Cablegate: Tip in Turkey: Interim Assessment for Special

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006366

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM PHUM PGOV SMIG PREF KWMN TU TIP IN TURKEY
SUBJECT: TIP IN TURKEY: INTERIM ASSESSMENT FOR SPECIAL
WATCH LIST COUNTRIES

REF: SECSTATE 228457

Post's responses to reftel:

Hotlines and Public Information Campaigns
-----------------------------------------

The GOT has not demonstrated appreciable progress on
establishing victim hotlines or a focused public awareness
campaign. It claims it has run into financing difficulties
since hotline costs are significantly more than expected.

Victim Identification, Referral, and Protection
--------------------------------------------- --

On June 29, 2004, the GOT finalized a protocol with Turkey's
lead anti-TIP NGO Human Resources Development Foundation
(HRDF) to establish the first shelter for victims of
trafficking in Turkey (04 IST 1062). Secretary Powell,
Turkish FonMin Abdullah Gul, and members of Turkey's National
Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking presided over a
publicized signing ceremony. Under terms of the agreement,
the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality leased and renovated a
residential housing unit and turned administration of the
facility over to partner HRDF (04 ANK 4808). On November 2,
the shelter successfully managed the repatriation of its
first victims, three Ukrainian women referred by Jandarma
officers after an October 31 TIP-raid in Istanbul (04 ANK
6309).

International Cooperation
-------------------------

In 2004, IOM, HRDF and the GOT combined to assist in the
voluntary returns of more than 50 victims of trafficking, up
from less than 5 in 2003 (04 ANK 4808). The GOT resolved
long-standing internal opposition to finance, at an annual
cost of 154,000 Swiss Francs, Turkey's full member status
with the IOM. The GOT reported additional participation in
international anti-TIP law enforcement operations through
OSCE, the Council of Europe, NATO, Stability Pact TIP Task
Force, SECI and Europol. The GOT issued draft protocols to
source countries proposing bilateral cooperation in anti-TIP
law enforcement and prosecution but according to MFA reports,
only Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, and Ukraine responded (04
ANK 4317). Partner governments and host country NGOs reported
the GOT's implementation of the protocols remains
inconsistent (04 ANK, 4544, 04 BAKU, 1235, 04 KIEV 3594),
though media reports (04 ANK 3675, 04 ANK 4502, 04 ANK 5002)
documented successful anti-TIP police operations with some
source countries.

Training
--------

Assisted by a 10,000 USD grant from the Turkish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, IOM continued an aggressive training
schedule with the cooperation of law enforcement and judicial
officials from the MOJ, MOI, Security Directorate, Jandarma,
and other members of Turkey's anti-TIP National Task Force.
According to MFA statistics, since June 2004, 332 law
enforcement officers participated in anti-TIP training
courses organized by the Turkish MOI, MOJ, Stability Pact
Task Force, International Center for Migration Policy
Development (ICMPD) and IOM (04 ANK 6072). As with past
programs, the most recent training event scheduled for
November 23-26 in Adana, will include victim identification
and protection components focused on a "training of trainers"
approach to anti-TIP education. The GOT also incorporated TIP
sensitivity and screening training in academy curricula for
new national police and Jandarma recruits (04 ANK 4416, 04
ANK 4448).

Erzurum Case-specific Information
---------------------------------
Following a December 2003 law enforcement operation at a
brothel in Erzurum, police screened, detained, and later
deported a Ukrainian woman they determined engaged
voluntarily but illegally in prostitution. Before notifying
the Ukrainian Embassy that the Government would deport the
woman, however, Erzurum's governor and deputy security
director identified her in a televised press conference and
announced (falsely according to her attorney) that she tested
positive for HIV and Hepatitis C. The governor urged men
with whom she had sexual intercourse (1335 in three months)
to seek immediate medical attention at local clinics. The
press conference prompted panic in the city and international
outcry, including from the United Nations, denouncing the
Government's discriminatory and abusive violation of the
woman's human rights. The Government reportedly provided the
woman a temporary residence permit, free of charge medical
care, and temporary shelter. The Government announced that
two Erzurum police officers were prosecuted for affiliation
with an illegal prostitution syndicate, imprisoned for six
months, fined and banned from further government employment.
The Ministry of Justice is currently investigating the
possibility of further police involvement. The Ministry of
Interior reportedly sent written orders on multiple occasions
to each of Turkey's governorates warning against similar
public actions and human rights abuses in future cases (04
ANK 4147).
EDELMAN

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