In Shymkent, two underage girls born in 2009 and 2010 were freed from sexual slavery. According to specialists, they were recruited under the pretext of help and housing provision, but in reality, they were forcibly held and used for criminal purposes.
As reported by Otyrar.kz, after their release, the victims were temporarily placed in the Youth Adaptation Centre. However, during the investigation, it became clear that the girls had been victims of sexual exploitation. With parental consent, they were transferred to the Centre for the Provision of Special Social Services No. 3.
"Here they received comprehensive assistance: medical examinations and psychological support. A person named 'B.' deceived the girls by promising them housing and involved them in a criminal scheme. Unfortunately, it is minors who most often become vulnerable," said Galiya Mutaliyeva, Deputy Director for Social Work at the Centre.
According to specialists, underage girls are particularly at risk because they are frequently in a vulnerable position — without a steady income, family support, or necessary information about the dangers.
At the Centre, it was noted that over the past five years, 15 victims of human trafficking have undergone rehabilitation there, including citizens of Kazakhstan and other countries. It was also noted that victims are not only people without education or employment.
"The main reason is the pursuit of a better life. People believe promises: to earn money, to settle abroad, to get housing. And in the end, they find themselves in an exploitative situation. This is not a matter of naivety; it is a global-scale problem, and no one is immune," said Galiya Mutaliyeva.
The Centre urges parents, teachers, and local communities to be attentive to teenagers and to respond promptly to suspicious offers, especially those on social media or from unfamiliar individuals.
To recall, in March, officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs identified 40 crimes related to human trafficking, involvement in prostitution (including of minors), running brothels, and pandering over three days.
At the same time, police registered 156 administrative offences for providing premises for pandering and 640 for soliciting in public places.
In July, units combating organised crime and prosecutor's offices in Astana and the North Kazakhstan Region suppressed the activities of two criminal groups involved in human trafficking.
The criminals used internet resources to advertise illegal services related to sexual exploitation. It is reported that the group's daily income amounted to up to 1.5 million tenge, and the total turnover of funds since the beginning of last year exceeded 1.7 billion tenge.