TURKEY 7TH ANNUAL TIP REPORT: PROTECTION AND

UNCLAS ANKARA 000460 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM DEPARTMENT FOR IWI, EUR/SE, EUR/PGI DEPARTMENT FOR USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB TU SUBJECT: TURKEY 7TH ANNUAL TIP REPORT: PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS REF: 06 SECSTATE 202745 ¶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 (septels). -------------- Protection and Assistance to Victims -------------- ¶A. (U) The GOT assists victims by providing shelter and access to legal, medical and psychological services. Since 2004, the GoT has issued 35 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. With or without a humanitarian visa, identified 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 Human Resources Development Foundation (HRDF),Foreign Womens Solidarity (FWS) and/organization Migration (IO they are referred to tdlter, vPVOTs through Ankara shelter, run Qssisted 98 VOTs since )in October 2005. ¶B. (U) The Istabul municipality directly finances rent forQ 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 continues to supply 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 (the "Fund") to help cover the Istanbul shelter expenses and is close to signing a contract to receive follow-on money from the Fund through the end of 2007. FWS was allocated 75,000 YTL from the Fund to help cover the Ankara shelter expenses. ¶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. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided (and IOM confirmed) the following details on how the process works: - in the province where the crime is committed, the Foreigners Police, accompanied by a lawyer and a psychologist, conduct an initial interview and pass the information to the Security Directorate General Foreigners, Border, Asylum Department Head's office; - A decision is made in coordination with IOM and transfer procedures to move the potential victim are conducted; - A joint interview of the potential victim is conducted by the expert police liaisons to the Ankara and Istanbul shelters and representatives from IOM and HRDF (if near Istanbul) or WSF (if near Ankara); - After a determination is made that the potential victims is a victim of human trafficking, the victim is placed at a shelter. ¶D. (U) The rights of VOTs are respected once they are identified as victims. ¶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 voluntary basis. Victims have begun to cooperate with police to institute action against their traffickers. 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 IOM 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, particularly from law enforcement. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON