Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ANKARA3186
2005-06-08 04:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

GOT AND IOM LAUNCH INTERNATIONAL TRAFFICKING

Tags:  PREL KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREF TU TIP IN TURKEY 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ANKARA 003186 

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREF TU TIP IN TURKEY
SUBJECT: GOT AND IOM LAUNCH INTERNATIONAL TRAFFICKING
PREVENTION CAMPAIGN


UNCLAS ANKARA 003186

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREF TU TIP IN TURKEY
SUBJECT: GOT AND IOM LAUNCH INTERNATIONAL TRAFFICKING
PREVENTION CAMPAIGN



1. Summary: The IOM and the GOT, with funding from the
U.S., launched a first major multi-country prevention
campaign to combat human trafficking across Turkey, Ukraine
and Moldova. The campaign includes a toll-free "157"
helpline, multi-national multi-media advertising, and
passport inserts. End Summary.

157 Helpline
--------------


2. On Monday, May 23, the toll-free "157" helpline for
victims of human trafficking opened for business. Goals for
the helpline are to rescue trafficked individuals in close
coordination with law enforcement, to limit trafficking
through pro-active intervention, and to strengthen regional
response to trafficking. The helpline operates 24/7 and is
staffed by three full-time and two volunteer operators who
speak Russian, Turkish, English and Romanian. The helpline
was established to assist in the rescue of victims, but
operators can also provide information on visas and
procedures for the safe return home to the countries of
stranded migrants on a non-emergency basis. Would-be victims
can dial toll free from any phone, including mobile phones,
from inside Turkey. IOM will run the line for six months and
then hand it over to an NGO.


3. Nearly 3,000 curious and heavy-breathing Turks flooded
the helpline during the first week. Happily, however,
helpline operators identified two victims of trafficking and
secured law enforcement assistance. Happily, too, the
heavy-breathing calls seem to have waned.

Multi-National Multi-Media Advertising
--------------


4. Thirty-second commercials in the Ukraine (local
television in Crimea, Odessa CRIM-TV, KERCH-TV, and Oblast
State TV) and Moldova (National Television and
Teleradio-Gagauzia) will publicize the 157 and locally-based
prevention hotlines. Similarly, Turkish music television
channels will run 30-second spots advertising the 157 number.


5. Further advertising of the helpline is on billboards,
billboard stands (near passport control),and digital message
boards displaying messages in Russian, Romanian, Turkish and
English at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport.


6. Panorama Newspaper, a Russian/Turkish periodical, also
carries advertising of the 157 number. All Turkish
consulates in the Russian-speaking world are distributing the
newspapers. There is distribution at Ataturk Airport and the
Odessa and Crimea seaports as well.

Passport Inserts
--------------


7. Colorful pocket-sized passport inserts (in Russian,
Romanian, Turkish and English) warn women to call the
toll-free 157 helpline if someone takes their passports or
forces them into any type of work without pay. Passport
control officers tuck the inserts into all targeted women's
passports from known source countries at key border
crossings: Ataturk and Sabiha Gokcen Airports in Istanbul,
Istanbul Karakoy Seaport, the Antalya airport, and the
Trabzon Seaport. Non-governmental organizations in the
Ukraine are distributing similar handouts to those women who
may be at risk for trafficking at seaports and regional
airports used for transport to Turkey.

Press
--------------


8. The IOM and the GOT launched the campaign with press
conferences at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport and at the IOM
office in Ankara. In the context as well of the release of
the U.S.'s annual TIP report, human trafficking has gotten
above average coverage in the Turkish press of late.
MOORE