TURKEY: SIXTH ANNUAL TIP REPORT: PROTECTION AND

UNCLAS ANKARA 000991

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP (JENNIFER DONNELLY),G, INL, DRL, PRM
DEPARTMENT FOR IWI, EUR/SE, EUR/PGI
DEPARTMENT FOR USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN ELAB SMIG ASEC KFRD PREF TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: SIXTH ANNUAL TIP REPORT: PROTECTION AND
ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS

REF: SECSTATE 03836


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.


2. (U) Post's responses are keyed to questions in Reftel A.
This is part 3 of 3 (septel).

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Protection and Assistance to Victims
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A. (U) In 2005, the GoT issued eight humanitarian visas to
allow victims to remain in the country for rehabilitation,
medical care, and legal assistance. The humanitarian visas
carry a six-month residence permit and the option to extend
for one additional month. Most victims, however, chose to
return to their country of origin. Victims were not required
to pay normal departure fees or fines and the GoT did not
take steps to bar re-entry to Turkey.

Foreign women detained for illegal sex work are routinely
screened for sexually-transmitted diseases. Victims of
trafficking, however, are given the choice to seek free
psychological and medical care, coordinated by HRDF, FWS
and/or IOM, at any point after they are referred to the NGOs.
Once in the shelter, victims may also seek legal services.

The Istanbul shelter, run by HRDF, housed and assisted 129
VOTs from March 2005 through mid-February 2006. The Ankara
shelter, run by FWS opened in October 2005. It houed and
assisted 5 VOTs through mid-February 2006.


B. (U) The Istanbul municipality directly finances rent and
overhead costs for the Istanbul shelter. The Ankara
municipality completely refurbished and furnished (from all
new appliances, to computers, to bed linens) two townhouses
for use as the Ankara shelter. The municipality supplies
heating and water, as well as internet and cable TV hookup.

HRDF was allocated 150,000 YTL in October 2005 from the Prime
Ministry Social Solidarity Fund to help cover the Istanbul
shelter expenses. FWS will submit a project in March to
secure the same funding.


C. (U) There is a screening and referral process in place
to transfer victims to NGO shelters in Istanbul and Ankara.
According to IOM, the screening and referral process works
well for identified VOTs.


D. (U) The rights of VOTs are respected once they are
identified as victims. IOM reported that in 2005, 249

victims were identified outside Turkey. This would indicate
that either the identification process needs to be refined or
that the victims were not willing to give statements
identifying them as victims while in Turkey. The GoT, in
signing protocols with Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova this
year, demonstrated commitment to working with source
countries to better cooperate in identifying VOTs.


E. (U) Humanitarian visas, residency permits, and the two
shelters for VOTs have allowed victims to seek legal
services. VOTs are encouraged to assist in the investigation
and prosecution of trafficking on a strictly voluntar basis.
Victims have begun to cooperate with police to institute
action against their traffickers. A VOT who is in the Ankara
shelter has begun proceedings against her trafficker in the
Nevsehir region. The Ankara Bar Association is representing
her free of charge. The case continues.

There are provisions in the new Turkish Penal Code for victim
restitution in civil court. To date, no VOT has filed such a
suit.

There is no impediment to VOT access to legal redress.


F. (U) We have no evidence that the GoT provides protection
beyond the Istanbul and Ankara shelters, to victims or
witnesses of any crimes, including trafficking in persons.
Once a VOT is placed in a shelter, the victim is part of an
international referral mechanism for rehabilitation and
reintegration. Vocational training is available through this
mechanism in source countries. FWS offers computer courses
to victims at the Ankara shelter who express interest.

Statistics show that the majority of the victims are between
the ages of 18-24; there are few identified VOTs under the
age of 18. To date underage identified victims are placed in
one of the two shelters; there are no separate foster-care or
juvenile justice detention centers for victims of trafficking.


G. (SBU) See para G in Investigation and Prosecution
section. We have no evidence there is any training on the
special needs of trafficked children, though the Public Order
Department gives limited training on child pornography. All
Turkish embassies and consulates in source countries
distribute passport inserts and information regarding the 157
victim hotline and counter-trafficking measures in Turkey.


H. (U) We have no evidence that Turkey qualifies as a
significant source country. The GoT, however, provides
assistance (medical aid, shelter and financial help) to
internally trafficked victims.


I. (U) The International Organization for Migration works
with trafficking victims in Turkey and in the majority of
source countries. Through partnerships with IOM and the GoT,
the HRDF and FWS coordinate shelter, medical services,
psychological and legal counseling, and repatriation services
in both Turkey and the source country. IOM, HRDF and FWS
continue to laud the cooperation and support they receive
from the GoT. Marielle Sander-Lindstrom, Chief of Mission of
IOM Turkey, said that IOM enjoys significant support from the
large municipalities in Turkey, as well as with security
authorities nationwide.
WILSON