December 22, 2009 - 18:10 AMT
RA Police statistics evidence of reduced number of trafficking victims in Armenia
According to statistics provided by the Armenian Police, the number of trafficking victims in Armenia decreased despite the fact that financial instabilities usually increase the risk of trafficking, John Maher, head of the Anti-Narcotics and Legal Cooperation Department of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia told a press conference on Dec. 22 in Yerevan.

According to him, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia is taking steps to protect and support potential and actual victims of trafficking, providing funding to "Hope and Help" NGO, organizing training of border guards, providing vehicles and computer equipment to the Armenian Police.

He also informed that in 2009 the U.S. sponsored the visit of the Armenian investigators and prosecutors to the city of Glendale. "Such visits help to form cooperation to combat crime," John Maher said.