DUSHANBE, March 28, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- A 20-year-old female student from one of colleges in Dushanbe has been detained for selling her newly born baby, according to the Ministry of Interior (MoI).

The source at a MoI says the young mother gave birth to her baby on March 8 and she attempted to sell the baby to Dushanbe resident on March 27 for 300.00 U.S. dollars through mediator.  “All accomplices to the crime were detained,” said he.  “Criminal proceedings have been instituted against them and an investigation is under way.”

It is to be noted that trafficking in persons from and through Tajikistan remains a problem.  According to the statistical data from the Interior Ministry, 530 human trafficking related crimes were registered in the country last year alone.  Sixteen of those cases concern buying and selling of minors.  

In 2004, Tajikistan adopted a comprehensive law to combat trafficking in persons, which addresses prevention, prosecution of traffickers, and protection of victims.  Penalties for trafficking include imprisonment from 5 to 15 years and confiscation of personal property. The law also criminalizes trafficking in teenagers.  Traffickers may also be prosecuted under laws prohibiting exploitation of prostitution, rape, kidnapping, buying and selling of minors, document fraud, and immigration violations.  The penalties for these offenses range from fines to imprisonment from 5 to 20 years.