TIP IN TURKEY: FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR OUTLINES RESEARCH,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002586

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: TIP IN TURKEY: FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR OUTLINES RESEARCH,
RECOMMENDS FURTHER FUNDING, FOCUS ON TRAINING

Ref: (A) Ankara 2206; (B) Ankara 628; (C) 05 Ankara 7386


1. (U) Ambassador hosted Fulbright scholar Dr. Cindy J.
Smith May 5 for a lecture and discussion on trafficking in
persons (TIP),attended by more than 60 government
officials, international and domestic organization
representatives, academics and others. Smith, from the
University of Baltimore, outlined her eight months of
research with the Turkish National Police (TNP) studying TIP
in Turkey, and gave recommendations for ways to address the
problem. She urged that programs such as those undertaken
by the International Organization for Migration (IOM)
continue, particularly focusing on training of police and
court officials in prevention, protection and prosecution.


2. (U) Smith reported in her lecture that she has conducted
23 interviews and reviewed police files. Emphasizing that
further research was necessary, Smith presented the
following preliminary findings:

-- traffickers in Turkey typically control between one and
three women and are often couples;

-- approximately half of the traffickers are non-Turkish
women, some of whom were trafficked in the past, and who
appear to have played the primary role in trafficking women
from their own home countries (male traffickers were
predominantly Turkish);

-- it was difficult to detect a connection to organized
crime, given the small numbers of victims each group ran,
though some evidence of informal cooperation among
traffickers existed; and

-- traffickers often made the victims sign a work contract
and give up their passport.


3. (U) Dr. Smith made four primary recommendations: (1) stop
trying to estimate the numbers involving women trafficked or
the money involved; (2) carry out further research into the
particulars of trafficking here and elsewhere; (3) take a
regional approach to the problem; and (4) conduct more
training of police and court officials. She argued that,
while estimates on women trafficked or money involved
initially may have helped officials and the international
community mobilize to deal with TIP, focus on numbers today
takes away valuable time and energy from dealing with the
problem. She called for further research to get a more
accurate picture. While praising Turkish officials' efforts
to date, she also emphasized that a regional approach to
combating TIP would be useful. Most importantly, she argued
for increased training of police and court officials,
particularly relating to techniques to assure the
prosecution of traffickers.


4. (U) The liveliest debate ensued from Dr. Smith's
recommendation that a focus on the numbers be eliminated.
TNP Director of Foreigners, Refugees and Border Points
Mehmet Terzioglu, who has bristled at exaggerated IOM
estimates, agreed that a focus on practical issues should
now take priority. He and other TNP officials emphasized
their efforts at regional cooperation, the success of the
157 hotline, and agreed that further training would be
welcome and useful. Terzioglu reiterated his willingness to
work with all other parties, particularly IOM. IOM and NGO
representatives defended their estimates and emphasized the
importance of a regional approach. IOM also made a plea for
additional funding, as their victim's assistance program is
in imminent danger of being closed due to lack of funds.


5. (U) Comment: The strong attendance by Turkish officials
and lengthy debate, along with the government's inclusion of
human trafficking as a terrorist crime in its draft anti-
terror bill (ref A),make clear how engaged the GOT
continues to be in combating trafficking in persons.
Another indication of engagement is that PM Erdogan has
agreed to meet with IOM head Marielle Lindstrom and to
support IOM efforts to raise funds. At the same time, the
Turks still require assistance to continue progress. Dr.
Smith's call for further training - particularly that aimed
at helping prosecute the traffickers themselves - provides
more compelling evidence that programs such as IOM's should
continue to receive support. Overall, this event served to
focus attention on an important issue in Turkey that is
usually lost in public debate on other foreign policy and
domestic issues. End Comment