TIP IN TURKEY: IOM REPORTS ON TIP VICTIM

UNCLAS ANKARA 004416 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, EUR/PGI, EUR/SE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM KWMN PGOV PHUM PREF SMIG TU TIP IN TURKEY SUBJECT: TIP IN TURKEY: IOM REPORTS ON TIP VICTIM REFERRALS, REPATRIATIONS ¶1. (U) In an August 5 meeting with Emboff, International Organization on Migration (IOM) Interim Country Director Meltem Ersoy asserted that an increase in TIP victim referrals from the GOT to IOM is a direct result of 1) a series of IOM-funded law enforcement training sessions that focus police efforts on screening potential victims; 2) a growing commitment at the Ministry of Interior (MOI) to combat trafficking; and 3) the establishment of NGO facilities in Istanbul to shelter victims while police conduct anti-TIP investigations. "At this time last year," Ersoy noted, "we couldn't have imagined that the police would be so cooperative," Ersoy said. ¶2. (U) Ersoy noted that since January 2004, the MOI has referred 37 victims to IOM for repatriation. IOM provided the following details about the victims: DATE-PLACE OF DEPARTURE DESTINATION AGE -------------- -------------- --- 02/23/04 - Istanbul Moldova 19 03/04/04 - Adana Moldova 21 03/04/04 - Adana Moldova 26 03/08/04 - Istanbul Moldova 19 03/08/04 - Istanbul Moldova 23 03/11/04 - Istanbul Moldova 23 03/11/04 - Istanbul Moldova 28 03/22/04 - Istanbul Ukraine 29 03/22/04 - Istanbul Ukraine 32 03/28/04 - Istanbul Ukraine 20 03/28/04 - Istanbul Moldova 27 05/19/04 - Adana Ukraine 32 06/10/04 - Ankara Moldova 19-26 (6 victims) 06/10/04 - Ankara Azerbaijan 33 06/10/04 - Ankara Azerbaijan 38 06/16/04 - Istanbul Romania 16-24 (6 victims) 06/20/04 - Erzurum Russia 18 07/07/04 - Ankara Moldova 20 07/07/04 - Ankara Moldova 25 07/15/04 - Antalya Moldova 19 07/24/04 - Istanbul Moldova 19 07/24/04 - Istanbul Moldova 25 07/28/04 - Ankara Moldova 17 07/28/04 - Ankara Moldova 26 08/05/04 - Ankara Moldova 19 08/05/04 - Ankara Moldova 20 08/05/04 - Ankara Moldova 30 DEUTSCH