ISTANBUL ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORT UPDATE

UNCLAS ISTANBUL 000136 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM TU SUBJECT: ISTANBUL ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORT UPDATE ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Poloff met January 14 with Human Resource Development Foundation (HRDF) Executive Director Demet Gural in Istanbul to get an update on TIP programs and efforts to put together a shelter for trafficked women. To date, the GoT has offered no funding for a separate shelter for trafficked women or for training programs. HRDF does organize training in conjunction with GoT agencies, though, and has gotten significant moral support. In the absence of monetary assistance, however, GoT efforts to combat trafficking in Istanbul remain incomplete. END SUMMARY. Training Programs -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Gural reports that HRDF is having success with two upcoming training programs. One, for prosecutors and judges, is GoT approved and scheduled for January 26. Funding comes from the British Council, Chamber of Commerce, and TURSAB. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is providing an expert to lecture. A second program, aimed at police officers, has also gotten the go-ahead and is scheduled for February or March. Chamber of Commerce and TURSAB will provide support for this program as well. ¶3. (SBU) HRDF is also working with the Kadikoy Mayor on a project involving illegal migrants, one component of which includes sex workers. The program has EU funding. The Kadikoy Mayor's office is also considering collaboration with HRDA on a possible shelter project. Kadikoy currently has a women's shelter (for general purposes, not TIP-specific) with 10-15 beds, according to Gural. GoT Support and Funding -------------- ¶4. (SBU) According to Gural, GoT support and funding has been a mixed bag. GoT has not given any material support of any type, or committed to any future support for programs or shelters. GoT contacts have told Gural that, due to budget constraints, funding a shelter is not currently feasible. ¶5. (SBU) However, working relations have gotten much better, according to Gural. She says officials with whom she regularly has contact on migrant and sex worker issues have become substantially better-informed and more cooperative. She reports 2 cases of trafficked women that were reported to HRDA (one in Antalya, one in Kusadasi) since Summer of 2003. She says all proper procedures were carried out in handling both cases. In one of the two cases, however, she contacted the women's shelter in Buyukcekmece (outlying European Istanbul) to inquire about possible shelter for the woman, and, when they found out she was a foreigner, they became unwilling to further assist without a letter from the Governor's office or a ministry in Ankara requesting admission of the woman. Fortunately, other shelter options were found. An attitude of hesitation regarding foreign women seems to continue, according to Gural. USG Funding question -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The possibility of funding from USG sources was previously discussed with TDY Embassy Poloff. Gural inquired about any progress on USG funding for a shelter or other TIP programs. Poloff committed to inquiring with the Embassy and Washington about any possibilities that exist for funding, but cautioned that any potential sources would certainly not be found until after the DOS budget is passed. She understood. ARNETT