% of migrant workers’ children due to lack of residence registration. It is formally noted that all must learn, however, only those children can access whose parents have registration for at least a year. The role of HRO is high in this regards and it is necessary to correct this situation. In addition to difficulties of access to education in the host countries, children endure difficulty in

obtaining education in their own country as well. Social rights and quality of life: 60% of migrant workers’ households in the country suffer from

food insecurity, which is a lower threshold level of life. There is a big problem with getting child support alimony from migrant workers’ earnings and it is necessary to legally resolve this issue with those who do not pay alimony. Lack of a system policy was noted in the country of origin to encourage investment aimed at

reducing the flow of migrant workers. Weak system of labour migration management at the state level.

Irina Skupova, HRO in Samara Region

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No legislative recognition of concept of “family” exists in Tajikistan. Thus, rights of families, where marriage with abandoned migrant workers’ wife is not registered, are not adequately protected, including property rights. Increase of depression is observed among migrant workers’ children, that is, 50% of children aged

between 15 and 18 years see migrating perspective and necessary in the absence of parents. There is no database on migrant workers’ children, where they learn and at what level. It is

unclear how these issues are taken into account in case of access of migrant workers’ children to education while they move. The question is how they can continue their education.

The following recommendations were presented to the working group participants: The host country pays little attention to the positive factors, such as December 18 – International

Migrants Day. In those days, it is necessary to carry out any campaign and positive activities on the situation of migrant workers.

It is necessary to develop centers of leisure and culture for children of migrants. Typically, these centers or point of communication and entertainment are presently placed in religious centers (mosques), which are available only to men. It is necessary to develop different forms and centers of leisure through volunteering, for example, organizing day care at the community level and provide them with government support that those women and children were busy.

It is necessary to actively collect qualitative information about how things work in the field of migration, in order to overcome social phobia about migrant workers.

It is necessary to lobby for the introduction of a simplified citizenship for children – school graduates and who lived in Russia for at least 3-4 years.

It is necessary to regulate the concept of “family” in Tajikistan legislation in order to ensure protection of the rights of migrant workers’ families in the country of origin.

This working group discussed the role of HRO as well. It was noted that the NGO sector is active in hotline operation to protect the rights of migrant workers, but the task of HRO is transition from special cases to promotion of systematic approaches and generation of proposals for the creation of labour migration management system and comprehensive reforms. All partners, NGOs, HROs and state should be involved to protect the rights of migrant workers. It is important to develop clear procedures in order to delineate the functional responsibilities and area responsibilities between NGOs, HRO and the state. It is also necessary for HRO to combine the community of experts, in order to lobby for reform and exert impact on the system. Different methods should be used: dialogue, monitoring of participation in migration policy. As noted many times by members of this working group, it is necessary to create a performance system, to develop and sign an agreement in order to develop a framework for interaction between HRO and NGOs working in the labour migration field. Group 4: Integration processes and social adaptation of migrant workers and member of their families Moderator - Ms. Tatyana Merzlyakova, HRO of Sverdlovsk Region The working group participants were presented with the report of Ms. Nargis Azizova regarding the experience of Regional Migration Programme to assist in developing strategies for social integration of migrant workers and member of their families in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and a presentation by Ms. Shakhnoza Khasanova from NGO Sana Sezim about the problems of female migration in Kazakhstan in an example of South-Kazakhstan region. As a result of reports, the working group participants discussed the issue of migrant workers’ access to social services, knowledge of state language in the destination

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countries, the role mass media plays in creating the migrant workers’ image and restrictions of the rights of migrant workers and member of their families in terms of freedom to choose their residence. Interesting discussions took place in respect to experiences and approaches of working with national-cultural centers in migrants’ destination countries, organizations representing migrant workers, about the actual approach regarding implementation of human rights principles in the work held with migrants. Importance of measures to prevent creation of ethnic and other enclaves in the migrant-recipient regions has been emphasized as a barrier towards effective integration of migrants and members of their families in the host society. This working group noted about the presence of the following problems:

Lack of harmonized concepts of “integration” and “social adaptation” in the country of origin and destination.

Significant gender differences with respect to the needs to regulate integration and social adaptation processes.

Tendency to create enclaves in the host countries, mono-ethnic communities and schools. Lack of systematic work on legal education for migrant workers. Lack of systematic efforts to educate another way of life in the host countries, respect traditions

and culture of people in the host country. A more active role for NGOs to protect the rights and integration of migrant workers and relatively

lower activity of HROs and municipal authorities. Lack of coordination of HRO, NGOs and government institutions.

The working group developed the following recommendations based on the results of discussions

and presentations: Personal interest of HRO in solving problems of integration and social adaptation can play a big

role in resolving many problems at the regional level, since HRO has key role in mediating between the government and society.

Work of HRO concerning citizens’ application allows HRO playing the role of a system analyst to figure out what does not suit migrant workers and why they appeal.

HRO must visit places of compact residence of migrant workers and their place of work, where we are in the first place should be interested in how to comply with workers' rights, stipulated by the Labor Code, which applies to all, regardless of citizenship.

To develop a systematic approach towards legal education of migrant workers, so they know their rights, not only in the area of immigration law, but also their rights in society.

To enhance interagency coordination between the HROs, government agencies and NGOs not only on the issue of quota for foreign manpower, but also for the protection of labor rights, social integration and adaptation.

Different HROs have their own experience of working with Diaspora, for example, there is a positive experience in Krasnoyarsk, HRO in Sverdlovsk Region does not cooperate with Diaspora at all, as it is harmful for migrant workers to focus only on communication within their Diasporas.

Not to encourage formation of enclave associations of migrant workers from one country, to promote their integration into Russian society, study in school together with Russian children.

To encourage establishment of inter-ethnic schools, so that children adapt to a new country. To encourage initiatives such as in Moscow – free-of-charge visits of migrant workers to museums

for migrant workers to realize that Russian society is ready to accept them with their features, culture,

Tanyana Merzlyakova, HRO in Sverdlovsk Region

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language and music, but they have to respect the host culture, language and way of Russian society as well.

Problem of social integration and adaptation of migrant workers is a new problem to be studied more in-depth and develop new methods of solution.

2.5 General summarization of the working groups’ results After presenting the results of all the working groups, participants actively discussed the results and offered new recommendations. Mr. Azad Taghizade noted the role of HRO in the host countries to promote the ratification of CRMWMF, as it imposes obligations on the government to solve all of the problems mentioned during the Conference and in the format of working groups. HRO should work with such obstacles as policy, atmosphere, created by the media with respect to migrant workers, reluctance to deal with “gray” economy. He noted a special role of HRO to work with the media in order to prevent publication and discussion ultimately leading to incitement of ethnic hatred. Ms. Tatyana Bozrikova emphasized the role of HRO to introduce a mechanism of voluntary accreditation of intermediary organizations, such as the Diaspora, PEA, in order to assess their transparency, willingness to cooperate and assist migrant workers. Yakimov noted that terms such as adaptation and integration was very vague, he also said that it has no meaning to limit their activities only to cultural integration and adaptation. Migrant workers should not be viewed as a group, but as a person who has rights, and integrate it into the social and legal environment of the Russian Federation. Mr. Victor Sebelev, representative of the Russian Federal Migration Service in the Republic of Tajikistan, disagreed with some of the conclusions and recommendations of the working groups. He noted that communication exists between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Russian Federation on a quarterly basis regarding persons whose entrance to the Russian Federation is banned for committing violations of immigration laws. At the Dushanbe airport every citizen of the Republic of Tajikistan may find information about whether s/he is allowed or prohibited to enter the Russian Federation. In reaction to this HRO noted that FMS database is not complete, as it includes only persons who have committed offenses in the field of migration, while other Russian Federation agencies have their list of individuals – citizens of the Republic of Tajikistan, for whom entry to the Russian Federation is prohibited due to violations of other laws of the Russian Federation. Mr. V.V. Sebelev noted that it is a myth that a large number of migrant workers have irregular status, as nearly 73% of residing foreign citizens obtained legal status from the Russian FMS. HRO of the Russian Federation objected that migrant workers’ status cannot be regular, because quotas for foreign manpower are much lower as compared to numbers expressed by the Russian FMS. Mr. V.V. Sebelev informed the Conference participants that a draft agreement on organized recruitment is being developed between the Russian FMS and Tajikistan Migration Service that provides for the establishment of pre-departure training center to teach the language to migrant workers, to conclude contracts in Tajikistan and thus to prevent violations of their rights . HRO Russia expressed a desire to see the text of the Agreement.

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2.6 Prospects for cooperation of Ombudsmen in Central Asia and the Russian Federation with NGOs involved into protecting the rights of migrant workers and members of their families Discussion of the results of the working groups continued in an open discussion dedicated to cooperation between the HRO and NGOs, the moderator of which was Ms. Toktokan Borombaeva, Deputy HRO of Kyrgyz Republic. As part of this discussion, Mr. Anvar Babaev tried to answer some of the questions raised by Conference participants. He noted that actions of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan is currently limited to obtaining access not only to the FMS database, but also to the database of the Federal Security Service (FSS) to ensure that all citizens of the Republic of Tajikistan, who want to move to Russia, had information about their own status. He also agreed with the conclusion of participants that after the 1990s, the Republic of Tajikistan lost its achievements in the field of education and Tajikistan is unable to independently fill in the gap to improve vocational education. Therefore, possibility of training Tajik migrant workers based on Russian vocational schools is presently being discussed. Moreover, Mr. Anvar Babaev informed Conference participants that Migration Service is currently developing an organized recruitment system for migrant workers to work in Russia, using the experience of the Philippines. Conference participants noted that only 1% of migrant workers make use of organized recruitment, therefore, promotion of this model, especially the experience of the Philippines, is inappropriate. Participants noted that in order to solve migrant workers’ problems, HRO should assist in deciding whether to open a consulate of the Republic of Tajikistan in St. Petersburg, where the biggest quota for foreign manpower is repeatedly allocated for the recent 2 years. Participants also suggested that based on this meeting’s results HRO in RT has to organize a meeting with the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and report him about the migrant workers’ situation and convince him that migrant-receiving countries migrant workers really need to protect their rights. Conference participants had the impression that state structures of the Republic of Tajikistan are not fully concerned about the destiny of their citizens and violation of their rights, their involvement into slavery and labor exploitation. Conference participants repeatedly stressed the need for action by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan concerning the country’s economic development and investment promotion in Tajikistan in order to reduce labor migration, encourage Tajikistan citizens to study Russian language, increase their motivation to protect their lives, learn their rights, and immigration laws of the Russian Federation. Russian NGOs have expressed concern about the very low state protection of migrant workers’ rights in the countries of destination and low interest of the state to create structure in Tajikistan, involved into protection of its citizens’ rights, low involvement of the state to increase legal literacy of migrant workers, learning Internet, that will allow migrant workers to independently look for employment, and verify employers. IOM Tajikistan raised an issue of a lack of interest of the Tajik national TV/radio channels to work at no cost to disseminate information on labor migration, migrant workers’ rights, reels and television

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programs. HRO in RT should help to address this issue, taking into account the importance of informing migrant workers. Mr. Babaev, MS representative expressed agreement with these shortcomings. He noted that the focus of Government action is to provide services of migrant workers, however there are issues in interagency coordination. Presently, there is no cooperation in place with border services. MS is not available in all regions of Tajikistan, so about 70% of migrant workers remain out of their coverage. MS and HRO can jointly deliver information to the level of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, including financial allocation for the realization of programs by MS. Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Tajikistan, as well as other participants emphasized that Tajikistan needs to strengthen its activities to improve the country’s economy and reduce the flow of labor migration. He also noted the need to understand the situation in the receiving countries as well, because they spend their budget resources to ensure migrant workers’ rights for access to health, social services and education, because many migrant workers do not pay taxes in the receiving countries. Mr. Zarif Alizoda supported the conclusion of NGOs of the Russian Federation in terms of the fact that for some government agencies in Tajikistan labor migration issue is not paramount, since labor migration and its impact is not seriously conceived. Ms. Toktokan Borombaeva, Deputy HRO in Kyrgyzstan, has summed up the discussions and noted the importance of working together to solve problems and engage HRO, NGOs and government agencies. She also noted that citizens should not be limited in the choice of the method of labor migration, that is, through an organized recruitment or independently. For HRO in this situation it is important that they ensure protection of migrant workers’ rights in all labor migration alternatives. Moderator noted that HRO cannot deal with all the issues that were discussed at the Conference. However, HRO possesses such mechanisms as working with applications, submission of reports about its activities, monitoring and analysis of human rights by all institutions and agencies, regardless of their form of ownership, which can be effectively used in the field of labor migration as well. She stressed that HRO’s role is to help coordinate the efforts of government agencies that poorly regulate labor migration in all countries. HRO can mobilize all the agencies and institutions, such as schools, local self-governance authorities, education in one’s country of origin, since migrant workers’ problems begin at home.

2.7 Discussion and adoption of participant’s Joint Conference Statement

As a documented outcome of the Conference results, participants developed and adopted a Joint statement that included the intention of the Conference to continue holding dialogue on migrant workers’ rights, taking into account the overall context and established membership and contact in the CIS, shared values of respect and observance of human rights. In the Joint statement the Conference participants pointed out a number of joint actions and intentions to cooperate with each other, government agencies and international organizations to address issues discussed during the conference. Text of the Joint Declaration is attached as Annex 1.

Conference participants decided to hold the next conference in Yekaterinburg of the Russian Federation. At the next Conference, in has been agreed to initiate discussions with summarizing implementation of agreements set out in the joint statement and to discuss other issues in the area of labor migration, including a more active involvement of the experts’ community.

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III. Conclusions and final recommendations

Regional Conference demonstrated the willingness and the high level of interest expressed by invited HROs from the Russian Federation and Kyrgyz Republic, NGOs from Russia and Kazakhstan to work jointly to resolve labor migration problems and establish cooperation with Tajikistan. Similar dialogues between the two countries to discuss labor migration issues allow finding out more information at the first hand, to jointly analyze the causes and consequences of human rights violations in migration processes and to develop practical measures to prevent them. As noted, for example, by Mr. Muzykantsky, HRO Moscow, he did not fully understand many of the labor migration problems and dynamics of migration until he came to Tajikistan to participate in the Conference. All HRO from Russian Federation expressed a desire that after the Conference they will include labor migration and protection of migrant workers’ rights into their priorities. All Russian HROs agreed with the recommendation of the UN Committee member to promote the Russian Federation to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. This dialogue has also been useful for the HRO operating inside the Russian Federation, as they familiarized themselves with the models of working in each labor migration areas. For example, the model of HRO in Sverdlovsk Region that showed positive results was not known for other HROs of the regions and cities attending the Conference. Of course, similar dialogue should continue to more actively support and engage authorities of the countries of destination and origin, NGOs and international organizations. In this regard, meeting participants suggested the following recommendations:

To continue dialogue between HRO of the Russian Federation, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Kyrgyzstan and to achieve Kazakhstan’s involvement into these discussions;

Since it was the first ever experience of discussing the labor migration problems, many questions were included into topic areas to be discussed by the Conference. In the next phases, it is suggested to limit the number of topics to be discussed in order to look more closely and thematically at the existing problems and obstacles.

To develop a mechanism for the implementation of agreements reached within the framework of the Conference;

To support the proposal for developing a mechanism (agreement) of interaction between NGOs of Tajikistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, HRO of Tajikistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and with a clear distribution of powers to protect migrant workers’ rights among NGOs, HRO and states;

To support the HRO in Tajikistan for developing a report or information to the President concerning labor migration issues;

To support conducting large-scale events on labor migration in Tajikistan with participation of the Russian Federation, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, as it creates a resonance in a country where issues of labor migration, its impact on the economy and country life is weakly discussed.

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Annexes

Annex 1

Joint statement from the Regional Conference of Ombudsmen of Central Asia and the Russian Federation “Effective

legal remedies for migrant workers and members of their families: the role of Ombudsmen of Central Asia and the Russian Federation”, 30-31 October 2012

We, participants of the Regional Conference of Ombudsmen of Central Asia and the Russian

Federation – heads of the national human rights institutions in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sverdlovsk Region, Samara Region, Krasnoyarsk Region of the Russian Federation, Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic, representatives of government agencies and non-governmental organizations in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan:

- Bearing in mind provisions of the International Bill of Human Rights and other universally recognized international instruments in the field of human rights;

- Reaffirming a common understanding for the need of globalization of human values, and to guarantee public rights and freedoms of all citizens, including migrant workers and members of their families, their observance and respect by public authorities of both sending and receiving countries;

- Based on traditional friendly relations existing between our countries, as well as intentions to further economic integration between the CIS countries;

- Considering the interest in joint resolution of the existing problems in the field of human rights and freedoms of migrant workers and members of their families;

- Striving for mutual cooperation for the benefit of migrant workers and members of their families based on human rights and freedoms and rule of law;

- Being involved in harmonizing the interests of migrant workers and citizens of the host countries; - Taking into account the outcome of discussions at the Regional Conference in Dushanbe, declare: 1. Aimed at protecting and promoting the rights and freedoms of migrant workers, within their jurisdiction, participants of the Regional Conference will:

Promote ratification of the United Nations International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families;

Strengthen practical cooperation to ensure access of migrant workers and members of their families to an effective legal protection;

Promote respect for and protection of migrant workers and members of their families by government officials at all levels of government of both sending and receiving countries in the region, since their rights are guaranteed through national and international regulations in the field of human rights;

Jointly implement activities to provide legal assistance to migrant workers and members of their families;

Work together to promote legal awareness on the rights and freedoms of migrant workers and members of their families themselves and population as a whole, while working to create the image of migrants, working with media and migration policy;

Examine situation with observance of human rights of migrant workers and members of their families, who are in penitentiary institutions, homeless placement centers in the host countries, through regular monitoring of these institutions in joint cooperation with NGOs and respond to violations of their rights;

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Exchange information about the state migration policy in their countries and assist in its application by the authorities of sending and receiving countries aimed at provision, compliance with and restoration of rights and freedoms of migrant workers and members of their families;

Conduct regular dialogue with relevant public and intergovernmental agencies to ensure international standards and norms of human rights of migrant workers and members of their families while developing, analyzing and assessing documents that govern labor migration issues;

Monitor the operation of private employment agencies in sending countries, private employment agencies and employers of the host countries in order to prevent labor exploitation of migrant workers;

Deal with facts of discrimination and xenophobia against migrant workers and members of their families in the host countries through information campaigns, interaction with the media, advocacy to develop intercultural and interethnic dialogue;

Pay special attention to the development of policies and effective mechanisms to protect the rights of migrant workers with a gender perspective and ensure that the rights of women and migrant workers’ families, particularly, migrant workers’ children, when undertaking routine work to protect the rights of migrant workers and member of their families;

Together with relevant government agencies undertake regular monitoring of access of migrant workers’ children to schooling on the same terms that are children of migrants destination country, regardless of the migrant workers’ status;

Draw the attention of government structures into inadmissibility of discrimination cases in terms of right to education for children of seasonal migrant workers;

Assist in ensuring smooth equal access of children of migrant workers to health care on the same terms enjoyed by children of the host countries;

Promote equal access of migrant workers and members of their families to free health care within the guaranteed minimum package of health services;

Facilitate legal consolidation of regular migrant workers’ rights to receive medical aid to the extent necessary based on compulsory medical insurance for migrant workers, with whom labor contract is concluded for the period of one year or more, including female migrant workers to benefit from free gynecological and obstetric care;

Lobby for the development of an effective system of social and health insurance of migrant workers with the possibility of a combination of compulsory and voluntary health insurance for all categories of migrant workers;

Lobby for the application of measures and make recommendations to improve immigration laws and regulations, bilateral international agreements in order to minimize the risks of irregular migration;

Lobby and make recommendations to interstate agreements regarding pension arrangements, including in the country of origin to facilitate the development of a mechanism for voluntary (privileged or specialized) pension insurance for migrant workers going abroad;

Promote the development of family reunification programs, paying particular attention to the families of migrant workers, particularly, women and children, bearing in mind the existing international best practices;

Facilitate towards taking necessary enforcement action against parents who use child labor, and the use of children for begging, regardless of their nationality;

Implement the above activities in an active partnership with civil society organizations working to protect the rights of migrant workers and members of their families aimed at reducing social tensions by seeking measures to prevent critical situations related to labor migration in both sending and receiving countries;

Exchange statistical and reference materials, regulations, methodical guidelines in the sphere of labor migration that present mutual interest;

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Annually and jointly prepare and publish analytical materials concerning joint efforts to protect the rights of migrant workers and members of their families;

Contribute to the expansion of information and educational programs for migrant workers and members of their families through the state media, including TV and radio, on a regular basis and free-of-charge;

Expand coverage of one’s performance on migration issues through the media, hold regular press conferences pertaining to compliance with migrant workers’ rights, and consider the possibility of creating a separate section for Human Rights Ombudsman on TV, especially in the countries of origin;

Conduct dialogue with government and intergovernmental agencies to promote economic and social development of countries of origin in order to reduce mass migration that causes the risk of human potential loss;

Draw the attention of governmental and international agencies to existing negative social aspects of labor migration in the countries of origin and host, such as the growth of stateless persons, destruction of family institution, child rights violations in separating families;

Develop and establish practical mechanisms for the joint response of Ombudsman and NGOs to violations of the rights of migrant workers and members of their families at all stages of migration;

Contribute to the implementation of measures for social integration, following the human rights approach in order to ensure involvement of migrant workers into the social and legal environment in the host country;

Prevent and suppress attempts to create ethnicity-based enclaves aimed at real integration of migrants and members of their families into the society of destination country;

Establish an expert advisory board (with representatives of NGOs, international organizations) on migration policy under the Human Rights Ombudsman;

Strengthen supervision over observance of human rights, including the rights of migrant workers at the development stage of interstate agreements;

Conduct annual thematic meetings of HRO together with NGOs as well as organizations representing workers’ interests, and develop tracking mechanisms to follow results of decisions made at these meetings;

Within the framework of HRO’s cooperation with international organizations recommend to include a component of HRO regional cooperation in the labor migration program of international organizations (UN) and access to justice;

While holding consultations to develop a new international development agenda (Millennium Development Goals (after 2015) pay attention to the integration of objectives and targets for effective regulation of migration processes from the human rights viewpoint. 2. We express our sincere gratitude to the UN Women Sub-regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the UK Government and the Swiss Cooperation Office for hosting the Regional Conference in Dushanbe.

3. We express our deep appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Human Rights Ombudsman in the Republic of Tajikistan for the warm welcome and hospitality.

4. In order to enhance coordination and cooperation for the promotion of human rights and freedoms at the regional level, it is necessary to hold Regional Conference of Ombudsmen annually.

6. The next Regional Conference of Ombudsmen will be held in April-May, 2013 in Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation, to discuss issues of legalization, expulsion and deportation of migrant workers, monitoring of forced detention facilities, detention centers and prisons, to identify vulnerable groups of

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migrant workers in the destination countries, to define risks and vulnerabilities of these countries due to irregular migration.

Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan 31 October 2012

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Annex 2

Programme for the regional conference

30 October 2012

8.30-9.00 Registration of participants

9.00-09.30 Opening of the Regional conference:

Mr. Alizoda, Human Rights Ombudsman of Tajikistan.

Mr. Zuev, UN Resident Coordinator in Tajikistan.

Mr. Mikula, Country Director of the Swiss Cooperation office in Tajikistan.

Mr. William Kilby, Head of DFID office in Tajikistan.

Mr. Tajma Kurt, Director of IOM in Tajikistan.

09.30 – 10.30 Session 1. Effective legal remedies for migrant workers: overview of international standards.

Moderator: Ms. Zaharieva, HR Adviser to UNCT.

1. “Overview of international obligations of sending and recipient countries on protection of rights of migrant workers and members of their families”, Member of the UN Committee on Migrant Workers.

2. “Problems related to protection of rights of Tajik migrant workers and ways of their solution”, Mr. Devonaev, Head of Migration Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.

3. “Rights of female migrant workers – general situation, violation of women’s rights and their access to legal remedies”, Ms. Azizova, Programme Specialist, UN Women.

10.30 – 11.00 Questions, discussion

11.00-11.15 Coffee-break

11.15 – 11.50 Session 2. Effective strategies and measures on protection of rights of migrant workers in countries of destination and countries of origin.

Moderator: Mr. Denisov, Ombudsman of Krasnoyarsk region, Russia.

1. “Strategies and measures aimed at protection of rights of migrant workers using experience of Ombudsman of Sverdlovsk region”, Ms. Merzlyakova, Ombudsman of Sverdlovsk region.

2. “Cooperation between NGOs of Tajikistan and NGOs of Russian Federation to ensure protection of rights of migrant workers”, joint presentation of Ms. Abdulloeva, Human Rights Centre in Tajikistan and Mr. Yakimov, Anti-discrimination centre “Memorial” in Russia.

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11.50-12.00 Questions, discussion

12.00 – 13.00 Open discussion of Ombudsmen of Russia, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

Moderator: Mr. Alizoda, Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Tajikistan.

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch

14.00 – 15.30 Session 3. Discussion of possible solutions to legal problems of migrant workers from perspective of role of Ombudsmen.

Discussion in the groups on the following issues:

1. Labour rights of migrant workers: Speaker: Ms. Bobodjanova and Ms. Bensgier, Moderator: Mr. Muzikantski.

2. Social protection of migrant workers in countries of origin and destination: Speaker – Ms. Bozrikova, Moderator: Ms. Grafova.

3. Respect of rights of children and members of families of migrant workers: Speaker: representative of UNICEF, Moderator: Ms. Skupova.

4. Integration and social adaptation of migrant workers and members of their families: Speaker: Ms. Azizova, Moderator: Ms. Merzlyakova.

Questions for discussion in groups:

Which role Ombudsmen can play to solve revealed problems in each of the sectors?

Who shall be involved: respective public bodies, NGOs or other? Development of strategies on joint response to violations of rights of

migrant-workers by Ombudsmen of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in the areas specified above.

15.30 – 15.45 Coffee-break

15.45 – 17.00 Continuation of discussion in group work

17.15 – 18.15 Meeting of Ombudsmen of Russia and Central Asia with the Director of the Drug Control Agency under the President of Tajikistan.

19.00 Reception by the Government of Switzerland in the restaurant of the Hotel “Asia Grand Hotel”.

31 October 2012

09.00-09.10 Opening of the second day of the Conference, wrap-up of day 1.

Mr. Alizoda, Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Tajikistan.

09.10-09.25 Welcome address by Mr. Stephan Nellen, Swiss Ambassador to Kazakhstan and

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Tajikistan.

09.25 – 11.30 Plenary discussion of the results of the discussions in the groups: discussion of recommendation and adoption of general recommendations under each thematic area.

Moderator: Ms. Dvoracek, Human Rights Adviser of Switzerland in Tajikistan

11.30-11.45 Coffee-break

11.45 – 13.30 Open discussion: cooperation between Ombudsmen of Central Asia and Russian Federation and NGOs on protection of rights of migrant workers

Moderator: Ms. Borombaeva, Deputy Ombudsman of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan

13.30 – 14.30 Lunch

14.30 – 15:30 Presentation of Dushanbe Declaration on results of the conference, its discussion and adoption.

15:30 – 16:30 Press-conference

16:30 – 16: 45 Follow-up activities and closure of the conference by Mr. Alizoda, Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Tajikistan and Ms. Mezlyakova, Human Rights Ombudsman of the Sverdlovsk Oblast of Russian Federation.

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Annex 3

Brief about Ombudsmen participated in the regional conference

Republic of Tajikistan

Mr. Zarif Alizoda, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Tajikistan.

PhD in Law. Since 1990 Z. Alizoda held various positions in public service, such as an advisor, chief specialist of committee of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Tajikistan on constitutional law, legislation and human rights, the Chairman of Tajikistan Constitutional Supervision Committee, a member of the National Reconciliation Commission, a deputy, chairman of the committee on Constitutional Law, Legislation and Human Rights within MajlisiOli of the Republic of Tajikistan (lower chamber of Parliament), the head of the Office of Public Service under the President of Tajikistan. From 2003 to 2006 Z. Alizoda was Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Tajikistan. Prior to holding a position of the Human Rights Ombudsman, Z. Alizoda held an office of the State Advisor to the President on legal policy and was the President's authorized representative in the Parliament of the Republic of Tajikistan. Z. Alizoda has State awards, is engaged in research activities. In 2009 Z. Alizoda was appointed as the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Tajikistan.

Republic of Kyrgyzstan

Ms. Toktokan Borombaeva, Deputy Akyikatchy (Ombudsman) of the Kyrgyz Republic

Toktokan Zholuevna is a State Advisor of the Kyrgyz Republic of the II Grade, a board member of “Ayalzat” - the Center for Women's Initiatives of Osh, Association in support of crisis centers, women's fund business initiatives. T. Borombaeva is the founder of the Republican unified political party "Elmuras" and a member of the National Council under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic to combat human trafficking. She has initiated a series of laws, including laws on gender equality and the fight against human trafficking. T. Borombaeva has different rewards.

The Russian Federation

Ms. Tatyana Merzlyakova, Commissioner for Human Rights in Sverdlovsk region

Since 2001Tatyana Merzlyakova holds a position of a secretary to the regional public organization "Sverdlovsk Creative Union of Journalists" and was elected as a delegate to the XXVIIIth Congress of the CPSU, VI Congress of Journalists of the Soviet Union. Tatyana Merzlyakova was elected as a deputy to Rzhevsk City Council of People’s Deputies and since 1996 is a Deputy of the regional Duma of Sverdlovsk region, deputy chairman of the committee on social policy. In 2000,

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she has become an advisor to the Governor of the Government of the Sverdlovsk region on social issues. In addition to it she is a member of the Women's Commission under the Chairman of the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, member of the Presidium of the Commission on equal rights and opportunities under the Chairman of the Federation Council, a member of the Board on Public Safety of Sverdlovsk region, a member of the Interagency Council of Sverdlovsk region on migration and since 2010 she is a member of the coordination board on law and order in Sverdlovsk region. In 2002 she was elected to the European Ombudsman institution, in 2006 for the fourth time she was elected a Member of its Board from Russia. Since 2010 Tatyana Merzlyakova is a Chairperson of the Commission of Pardons established in Sverdlovsk region. Ms. Merzlyakova is awarded with a medal "For Services to the Fatherland of the II degree," memorable symbol "300 Years of the Russian press," and "In Memory of the 200th Anniversary of the Ministry of Justice of Russia", medal of the Union of Journalists of Russia "Honour, Dignity, Professionalism ", the Order of St. Princess Olga 2nd and 3rd degrees. Since 2001, after her first election to the office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Sverdlovsk region, Merzlyakova Tatyana was re-elected to this position twice, in 2006 and in 2011.

Mr. Alexander Ilyich Muzykantsky, Commissioner for Human Rights in Moscow

PhD in Technical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Chamberof International Policy of Moscow State University named after M.Lomonosov. From 1963 to1990 he held senior positions with the Central Scientific Research and Design Institute of Steel Constructionsof the USSR. Since 1992 he held various management positions in the Government of Moscow city, including an office of the Deputy of Prime Minister, the Minister of the Moscow Government for information and socio-political relations. Since 2005to 2009 he was a President of the Foundation "Russian Public Policy Center." From 2007 to 2009 he was a President of the "Moscow encyclopedia." Alexander Muzykantsky is a member of the Advisory Council for the national, migration policies and cooperation with religious associations under the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Central Federal District. He was awarded with orders and medals. On 23.09.2009 he was appointed to the position of Commissioner for Human Rights in Moscow.

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Mr. Mark Denisov, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Krasnoyarsk Region

Mark Denisov was a journalist, Chairman of the Krasnoyarsk region Committee on the issues of nationalities, religions and social associations, Advisor to the Governor of the Krasnoyarsk region. In 2005, Mark Denisov graduated from the Russian Academy of Public Service under the President of the Russian Federation with a degree on public administration. In 2008 Mark Denisov was appointed as a Commissioner for Human Rights of the Krasnoyarsk region.

Ms. Irina Skupova, Ombudsman of Samara region

Ph.D. in history. Currently Irina Skupova is working on her doctoral dissertation in the framework of a subject "Evolution of scientific and historical consciousness in Russian society in the years of 1985 - 2000." She has scientific publications and is the author of journalistic materials. Since late 90's Irina Skupova is actively engaged in social, political and human rights activities. Starting from 2000 she has become a Chairman of the Samara regional office and a member of the Federal Council of the Russian Democratic Party "Yabloko". In 2003 she ran for the State Duma. Irina Skupova was a head of the nonprofit partnership "Legal Assistance", providing free legal assistance to vulnerable people. On her initiativespecialized NGOs "DOPUSK" - a voluntary association of communal houses of Samara and "DOSTUP" - an organization for the protection of the rights of consumers of telephone services were founded. Irina Skupova is known in Samara region as an organizer of various educational programs. In 1980-es she headed Samara public fund on creative technology innovations in education and training "SOFIT." Since February 2004 she headed the Samara School of Public Policy. On July 2, 2004 on the results of the secret ballot of Samara Regional Duma deputies she has been appointed to the position of Commissioner for Human Rights in the Samara region. On July 3, 2009 she was appointed to the position of Commissioner for Human Rights in the Samara region for the second term.

Ms. Svetlana Vasyukova, head of citizens’ rights observance monitoring department under the Commissioner for Human Rights in St. Petersburg

Svetlana Vasyukova joined the office of the Commissioner for Human Rights in December 2007. Prior to that she worked in the executive branch of St. Petersburg government (1990) in the field of social protection as well as in the Ministry of Labour and Social Development of the Russian Federation. Heroffice duties include consideration of citizens statements addressed to the Commissioner for Human Rights in St. Petersburg on social issues (education, health, social protection); statements originated from the penitentiary system;

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complaints to law enforcement agencies, protection of labor rights, as well as those related with migration policy. In addition, issues of cooperation with civil society organizations and the executive government.

Ms. Elena Kuznetsova, Commissioner for Human Rights in the penal system of the Federal Penitentiary Service, Saint-Petersburg and Leningrad region

Higher education - a lawyer. In the penal system from January 1998 to the present. Member of the Board of Pardons of St. Petersburg, a member of the Commission on Human Rights under the Governor of St. Petersburg. Member of the Coordinating Council on Gender Equality in St. Petersburg. Kuznetsova Elena’sjob includes the following: control over ensuring protection of rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of convicts and detainees, of the staff and employees of the penal institutions and bodies of correctional system, organization of actions focused at meeting international regulations on human rights ratified by the Russian Federation regulating interactions with international human rights organizations, cooperation with prosecutors, Russian and international human rights organizations in order to improve human rights, public authorities and media, expertize of analytical, statistical and other materials about compliance of legislation and regulations governing the activities of the penal system in the field of human rights and making legal opinions following the results of inspections of human rights violations and the corresponding draft orders, instructions and directives.

Brief about key speakers

Mr. Azad Taghizade, Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers, Deputy Chairman of the Committee

Azad Taghizade is Deputy Dean of the branch of Moscow State University in Baku and the Head of the Department of Social Services within the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Azerbaijan. As head of department, he is involved in the development and implementation of social policies focused at population, including services for migrant workers, cooperates with international organizations and ministries of foreign states on social services. A. Taghizade represents the Government of Azerbaijan in Government Council of European Committee. In 1975, A. Taghizadeh graduated from Moscow State University, faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics and in 1978 at the same University received Doctors Degree in mathematics. Being a member of the Committee, Azad Tagizadeh examines reports from States, visits inter-committee meetings,acts as a speaker in various countries (including into Tajikistan in 2012.) He has more than 80 scientific papers, articles and manuals, research on demography, migration flows.

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Mr. Safialo Devonaev, Head of the Migration Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan

Safialo Devonaev is an economist, lawyer. He graduated from Tajik State University, the Academy of the Interior Ministry of the Russian Federation. He served in various departments of the Interior. He has held senior positions in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan. Within 2005-2008 he was the representative of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Office for the Coordination of the fight against organized crime and other dangerous crimes of CIS (BKBOP). From 2008 to January 2011 held a position of the Head of the Migration Service of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Tajikistan. In January 2011, by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan he was appointed to the position of a Head of the newly created Migration Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. He has the government awards.

Ms. Nargis Azizova, Programme Specialist, UN Women Sub-regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Kazakhstan

Economist. Prior to commencing her work in a position of a Specialist of the Regional Programfor Migration in Central Asia and Russia, UN Women, Nargis worked for more than 10 years at the United Nations in various capacities as Assistant Representative of the UNDP programs, Advisor of UNIFEM on gender and democratic governance in Tajikistan. Prior to joining the UN, Nargis for more than 10 years worked at the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Tajikistan, including as head of the department of international economic relations. As an adviser on gender issues and democratic governance, Nargis Azizova participated in the development of gender policy of the RT, implementation of Gender approaches into national development and poverty reduction strategies, business development and land reform. Nargis Azizova engaged in scientific activity and has a number of scientific publications.

Ms. Tatyana Merzlyakova, Commissioner for Human Rights in Sverdlovsk region

Since 2001 Tatyana Merzlyakova holds a position of a secretary to the regional public organization "Sverdlovsk Creative Union of Journalists" and was elected as a delegate to the XXVIIIth Congress of the CPSU, VI Congress of Journalists of the Soviet Union. Tatyana Merzlyakova was elected as a deputy to Rzhevsk City Council of People’s Deputies and since 1996 is a Deputy of the regional Duma of Sverdlovsk region, deputy chairman of the committee on social policy. In 2000, she has become an advisor to the Governor of the Government of the Sverdlovsk region on social issues. In addition to it she is a member of the Women's Commission under the Chairman of the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, member of the Presidium of the

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Commission on equal rights and opportunities under the Chairman of the Federation Council, a member of the Board on Public Safety of Sverdlovsk region, a member of the Interagency Council of Sverdlovsk region on migration and since 2010 she is a member of the coordination board on law and order in Sverdlovsk region. In 2002 she was elected to the European Ombudsman institution, in 2006 for the fourth time she was elected a Member of its Board from Russia. Since 2010 Tatyana Merzlyakova is a Chairperson of the Commission of Pardons established in Sverdlovsk region. Merzlyakova Tatyana is awarded with a medal "For Services to the Fatherland of the II degree," memorable symbol "300 Years of the Russian press," and "In Memory of the 200th Anniversary of the Ministry of Justice of Russia", medal of the Union of Journalists of Russia "Honour, Dignity, Professionalism ", the Order of St. Princess Olga 2nd and 3rd degrees.

Mr. Andrei Yakimov, Project Coordinator, ADC Memorial, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Andrei Yakimov is a post graduate student of the Faculty of History of St. Petersburg State University, ethnographer. A. Yakimov is an expert in dealing with ethnic minorities and migrants at the Anti-Discrimination Center of Memorial, St. Petersburg.

Ms. Nodira Abdulloeva, Program Coordinator on labor migration, NGO "Human Rights Centre", Republic of Tajikistan

Nodira Abdulloeva is a lawyer by her background; she has been proactively engaged in human rights activities in the field of labor migration. She is an experienced trainer and expert in the field of human rights, in particular the rights of migrant workers and access to justice. She is a co-author of several reports in the field of labor migration. In 2012 Nodira was a head of an informal network of NGOs in Tajikistan to prepare an alternative report on the observance by Tajikistan a Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers and participated in the discussions of this report with the Committee members. In the framework of her activities to protect the rights of migrant workers Nodira cooperates with NGOs of the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan.

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Ms. Gulnara Babadjanova, a lawyer, the "Grazhdanskoe Sodeistvie" (Civic Assistance), Moscow, Russian Federation

Gulnara Babadjanova provides advocacy in the branch of "Lawyer Advice 170" of Inter-Republican Bar Association of Moscow for 10 years, in 2009GulnaraBabadjanova was engaged as a lawyer to work in the project to provide social, legal and information assistance to migrant workers and protect their rights in national and international courts in the Regional Public Charity Organization for Refugees and IDPs "Grazhdanskoye sodeistvie" (Civil Assistance) (Committee "Grazhdanskoye sodeistvie").

Ms. Nurzida Bensgier, executive director of the nonprofit partnership "Transnational Information Centre", Yekaterinburg, Russia

Nurzida is working in nonprofit organizations since 2002 (NGO "National-Cultural Autonomy of Tatars of Sverdlovsk region" Social TV project "Islam Today", co-author and initiator of the TV project "Measurement of N" (on air of "regional TV" (Ekaterinburg) which is about the lives of ethnic communities of the region), the founder of the nonprofit partnership "Transnational Information Centre." Project coordinator, fundraiser, participant and organizer of seminars, workshops and conferences on the development of principles of tolerance in the media and in the educational field of Ekaterinburg and Sverdlovsk region, Perm, Chelyabinsk region solving migration problems, coach. Member of the Community Advisory Council of the Federal Migration Service of the Sverdlovsk region.

Ms. Tatyana Bozrikova, Head of the Public Foundation "Panorama", Republic of Tajikistan.

PhD in philosophy. Gender expert of UN Women. Under her leadership, the Public Fund "Panorama" conducted more than 50 case studies of various social problems, including labor migration issues. She has participated in the development of various national policies, state programs, laws "About migration", "About Private Employment Agencies." The head of a coalition of public associations "From legal equality to actual equality."

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Ms. Shakhnoza Hasanova, Vice President, NGO "Sana Sezim".

Psychologist-consultant. Since 2005, Ms. Hasanova works with NGO "Sana Sezim". She began her work there first as a volunteer and later worked as a psychologist. As a psychologist she conducted individual consultations for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence, conducted seminars and trainings for governmental and law enforcement agencies, to the population of the South - Kazakhstan region and also carried out actions, outreach work. From 2008 to present Shakhnoza is a vice president of NGO "Sana Sezim". Presently she participates in social activities of the city, in various workshops, coordinates the program on labor migration.

Mr. Dmitry Poletayev, Director of the Regional Public Organization "Center for Migration Studies", Moscow, Russia

Leading researcher at the Institute of Economic Projections, (laboratory of migration analysis and forecasting). From 1991 to 1996 Dmitry Poletayev studied at the Moscow Institute of Economics and Statistics (specialty "Statistics", qualification "economist"). In 2001 he became a PhD on economic sciences (specialty 08.00.14 "World Economy"), with a thesis "Illegal foreign workers in Russia" All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Foreign Economic Relations Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT VNIIVS). Research interests: undocumented migration, educational migration, female migration, migrant children, the integration and adaptation of migrants, human trafficking, and forced labor of migrant workers, the history of migration, international migration.

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Annex 4 List of participants

NN Full name Position/Organization Contact information 1. Zarif Alizoda Human Rights Ombudsman in the

Republic of Tajikistan + 992 37 221 79 89

2. Toktokan Borombaeva

Deputy Human Rights Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic

+ (996) 312 66 3142 Borombaeva-t@mail.ru

3. Alexander Muzykansky

Human Rights Ombudsman of Moscow

+ 7 (495) – 728 6465 aim@mccme.ru

4. Svetlana Vasyukova Head of Citizens’ Rights Observance Monitoring Department under the Human Rights Ombudsman in St. Petersburg

+ 7 (921) 945-63-84 Vsp07@bk.ru

5. Yelena Kuznetsova Commissioner for Human Rights in the penal system of the Federal Penitentiary Service in St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region

+7(921) 428 18 88 hr.ufsin@yndex.ru

6. Tatyana Merzlyakova Human Rights Ombudsman in Sverdlovsk Region

+ 7 (922) 035 61 95 ombudsman@midusal.ru

7. Irina Skupova Human Rights Ombudsman in Samara Region

8 (946) 332 32 21 ( .) +7 927 721 87 09 ( .) Ombudsman.samara@yandex.ru

8. Mark Denisov Human Rights Ombudsman in Krasnoyarsk Region

8 903 986 57 30 denisov@ombudsmankk.krsn.ru

9. Anvar Babaev Deputy Head of Migration Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan

10. Pulod Boboev Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan

992 37 221 15 41

11. Muhsinzade I.

Ministry of Labour and Social Protection

992 37 235 08 22, 992 37 236 24 25 992 93 549 01 66 (mobile)

12. Samadov B. Ministry of Labour and Social Protection

13. Rahimov S. Ismoilov A.

Ministry of Health

992 600 60 02 arastullo@mail.ru

14. Alisher Yarbabaev Head of Employment and Social Protection Department, Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan

992 918 63 25 51

15. Muzaffar Ashurov Head of Department for Constitutionally Guaranteed Rights of Citizens, Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan

38

16. Sherkhanov I. Muinova M.

Youth Affairs Committee 992 98 530 98 98 Ismail.tj1986@mail.ru

17. Kurbonov B. Parliament of the Republic of Tajikistan

992 37 221 20 35 992 918 65 47 16

18. Bunafsha Odinaeva Deputy Director of Drug Control Agency

19. Farida Muminova Deputy Director of Strategic Research Center under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan

992 37 221 11 00 992 919 17 28 84

20. Dilorom Rahmatova Strategic Research Center under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan

992 918 65 06 12

21. Galina Shulga Embassy of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Tajikistan

shoulga@list.ru

22. Vladimnir Sebelev Head of Russian FMS Representation in the Republic of Tajikistan

992 918 66 37 41

23. Saralaev U. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kyrgyzstan in the Republic of Tajikistan

24. Korchueva S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan in the Republic of Tajikistan

992 904 25 25 93

25. Andrey Yakimov ADC Memorial, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

8 921 598 17 90 – adcmemorial.org yakimov@memorial.spb.ru

26. Tursin Alimardonova Russian Trade Union of Migrant Workers

+ 7 903 194 85 24 tursin55@mail.ru www.profmigr.com

27. Gulzada Babajanova “Civic Assistance” Fund

8 962 901 21 30 Advokat_gulnara@mail.ru

28. Nurzida Bensgier International Information Center, Yekaterinburg

+ 7 912 283 11 10 norabenz@mail.ru ethnic-center@mail.ru

29. Lidiya Grafova Chairman of the “Forum of resettlement organizations”

l.grafova@mail.ru (495) 951 30 65 8 916 653 85 61

30. Dmirtry Poletaev D. Migration Research Center

dmitrypoletaev@yandex.ru 499 124 25 61

31. Leonid Grishin Uralsky dom

+ 7 922 606 55 50 uralhouse@bk.ru

32. Aminkhamza Kasirov International Information Center, Yekaterinburg

8 912 277 1010

33. Shakhnoza Hasanova NGO Sana Sezim

Kazakhstan, Shymkent City, 19 Perov Street, Tel. 8 7252 551 300 ngosanasezim@rambler.ru

34. Nurmakhmad Khalilov Human Rights Center www.hrc.tj 35. Nodira Abdulloeva Human Rights Center www.hrc.tj 36. Nadjiba Shirinbekov NGO “Law and Prosperity” najib@mail.ru

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+ 992 918 73 46 99 37. Nargis Zokirova Bureau on Human Rights and Rule of

Law www.humanrts.tj

38. Muzaffar Zaripov NGO “Migration and Development” 39. Gulchekhra

Rahmanova NGO “Child Rights Center”

g.rakhmanova.crp@gmail.com 992 918 30 07 51

40. Tatyana Bozrikova UN Women expert, NGO “Panorama”

992 918 36 69 30

41. Mukaddas Sharipova NGO, International Association for the Protection of Migrant Workers’ Rights

42. Zebo Sharifova NGO “League of Women Lawyers”

Zebo_sharifova@mail.ru 992 918 81 71 61

43. Azalkhon Alimov Coordinator, Khujand-based Migrant Support Center, HRC

azalkhon@gmail.com, www.hrc.tj 992 918 73 18 84

44. Saidali Rahmonov Tajikabad Migrant Support Center, Surkhob Association

992 918 23 05 47

45. Madina Jumaeva Khorog Migrant Support Center, NGO Kalam, Khorog

992 93 425 63 36 Jumaeva_madina@mail.ru

46. Venera Jabbarova NGO “Bonuvoni fardo”, Shaartuz

992 93 555 46 22 Anora.69@mail.ru

47. Khudoydod Yormatov NGO Human Rights Center www.hrc.tj

48. Yuldashev Jafarbek NGO Human Rights Center www.hrc.tj

49. Alexander Zuev UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Tajikistan

992 600 58 96/97/98

50. Lilia Zaharieva Human Rights Adviser to UN Country Team in Tajikistan

992 985 61 81 15

51. Azad Taghizade Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers

+ 994 (50) 300 53 05 azadtagi@rambler.ru

52. Nargis Azizova UN Women

+ 7 777 681 35 44 Nargis.azizova@unwomen.org

53. Viloyat Mirzoeva UN Women

992 918 42 12 08 Viloyat.mirzoeva@unwomen.org

54. Aziza Hamidova UNFPA Tajikistan Aziza.hamidova@undp.org 55. Stefan Nellen Swiss Ambassador to Kazakhstan and

Tajikistan

56. Peter Mikula Director of Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan

57. Patricia Dvoracek Human rights advisor, Swiss Cooperation Office

Patricia.dvoracek.@sdc.net

58. Shakarbek Niyatbekov Swiss Cooperation Office

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59. Dorothea Colve Korovine

Swiss Embassy in Moscow Dorothea.Koldekorovine@eda.admin.ch

60. Tajma Kurt Chief of IOM Mission in the Republic of Tajikistan

992 900 44 7777

61. Malika Yarbabaeva IOM Tajikistan 992 90 505 48 00 62. Arthur van Dizen Deputy Head of UNICEF Tajikistan 63. Sobir Aminov ILO Tajikistan 992 918 62 30 35 64. Robin Jeremy Ord-

Smith UK Ambassador to the Republic of Tajikistan

65. William Kilby Head of DFID office in Tajikistan – UK Department for International Development

66. Gulnora Mukhamadieva

Programme Manager (Governance and Social Development), DFID Tajikistan

67. Acquil Normantiete Human Rights Advisor, EU representation in Tajikistan

68. R.Suerengen Eurasia Fund

992 900 00 15 11 rswearingen@eurasia.org

69. Navruzova A. Nota bene adiba@mail.ru 70.

Bahovadinova M.

IOM Tajikistan

mbahovad@indiana.edu

71. A. Sayfiddinov Project Manager, Eurasia Fund

72. Ghulomov S. Office Manager, HRO Tajikistan 73. Badriddinova R. Head of department, HRO Tajikistan 74. Sodikova A. Head of department, HRO Tajikistan 75. Ashurov M. Head of department, HRO Tajikistan 76. Mirzoghanieva S. Head of department, HRO Tajikistan 77. Hasanov T.R. Assistant to HRO Tajikistan, HRO

Tajikistan

78. Abdulloev B.A. Deputy Head of department, HRO Tajikistan

79. Nizomov A.B. Deputy Head of department, HRO Tajikistan

80. Nidoev Kh.N. Deputy Head of department, HRO Tajikistan