Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ANKARA1472
2005-03-15 14:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TIP IN TURKEY: MFA ALLOCATES "157" HOTLINE NUMBER

Tags:  PREL KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREF TU TIP IN TURKEY 
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UNCLAS ANKARA 001472 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM, EUR/PGI, EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREF TU TIP IN TURKEY
SUBJECT: TIP IN TURKEY: MFA ALLOCATES "157" HOTLINE NUMBER

UNCLAS ANKARA 001472

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM, EUR/PGI, EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREF TU TIP IN TURKEY
SUBJECT: TIP IN TURKEY: MFA ALLOCATES "157" HOTLINE NUMBER


1. (U) In response to G/TIP inquiries, national and
international media sources published the following news
article about TIP in Turkey.


2. (U) Published Thursday, March 10 by the semi-official
Anatolian News Agency; http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/:

TITLE: Foreign Ministry Allocates a Hotline for Victims
of Human Trafficking

BEGIN TEXT: ANKARA (A.A) - 10.03.2005 - Turkish Foreign
Ministry allocated a hotline "157" for the victims of
human trafficking which will be operational next month.

Foreign Ministry stated on Thursday, "Turkey attaches
great importance to combat against trafficking in human
beings which emerged as a new concept following the
rapid social and economic changes in the world in
recent years."

"Within that scope a National Task Force has been
established under the chairmanship of Foreign Ministry
and an Action Plan prepared by the Task Force and
approved by the Prime Ministry has been implemented in
2003," noted the Ministry.

"Within the framework of these efforts, a hotline `157'
has been allocated for the victims of trafficking in
Turkey. This hotline will be operational nationwide as
of April 15th, 2005," added the Ministry.

Foreign Ministry stated, "157 tip off number/emergency
hotline for the victims of trafficking will be staffed
by Russian, Romanian and Turkish speaking personnel.
The emergency calls from victims or third persons which
would be received by the hotline operators will be
conveyed to the security authorities for their
immediate action." END TEXT.


3. (U) While the number "111" had previously been requested
for the hotline for ease of remembering, the MFA and Turk
Telecom settled on "157" for practical reasons. The new
number is less prone to prank calls and misdials (from
children holding down numbers). This number also parallels
other law enforcement emergency "154" and "155", making it
easier for Turkish residents to remember.


4. (SBU) The hotline will be operated by IOM for the first
six months of "training," then turned over to a qualified
NGO. According to Ozlem Kural of the MFA, they would prefer
an NGO with branches in several cities, to enable greater
assistance and response to victims wherever they are
located. As part of a campaign launching and publicizing
the hotline, passport inserts with the number will be handed
out at entry points to travelers matching victim profiles.

EDELMAN