Tajikistan 
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Facts and Figures
Latest News Overview Migration ActivitiesIn 2005 Tajikistan's priorities changed from dealing with a humanitarian emergency to economic development. Every year, a considerable percentage of the population migrates to find jobs abroad due to the country's poor, rural and landlocked economy and its young and mobile population. The irregular nature of this migration subjects people to discrimination, exploitation and trafficking. The combinations of these factors suggest that equitable well-being and sustainable development in Tajikistan will depend on the government's ability to foster regular, humane and secure movement of human and trade resources in and out of the country. Capacity building of migration authorities, continued analysis of migration challenges through research, publications and debates, increased awareness of migrants, and leveraging good migration management will constitute the basis of IOM's in-country operations for 2011. Facilitating Migration IOM's projects aim at enhancing the awareness and skills of labour migrants to meet migration and employment laws and labour market demands in transit and destination countries. Tajik labour migrants mostly work in Russia's informal sector and must be prepared so as to be better protected abroad. This means they need more information on everything related to the trip and work abroad including travel, required identity documents, registration, work permits, employment agencies, travel and employment risks – such as human trafficking and health risks – health care access, bank contacts to send remittances, contacts for help in the destination country, and others. IOM has developed a series of awareness raising strategies including establishment of Migrant Resource Centres throughout the country, TV and radio information campaigns, sponsorship of mobile theatre productions and performances, support to a network of NGOs to conduct proactive grassroots outreach in schools and mahallas (communities) together with the distribution of over a million fliers and handouts, as well as the operation of telephone information hotlines. The increasing numbers of Tajik men in external labour migration has also borne rise to a new phenomenon in recent years, and this is the rising number of female-headed households. These “abandoned” wives face legal problems, higher rates of poverty, and social stigmatization. IOM conducted the first nationwide survey of abandoned families in 2009, and in 2010 launched a pilot project to offer legal consultations and support. Main Projects
Migration Health DonorOver the past decade, Tajikistan has seen a rapid rise in cross-border seasonal migration, especially among migrants in age groups of 20 to 29 years old and 40 to 49 years old. According to a survey, the importance of sexually responsible behaviour is not widely understood among Tajik migrant workers. Sex outside marriage has traditionally been a taboo for Tajiks and Uzbeks. Social disapproval continues to inhibit public and private discussion and, therefore, the dissemination of accurate information. People engaging in non-marital sexual relations thus fail to use methods of contraception and safe sex, increasing the risk of unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS. Migrant workers are especially concerned with this issue since STIs and HIV cases are registered among them. In 2005 IOM, in cooperation with local NGOs, started an informational campaign on STIs and HIV prevention including the training of volunteers, distribution of condoms and booklets, theatre performances and other public events. Labour migrants from Tajikistan are also faced with other difficulties connected with health issues. The main reasons are the undocumented status of Tajik labour migrants; hard and dangerous work; poor housing conditions; scorn; and the absence of labour agreements and medical insurance. More than 90 per cent of labour migrants from Tajikistan go to the Russian Federation. However, the irregular legal status of many Tajik migrants complicates their integration into the existing national health care programmes in the Russian Federation. When labour migrants abroad experience health problems, they often turn to members of the Diaspora who have medical education and work in medical institutions for help. These Diaspora members normally have no opportunity to receive migrants in the medical institutions, so migrants often resort to phone consultations, consultations without test results, or self-treatment. The absence of formal mechanisms of sending labour migrants from Tajikistan complicates the medical examination of migrants, including screening for tuberculosis. Main Projects
Migration and Development Donors
Migrant remittances benefit all sectors of society and can have a potentially high development impact especially on poor households. In Tajikistan, IOM is building the capacity of migrant households and local authority and civil society actors to capitalize and promote the investment of migrant remittances for the development of viable and alternative small businesses in rural areas. The main target groups include migrant households headed by women as well as returning labour migrants. Following a successfully implemented pilot programme in two communities of Khatlon Province and other undertakings practically applied in Zerafshan, major parts of Khatlon and Rasht Valley, IOM is jointly implementing a multi-year, multi-sectoral initiative Rural Growth Prograame (RGP) in Sughd region with comprehensive support rendered from the UKAID, UNDP, and GIZ . Main Projects
Regulating Migration DonorsIOM takes the lead in Tajikistan in combating trafficking, and has projects to enhance the capacity of law enforcement and judges to investigate, prosecute and convict human traffickers and protect victims. IOM operates two shelters for victims of trafficking, one specializing for minors in Khujand. In terms of managing its borders, Tajikistan faces strong regional security and economic issues requiring effective and humane management of borders, the restrictive legacy of the former Soviet Union known for restraining the free movement of people, and limited resources and capacity. In 2002 IOM undertook a comprehensive assessment of border management and issued recommendations for institutional, policy and procedural reforms, enhancing the training of border guards, and the necessary technical support to professionalize inspections. Based on reforms that were leveraged through the Inter-ministerial Commission for Border Management, IOM, in addition to advisory support, provided training and equipment for the Dushanbe International Airport and the Bratstvo land border crossing, and established Training Center for border crossing inspection officials. In addition, IOM supported the establishment of a Document Analysis Center and an information system for border management, and set up new training centers for border guards in Khorog and Dushanbe. Main Projects
Movement, Emergency and Post-crisis Migration Management Donors
Tajikistan is rugged mountainous country prone to frequent natural disaster, such as earthquakes of varying degrees, severe winter conditions, heavy snow and rain falls resulting mudslides, floods and avalanches. The lack of national capacity in hazard identification, mitigation and preparedness mean that disasters continue to have a devastating impact on communities, taking lives, destroying infrastructure and preventing further economic development and slowing overall developmental efforts in the country. In response to this situation, IOM through the support of the Government of Japan is setting up a robust disaster response coordination mechanism by establishing an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) under the Committee on Emergency Situations and strengthening capacities for education and training of the concerned state structures. As the Canadian Government does not have an embassy in Tajikistan, the Embassy of Canada in Moscow has subcontracted IOM to perform courier services and facilitate the visa application process for citizens of Tajikistan. In cooperation with authorities, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other partners, IOM manages the logistics of the orderly return or resettlement of Afghan nationals residing in Tajikistan who wish to return to Afghanistan or who are allowed to resettle in third countries. Main Projects
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IOM Tajikistan
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
#22A, Vtoroy Proezd Azizbekov street
Dushanbe, 734013
Tajikistan
| Tel: | +99.23 72 21 03 02 |
| +99.23 72 27 49 96 | |
| +99.23 72 27 05 81 | |
| Fax: | +99.23 72 51 00 62 |
Partners
- Government of the Republic of Tajikistan
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ministry of Labour and Social Protection
- State Border Protection Committee
- International Labour Organization (ILO)
- United Nations agencies
- Local NGOs
