EMBASSY REQUESTS MEETING FOR GOT CONFERENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000419

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2013
TAGS: KCRM KWMN SMIG PHUM TU TIP IN TURKEY
SUBJECT: EMBASSY REQUESTS MEETING FOR GOT CONFERENCE
PARTICIPANT TOPCUOGLU WITH G/TIP DIRECTOR MILLER


REF: ANKARA 304


(U) Classified by DCM Robert S. Deutsch; reasons 1.5 (b) and
(d).



1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 2.



2. (C) Action Request. That G/TIP director John Miller meet
GOT trafficking-in-persons (TIP) inter-agency task force
leader Fatma Firat Topcuoglu, MFA DDG for Consular Affairs,
on the margins of Feb 2003 G/TIP-sponsored conference
"Pathbreaking Strategies in the Global Fight Against Sex
Trafficking." Such a meeting would underscore the need for
GOT to take further steps to show its commitment to progress
in the fight against trafficking-in-persons.



3. (C) GOT has made significant strides in the last year to
combat trafficking: passing anti-trafficking legislation in
August 2002, creating an inter-agency task force which meets
at least monthly, increasing its participation in relevant
international venues, and drafting a National Action Plan.
These steps are an important component to successfully
fighting TIP. However, we need to encourage GOT to take
further steps. A meeting with G/TIP director would help
focus GOT efforts.


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Embassy Comment
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4. (C) Following the publication of DOS annual TIP report in
April 2002 in which Turkey was placed on Tier III, US-Turkey
relations were strained. We think a meeting with G/TIP
director would help underscore the range of steps Turkey
could take to meet its responsibilities and better protect
individuals from trafficking similar to Tier II or I
countries. We would hope to highlight the types of steps
that would add weight to the major actions detailed in para
3: e.g., establish a pilot shelter as the first in a
nationwide system and start victim-assistance training for
police and other relevant GOT officials.
PEARSON