State/INL Uzbekistan Program

Funding FY 2006-2010:

• FY 2006 - $425,000 (FSA**)
• FY 2007 - $75,000 (FSA**)
• FY 2008 - $425,000 (FSA**)
• FY 2009 - $372,000 (AEECA*)
• FY 2010- $375,000 (AEECA*)

*AEECA: Assistance to Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia Funds
**FSA: Freedom Support Act

Program Goals:

• Uzbekistan’s relatively large population, strategic location north of Afghanistan, and extensive mineral resources, including gold and uranium, make it a potential force for economic growth and stability in the Central Asia region. Uzbekistan is also the only Central Asian country that borders on all the other nations in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan), as well as Afghanistan. Through its foreign assistance programs, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) promotes the key U.S. foreign policy objectives of fostering of regional cooperation, improving border security in order to reduce trafficking of illegal narcotics across Uzbek borders, and developing rule of law structures compliant with international standards.

Program Components/Accomplishments:

• Counternarcotics: INL supports the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to increase the capability of border guards, customs and law enforcement bodies posted in the Termez River Port and improving their interdiction abilities relating to both drugs and precursor chemicals. This project provides equipment such as communication equipment, x-ray machines, detection equipment and specialized training in order to update and upgrade the expertise of law enforcement personnel. It also aims at improving cooperation and coordination between law enforcement agencies serving at Termez River Port, the main port-of-entry for licit and illicit goods from Afghanistan.
• Anti-Trafficking in Persons: Uzbekistan is both a source and transit country for human trafficking in the former Soviet Union region. Traffickers in Uzbekistan target women, men and minors for forced labor as well as sexual exploitation. Improving awareness among law enforcement officers about human trafficking is an effective means of identifying trafficking cases and thus increasing investigation and prosecution of traffickers. In support of this objective, INL funds a program through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to implement specific guidelines on detection and investigation of crime of trafficking in Uzbekistan.
• Anticorruption: INL supports the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and its efforts to increase the national capacity to prevent and combat corruption through effective implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption. UNODC is currently implementing technical assistance in building institutional and legislative capacity to prevent and combat corruption.
• Forensic Science Development: INL also funds a forensics program through the Department of Justice’s International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) which supports the rule of law by bolstering the ability of the Uzbek government to present reliable and credible forensic evidence in criminal proceedings. This program provides training and equipment to the Ministry of Health National Forensic lab to address areas of need, including instrumentation essential to modern forensic laboratory analysis. The National Forensic Lab performs analysis for all crime in the Tashkent city area and is in desperate need of equipment and training.