CHARGE DISCUSSES ANTI-TIP EFFORTS WITH MFA

UNCLAS ANKARA 000127

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ELAB KCRM KWMN KFRD PREF TU TIP IN TURKEY
SUBJECT: CHARGE DISCUSSES ANTI-TIP EFFORTS WITH MFA



1. (U) Summary: Charge and Poloff met January 6 with MFA
Deputy U/S Ertay and MFA Deputy DG Topcuoglu to discuss GOT
efforts to combat trafficking in persons (TIP) and the
upcoming State Department TIP Report. Topcuoglu said neither
the GOT nor its NGO partner have been able to secure funding
to implement a comprehensive anti-TIP protocol signed in
September. However, the GOT has made a number of recent
anti-TIP initiatives, including: a panel for law enforcement
officials, journalists, and NGOs; a decree providing free
medical care for TIP victims; and briefings for journalists.
Charge said the Department is interested in detailed data on
TIP-related arrests, convictions, and sentences. End
Summary.


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MFA: Funds Needed to Combat TIP
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2. (U) Charge said the GOT made good progress over the past
year in its anti-TIP efforts. He noted that the GOT in
September signed a protocol with the Human Resources
Development Foundation (HRDF),an Istanbul-based NGO, under
which the two parties agreed to a series of measures
including: shelters for TIP victims; public awareness
efforts; training programs; and voluntary repatriation. What
progress has been made in implementing the protocol?
Topcuoglu said both the GOT and HRDF are seeking funding for
the efforts outlined in the protocol; the GOT has approached
the Finance Ministry, and HRDF has applied to outside
sources, including the Soros and Gates foundations and the
EU. So far, no funding has been obtained. Without funding,
it will not be possible to implement the protocol. Topcuoglu
asked whether the USG could provide support, or whether we
might suggest an NGO to help HRDF with funding and
organization. Charge said the Embassy has been looking into
the possibility of USG funding for a shelter. Ertay
emphasized that the GOT had selected HRDF as its NGO partner
for anti-TIP initiatives, following a recommendation by the
International Organization for Migration (IOM),and said HRDF
would need to be part of any NGO solution. As we discussed
potential partners, Ertay said no faith-based NGO would be
acceptable as a partner to the GOT.


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Other Efforts Continue
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3. (U) Topcuoglu said the GOT has continued its anti-TIP
efforts on a number of fronts. On December 5, for example,
the GOT enacted a decree providing free medical care in State
hospitals to TIP victims. On December 18, the Directorate
General on the Status and Problems of Women held its second
annual panel in Ankara on human trafficking. The event was
attended by law enforcement officials from around the
country, journalists, and NGO representatives. The GOT has
also contacted the governments of the main source countries
for women trafficked to Turkey -- Azerbaijan, Georgia,
Moldova, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine -- seeking closer
cooperation in combating the problem. However, there has
been no response. Turkey works closely with Ukraine and
Romania on a number of bilateral issues, but there is no
coordinated approach on TIP. The GOT would like to sign a
TIP protocol with all six neighboring countries. Ertay said
the GOT has been successful in raising public awareness of
TIP, which was virtually unheard of until recently in Turkey.
Thanks to numerous official briefings, there is now regular
press coverage on human trafficking.


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Statistics Needed
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4. (U) The Charge told Ertay and Topcuoglu that the
Department would be particularly interested this year in
detailed statistics on TIP-related arrests, prosecutions,
convictions, and sentences. Topcuoglu and Ertay said MFA
will collect data from the Interior and Justice ministries
and pass it to the Embassy and State Department. The Charge
thanked Topcuoglu and Ertay for their efforts, and said the
Embassy will remain in close contact with MFA on TIP issues.
DEUTSCH