Media Room - News at August, 2005

Turkish Daily News - August 31, 2005

Turkish Daily News - Jonathan Fowler / GENEVA - AFP

    Aid organizations turn to the telephone to help victims of sex

    Aid groups trying to help women who fall prey to international sex traffickers are turning to the telephone in an effort to free the victims from the gangs' clutches or simply open their eyes to the risks.

    The Geneva-based International Organization for Migration (IOM), working alongside local groups in a host of countries, has stepped up attempts to stem the flow of people trafficked into prostitution or other forced labor -- approximately 150,000 a year from Eastern Europe alone.

    The odds appear stacked against aid groups -- the IOM has been able to help just 9,000 victims since 1999 -- but they are constantly reinventing their tactics.

    "We have to work all the different angles at the same time," said Richard Danziger, head of the IOM's counter trafficking service.

    "We have to get away from constantly playing catch-up to being a step ahead of the traffickers."

    Young women in former communist nations, confronted by grinding poverty and social breakdown, are all too readily duped by the traffickers.

    The organization has spurred hotlines in countries such as Moldova and Ukraine to help trafficking victims -- and potential victims.

    It is also behind lines in countries where the gangs' victims end up, such as Turkey. Similar lines exist in Western Europe.

    The IOM trains people from local charities who work the phones in often-shoestring operations, and brings together hotline staff from different countries to share their experiences.

    It advises staff how to cope with anything from prank calls to outright threats from the traffickers.

    "Security is a major issue when you're working in this field," said Danziger, noting that one counselor in Macedonia has had to move house three times.

    It can cost $50,000 a year to run a hotline, and the IOM also drums up finance from donor governments.

    Hotlines are part of the attempts to show potential victims how to decode the all-too-enticing small ads, which offer jobs abroad.

    "A man told my girlfriend that he could find us work in Turkey as waitresses and we would be able to make good money," said a 23-year-old Ukrainian unemployed single mother.

    "The man arranged our travel to Turkey. We were met by a Turkish man at Istanbul airport."

    "He said because of our travel expenses, we were in debt and had to work as prostitutes to pay it off. We refused but he said we had no alternative."

    The woman, whose testimony is among others collected by the IOM, was freed after contacting a friend, who managed to call a hotline in Moldova that in turn directed him to its Turkish counterpart -- leading to a raid by Turkish police.

    Ten Ukrainian women were freed in Turkey earlier this month, after years of prostitution, torture and imprisonment in a basement, thanks to a tip-off to the country's "157" hotline from one who used a mobile phone belonging to a client.

    Launched in May, the hotline is staffed by Russian, Romanian and Turkish speakers.

    Turkish customs officials and aid workers hand out leaflets at the border promoting the hotline, focusing in particular on young women who fit the profile of a trafficking victim.

    The focus of hotlines is not gang busting, Danziger said: "The central concern is always the well-being of the victim."

    While the IOM is always pleased when victims are ready to testify in court, it walks a fine line.

    Hotline staff are barred from passing on information to authorities without a victim's permission, except if they learn of an immediate threat to someone's life.

    Aid groups are deeply aware of the risks for women who come forward, whether violence by the traffickers, deportation home, or stigma in their communities when they return.

    Danziger said that rather than preaching to women who are desperate to improve their lives, hotline staff explain how to minimize the dangers -- as basic as never handing over your passport and making sure your family knows where you are going.

Hürriyet Newspaper - August 29, 2005

Hürriyet Newspaper - Mesude ERŞAN

    Modern slaves wait for help

    They brought to Turkey with false promises of earning more money with working as a dancer, waitress and cook. However, they fall into sex jobber. They were debt so they were forced into prostitution. They sold like a slave in a brothel. Torturing, beating and being threat life was ended when they reached to 157. The number who achieved these is only 28.

     International Organization for Migration (IOM) executes 157 Helpline since 23rd of May. This hotline serves 7 days in a week, 24 hours in a day. The coordination is undertaken by Turkey. And the financial support is given 700 thousand dollars annually by USA. The main target is to provide support for human trafficking victims. For this purpose, some information is given to victims and they are directed to send them to their countries securely.

    Step by Step System Process

    The 157 Helpline operators speak Russian, Romania, English and Turkish. They were educated particularly in this issue. They make threat and risk assessment. If it is necessary they will contact with police and gendarmerie.

    The initial destination for rescued people is Department of Foreigners. Here the IOM officers step in. The victims are sent to İstanbul Human Resources development Foundation's shelter. They take physical, medical and social rehabilitation services. After their legal proceedings are completed, they are sent to their countries. IOM step in again in their countries after they send because of preventing human traffickers. They are welcomed at the airport. And they are registered a program that is for obtaining work and career. The representative offices of IOM in Russian, Ukraine and Turkey work with NGOs.

    In this respect, the 18-25 years old women who are entered to Turkey from Atatürk, Antalya and Trabzon airports are warned some kind of methods. The passport inserts which was prepared into 4 languages are sent. With the billboards the attentions are taken. A video film is showed. This film was prepared for this aim by IOM officers. This was sent 26 television channels by Radio Television Supreme Council.

    Their target is 19-25 years old women

• According to IOM data, all victims of human trafficking in Turkey are women. Most of them come form Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Romania, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Belarusian.
• Up to now there are 269 callings to 157. 163 of them are only the denunciation callings. 28 of them were rescued. (10 Ukrainian and Moldavian, 3 Russian, 2 Turk, 1 Romanian, 1 Ugandan and 1 Belarusian.) And 9 of them have been still followed.
• In Turkey, 125 victims were determined in 2005. 117 of them returned their countries. 37 of them are Ukrainian, 30 of them are Moldavian, 11 of them are Russian, 10 of them are from Uzbekistan, 8 of them are from Kyrgyzstan, 7 of them are Romanian, 5 of them are from Kazakhstan, 4 of them are Belarusian, 2 of them are Georgian, 2 of them are from Turkmenistan and 1 of them is Azeri.
• The ages of victims; 13 of them are between 16 and 18, 66 of them are between 9-25, 28 of them are between 26-30, 8 of them are between 31-38 and 2 of them are over 38 years old.
• It is determined that 46 victims were in İstanbul, 23 victims were in Antalya, 19 victims were in Ankara, 8 victims were in Artvin, 7 victims were in Kuşadası and Iğdır, 3 victims were in Trabzon and 1 victim were in Kahramanmaraş, İzmit, Mersin and Urfa.
• 78 victims entered from İstanbul, 7 victims from Sarp, 4 victims from Trabzon, 2 victims from Antalya.

    They were rescued by 157

    How can you notice victims of human trafficking

    You can report the victims of human trafficking or suspected traffickers and their places to security force. You can call 156 Gendarmerie Emergency and 155 Police Emergency in addition to 157 Helpline:

• In a certain house, one or more than one foreign or Turkish woman/child are captured long term.
• They cannot contact socially with environments such as neighborhood.
• They are taken and brought generally same vehicle in certain house.
• In general, the guide is a same person.
• Entertainment places such as bar and disco, victims generally get across under a suspected person.
• In general, their passports are not near them. The guide carries their passport and when it is needed, he or she shows it.
• They do not carry money.
• They look like as shy, ashamed and timid.
• They do not speak with others as possible as.
• They think that nobody can help them.
• They have force and blow traces on their body.
• They wear low-cut dresses to take attention because they are marketed.

    There is no need to alarm

    Murat Ersavcı (Ambassador- International Coordinator of Counter Trafficking)

    In this issue, Turkey is delayed in struggling but in a short period an important development was registered. It is cooperated with nearby 40 institutions. We can see the development on Human Trafficking Report which is published by USA every year. During Accession of EU many important step has been taken.

    Turkey is both targeted and transit country. It has not been faced up with a great problem yet. The problem has not reached that the alarm is not necessary. We are profoundly determined on struggle. Also we have some absents. The work of gendarmerie and police become easier with 157 Helpline. To prevent human trafficking, special agreements were made with Georgia, Belarusian and Ukraine. An agreement with Azerbaijan and Moldova will be made.

    Turkey is both targeted and transit country

    Selin Ünal (IOM Counter Trafficking Department Press Secretary)

    Turkish economic condition is better than neighbor countries. Taking visa is easier. Because of this, it is both targeted and transit country. We declare every denunciation to gendarmerie or police.

    Previously, it was thought the women from East Block were prostituted voluntarily. This view is changed. When victims want help, they cannot give the exact address or define the place. They whisper so it is not always understandable. Some of them speak with crying. Sometimes 2-3 times they call and tell their troubles. The police or gendarmerie force can fix and rescue them.

The New Anatolian - August 22, 2005

The New Anatolian -

    International conference on human trafficking this week in Istanbul

    Turkey will organize a four-day international conference on efforts to fight human trafficking at Istanbul's Bahcesehir University starting this Thursday.

    An announcement by the Foreign Ministry stated that Turkey will organize the conference together with the Austrian Defense Ministry, the Regional Stability in South East Europe (RSSEE) Working Group, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

    The conference aims at tackling illegal human trafficking by determining the sources, goals, and transit countries involved.

    The protection of victims of human trafficking, the assistance that will be given to them, their integration into society, legal measures to be taken on the crime, witness protection, cross-border cooperation, and national and regional activities are expected to be discussed.

Turkish Daily News - August 21, 2005

Turkish Daily News - ANKARA

    Turkey to host international forum on human trafficking

    Turkey is preparing to host an international conference on human trafficking later this month to discuss the problem and ways to deal with it, the Foreign Ministry announced in a statement.

    The conference on "Trafficking in Persons in Southeast Europe -- a Threat to Human Security" is a joint initiative of the Regional Stability in South East Europe (RSSEE) Study Group of the Germany-based Partnership for Peace Consortium of Defense Academies and Security Studies Institutes, the International Organization on Migration (IOM) and the Center for Strategic Research at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It will take place on Aug. 25-27 at Istanbul's Bahçeşehir University, the Foreign Ministry statement said.

    Turkey, a destination country for a growing number of women from the former Soviet republics who have been trafficked primarily for sexual exploitation, has taken a series of steps to fight human trafficking. It introduced an action plan and launched a national task force two years ago to cope with the issue.

    The efforts were in response to a surge over the past few years in the number of persons trafficked into Turkey, mostly in parallel to improving living standards and job opportunities here.

    The Geneva-based IOM, which Turkey joined in 2004, is a major ally of the Turkish government in counter-trafficking efforts.

    The Istanbul conference will focus on several aspects of the issue of human trafficking including rights of victims, especially in destination countries, to temporary residence permits and law enforcement measures that could be taken to stop human trafficking -- with a focus on investigative techniques -- to witness-protection programs and cross-border collaboration.

    It will also cover anti-trafficking measures that could be taken at the regional level.

    Turkey launched a 157 telephone hotline to assist trafficked individuals two months ago, and security officials were able to rescue more than a dozen victims after calls were made to the hotline.

    The IOM says Turkey's anti-trafficking efforts have brought about significant progress but calls for increased prosecution of traffickers.

Sabah Newspaper - August 21, 2005

Sabah Newspaper - Halime S. KAHVECİ

    The slaves of 21st century

    International Organizational for Migration rescued 144 foreign women from prostitution in this year. There are thousands on queue.

    Gendarmerie and police make operation immediately every day to houses in which women are held that they are forced into prostitution.

    The representative of International Organization for Migration, Selin Ünal, told that 31 women on 2 months were rescued through 157 Helpline.

    It can be said that most of them are at the age of child:

• Most women who are forced into prostitution are mostly Moldavian and Ukrainian citizen.
• The young girls who are at the age of16-24 and have low education level are in danger.
• The price of women is between 200 and 20 thousand dollars that are specified by human traffickers.
• According to psychologists, only the 30% of escaped women can live a normal life.

    The Moldavian young girl, 21 years old, imagined being a dancer in Turkey. When she arrived at Antalya airport, she fell in the hand of human traffickers. Her passport was taken; she was beaten and forced into prostitution.

    Their stories afflicts

    International Organization for Migration (IOM) gives information about human trafficking on the web site www.countertrafficking.org. On this web site there are the victims' rescue stories which display how the young women are deceived. Here are some examples;     She became the victim of her friend
This story is about a Moldavian, who is 31 years old.

    They said 'You are indebted'
This story is about a Romanian who is a cook.

    I would be a waitress
This story is about a Moldavian who is 21 years old.

    They sold us to Ankara
This story is about a Ukrainian, who is 23 years old.

    While they were trying to escape from poorness, they lost their freedom

    They are the slaves of modern era. The new hope of Ukrainian and Moldavian women, who are victimized by human trafficking at the airport in Turkey, is 157 Helpline. The reason why they come to Turkey is for a new life.

    This kind of news is constantly on the 3rd page of newspapers. The photos of Ukrainian, Moldavian, Georgian and Uzbekistani young women whose eyes are censured by a black tape are placed. And it is written with 3-4 lines that so and so people are caught with a police raid in such and such a place because of prostitution. Some says 'it is better safe than sorry' and some says 'it is clear that they are prostitutes'. Whereas, they are the slaves of modern era, they come here to work in a normal job but they are victimized by human traffickers. Where do we know this? There are thousands denunciations to 157 Helpline for victim of human trafficking although it has been opened for two months. International Organization for Migration opened this line that is important for rescuing many lives especially for former Soviet countries' citizens.

    The organization was established in 1991 during First Gulf War and its centre is in Geneva. It has 109 members. We interviewed about both 157 Helpline and human trafficking issues with Selin Ünal, who is the representative of IOM. The 'Campaign of Preventing Human Trafficking' is financed by USA and Turkey that its budget is 700 thousand dollars. Ünal stated that the great majority of human trafficking victims are Ukrainian and Moldavian citizens. IOM has rescued 144 women since last Friday. She told that before line was opened, IOM had reached that kind of victim women through the callings of their countries' offices or with the operations of Turkish police and gendarmerie force.

    These women's 44% is Ukrainian, 39% is Moldavian, 16% is Russian, 11% is Uzbekistani, 10% is Kyrgyz, 7% is Romanian, 5% is Kazak, 5% is Belarusian, 3% is Armenian, 2% is from Turkmenistan, 1% is Azerbaijani and 1% came to Turkey from Ugandan. 132 of them were sent to their countries. 12 of them are waiting to be completed the process of their rehabilitation and transactions. It is seen that more than one third of women lived as 'a slave' in İstanbul. Antalya is on the second line and Ankara is on the third line. 82% of victims entered to Turkey from İstanbul, 7% from Sarp and 5% from Antalya. The ages of victims, whose life turn to a nightmare, show that traffickers are in pursuit of young. 13% of rescued women are 16-18 years old, 73% are 19-25 years old, 35% are 26-30 years old and 8% are 31-38 years old. Only the 3 of them are over 38 years old.

    Some women cannot take their money

    157 Helpline has opened since May 23rd. Thousands denunciations were forwarded to police and gendarmerie. This study is made by the cooperation with former Soviet countries and it is the most important branch while preventing human trafficking. To 31 of 144 women were reached with the help of Helpline. The 157 operators can speak Turkish, English, Russian and Romanian languages. All coming denunciations are forwarded to police force. Sometimes after a long following to the victims, who are either forced into prostitution or worked by force, are reached. Well, what kind of exploitation is realized on human trafficking? Ünal answered this question like that:

    "Turkey has both targeted and transition country status. It is based on statistics that most victims of human trafficking are exposed sexual exploiting and forced into prostitution sector in Turkey. However, there are other types of exploitation. There are people who are worked into housework by force, who cannot take their money, whose passports are seized and who is forced to do something against their agreement. A Ugandan girl called 157 because she was worked by force."

    On their own country they work under 1 dollar per a day and they have to live on this condition. So, they think that working on Turkey such a kind of liberation. Therefore, the young women's story how they fell on the hand of traffickers are both same and differ from each other.

    Through the information from www.countertrafficking.org web site, this condition is confirmed. In this respect the great risk group is low educated level women who are between 16-24 ages. These women have not any hope about good jobs on their countries and most of them have child. So, they are an easy target for human traffickers because these women are deceived by good job and life promises.

    Although they come to Turkey to be a dancer, waitress or babysitter, they find themselves in a nightmare. They are hunted with the newspaper business advertisements on their country. So, they become victim of human trafficking before they leave their country.

    Generally, these women are became slave by women from great organized crime, which is a mafia type. According to researches, there are at least 80 employed women on every organized crime and these people arrange everything from travel issue to home issues.

    The victims, who turned to their home, told what they lived and they are such a nightmare. These women stated if they do not do what traffickers want, the women will be raped, beaten, threaten by death, tortured and starved them. Moreover, the pregnant women are forced to sexual relation and after the birth the babies are killed. While these modern slaves are waiting to be rescued, they are sold plenty of times; some are for 200 dollars, some are for 20 thousand dollars be another trafficker's slaves.

    A Ukrainian T.L.'s baby was killed by human traffickers. T.L. was rescued by a person who was taken pity on her.

    Only the 30% of them recover

    It is extremely hard to escape from their hell. These women are held on an apartment and followed at any moment. They are threatened with the death of their family if they escape. However, although some achieves to escape, they have difficulty in continuing their lives where you stayed. This is because the trauma that they live affects them in depth. According to psychologists, only the 30% of women recover just to live normal.

    Before sending the rescued women and children to their countries, their needs are responded here. If anyone lives trauma, a psychological support will be given. Ünal told that victims accommodate in Human Resources Development Foundation's shelter in İstanbul until leaving and she added that a shelter will be opened in Ankara on September. In general, the rescued women have not got passports so at first the passports are tried to provide. When the person is ready to go her country, she will be accompanied with a guard to the airport. If they want, they can attend the reintegration program on their countries. Moreover, they can accommodate on their countries' shelter until their needs of social, physiological and legal consulting are responded. And who want to continue her education or work is supported. Even a job can be provided with little credits. Also the authorized people visit the victims regularly to check that is there any repression on them.

    Selin Ünal, the representative of International Organization for Migration, told that the brochures and passport inserts of 157 Helpline are given to people who go to Turkish embassy for taking visa in Moldova, Ukrainian and like that countries. And the prepared films are showed on T.V.

Hürriyet Newspaper - August 19, 2005

Hürriyet Newspaper - KAHRAMANMARAŞ / DHA

    The police collapsed the network, which detained by force and forced into prostitution B.Ç. (13).

    The father V.Ç. of B.Ç. declared to police that her girl got lost 15 days ago. The police reached the information that B.Ç. was held by Nurgül S. and Songül P. who are recidivists from making prostitution and forcing into prostitution. Yesterday police captured Nurgül S. and Songül S. who forced B.Ç. into prostitution by threat. Moreover, Yücel S., Ahmet G., Milcan K., Hamza P., Murat B., Mehmet B., Seyfettin S. and Süleyman F. were captured because it is claimed that they made love with little girl. B.Ç. told that these 2 women forced her into prostitution for 30 YTL. She was delivered to her family. 10 people, 2 of them are women, were forwarded to judicial court, after they were inquired by police. Besides a Ukrainian girl N.B., who is 23 years old, called 157 Helpline and she noticed that she was forced into prostitution. She was in Alanya which is the district of Antalya. The police arrested Yakup G. who detained N.B. by force and infringed her. N.B. was sent to her country.

Vatan Newspaper - August 14, 2005

Vatan Newspaper - Necla BAYRAKTAR

    The news about the foreign national women which were tortured and forced into prostitution, do not bewilder us any longer. About 10 years most of these women escaped from their countries because of unemployment problem and poverty. They voluntarily work as a sex worker to earn money in Turkey but there are victims which were deceived by human trafficker and brought here by force and forced into prostitution. In the countries where these problems occur, mainly with the pressure of USA some actions are taken for a period of time. As soon as Turkey has realized the issue, Turkish Government try to solve this problem at high-level. Everyday hundreds of phone calls come to the 157 helpline that International Organization for Migration opened to save the deceived women. Because of that reason under the supervision of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the related ministries and IKGV (Human Resource Development Foundation) which is a non-governmental organization, coordinate to reach deceived women. In the refugee shelter of IKGV that opened near time the victims are supported and they are sent to their countries. Tuba Dündar who is a manager of foundation explains the position of Turkey in human trafficking and V.T who is accommodated in the refugee shelter of IKGV and who was kept in a house by force for 5 years and forced into prostitution in Istanbul, explains her sad adventure in Turkey

    RUSSIAN V.T. WHO SAVED HERSELF FROM TORTURER PROSTITUTION CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION BY CALLING 157 VICTIM HELPLINE: "THEY SAID, YOU ARE FOREIGNER, AFTER CUTTING YOUR ARM AND LEG WE THROW YOU INTO THE SEA"

    - When did you come to Turkey?
      August 2000

    - Which job did you expect to do in Turkey?
      Baby-sitting and cleaning

    - Have you ever done?
      No

    - How did you fall into the hands of human trafficker?
      In Russia a woman talked about Turkey that people could easily earn 250-300$ per month. I have kids and my older daughter will study criminology. My monthly salary was 15$. Sometimes we could not get our salary for 6 months. As a result of these, I came to Turkey with 4 of my friends. I did not know speaking Turkish, they taught us. Then the woman who brought us here said "I did you a favor, now it is your turn to do me a favor". She wanted from us to engage in prostitution.

    - What did you answer?
      We did not accept. She did not give us food and water. We were hungry.

    - How many days you did not eat?
      About 4 days. I do not know exactly because we were closed to the basement of the house. There was no light so we could not perceive the time. Then someone came and put serum on us to make us hungrier. Later a woman named Saadet about 60 years old came to room with a tray of food and started to eat in front of us. One of us could not resist the hunger and accepted to work as a prostitute then she ate. Later we all accepted to work as a sex worker to eat.

    - Who is Ms. Saadet?
      The name of our boss is Mr. Ali. When we said only Ali, she hit us. She said "you are my property, I can kill you". She taught us Turkish. Every day she gave us a list of Turkish words to learn. If we did not learn, she hit us with a chained club. We complained her to Mr. Ali and he said this was her method. Sometimes he hit us with that club and he excoriated our skins when the chain wrapped our body. Once he excoriated the skin of my wrist and I pasted the injury because I was nurse in Russia. Ms. Saadet asked me if I wanted medicine. When I answered yes she brought salt and pressed it on my injury. As soon as my injury got better she again drew and opened my injury.

    - How long did you work?
      I started to work after learning Turkish. I could not remember. I have loss of memory and as I mentioned before we could not understand the day and the night at basement. When the guest came, they took us to the second floor.

    - Who are the guests?
      Mr. Ali prohibited us to call the incoming persons as clients; we had to call them guest.

    THE CLIENT WHO LIKES POEM SAVED ME

    - Have you ever tried to escape?
      Yes. Early on a client came and I told him that I did not want to work and I asked him help. He accepted and took me to the garden. When I looked around, I saw a big wall and I understood that I did not know anywhere. Suddenly I realized that he deceived me. 2 minutes later boss came and he broke my 5 ribs by beating up. He said if I tried to escape again he would kill me and no one would call me.

    - Did you want help from anyone else?
      No. I looked at the eyes of the clients but I could not see any humanity. I knew that they would not help me.

    - How did the clients act you, how were they and were there any educated persons?
      They humiliated me. They acted you like you were furniture. There were educated ones but having knowledge did not mean being educated. There were also rich and smart persons.

    - How did you escaped?
      In a TV program, it was mentioned about 157 helpline. As soon as I saw I thought that this was my last chance to escape. I told a client about this. I insisted a lot then he accepted me to call 157 with his mobile phone. When I first called, the operator asked me the address but I did not know the address then the client said that he would bring me out so I could easily call them. Next week he came. He brought me out and I called 157. The police came and in this way I was rescued.

    - So one of your clients helped you?
      Yes. He is a good person. We have same souls. He likes poem. He knows Goethe and Dumas. We talked a lot.

    - Where is the place that you were caught?
      I do not know. I went outside 3 times in 5 years. I do not know anywhere. We were always at that house. We even could not easily walk in the house. When a client came, they unlocked the door and took us to the second floor. They ordered to enter this room or that room. The curtains of the rooms were always closed. I always wanted to learn the address because there are two women remained at the house.

    - What happened to your other friends?
      Two of them remained at the house. One of them worked voluntarily. The other tried to escape but Mr. Ali beaten up her. I have never seen her like this before. For a long time she had a blooding from her ears, eyes and noise. She never got better. Her psychology went really bad. They took away her. Maybe they leaved her maybe she was killed.

    - How did you spend your time at the house?
      I solved puzzles and red Turkish books.

    THERE WAS A RICH LIBRARY

    - Did they buy books for you?
      No. There was a very big library at second floor. I read Alexandre Dumas, Tolstoy and all the classics.

    - How did they cover your personnel and health needs?
      Once a month, a doctor came. He took blood and made the gynecological controls. They forced to eat us multivitamins so we put on weight. They said Turkish men like fat women. When I first came here, I was 50kg but now I am 95kg. They did not let us make exercises. They were afraid of losing us weight.

    - You mean a doctor came and saw your situation?
      Yes. He saw everything but if there would be a party, a coiffeur also came to make our hairs.

    - Did they give you money?
      I have never seen money.

    - Have you ever talked with your family?
      I called my mother 2 days ago. I talked with my daughter.

    - What did you talk?
      My mother cried a lot. They already applied to Interpol. They are searching for me. I talked with my little daughter. When I left her, she was 5 years old. I asked her if she remembered me, she said "momy I love you".

    - Do you want to add something else?
      I suffered a lot but I will forget all. I am so happy that I will see my children. I want to say to Mr. Ali that I am rescued. He always told me that I am his property but I am not. I am a human… I want him to read this article.

    - Are going to come to Turkey again?
      Never!

    TURKEY WOKE LATE

    - What kind of Association does IKGV?
      IKGV is a non-governmental organization that does not aiming making profit. It is founded in 1998. We do not have any continuous support. We contact with the institutions that have a potential to give fund in program terms and we use this funds in applications.

    - When did your study on foreign national women start?
      In the past of the foundation, there were studies about refugees. We woke on the subject of human trafficking victims in 2002. After 2004, we increased our works on the subject. We signed protocols with Security and Gendarmerie. We trained 200 police officers, prosecutors and judges by benefiting from EU funds because human trafficking and human trading are mixed a lot.

    - How?
      Turkey was late about this subject. Human trafficking has been talking over the world about 10 years. There are serious problems. Last 1 or 2 years, Turkey started to work on this subject. There is a task power. There are meetings that Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, tourism and Finance, soldier, police and IKGV are participated in. Nowadays International Organization for Migration also participates in.

    - Can we say that this subject is taken seriously by Turkish Governments?
      USA publishes the report of human trafficking every year. The countries are evaluated into 3 groups. Turkey was on the third group that can not do anything about human trafficking 2 years ago. The opening of a new refugee shelter in Turkey was a big event. This report has a power of sanction against countries that have important relations with USA.

    - Are there any hard subjects?
      We have a fund difficulty. Ankara Municipality pays the rent of the refugee shelter and Philip Morris supports all the needs of the shelter and the personnel.

    - How many women did you reach?
      More than 90, it is not possible to give an exact number. There is a big circulation. We are working with the police. Some women who were caught on the raids, voluntarily works as a prostitute and these women are deported immediately but the victims come here and they are deported to their countries by here.

    - In which way do the victims come?
      Some of them are coming as tourists but here they fall into the hands of the traffickers. Some of them are coming to find a job. Many of them are deceived by their friends. Their friends sell them.

    - Which countries do they mostly come?
      From Moldavia and Ukraine. Also from Republic of Russia. Last period of time there are women coming from Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

    - Do you want to add something?
      These women have a mass of clients. We have to address to them. Do they have any idea about the living conditions of these women that they give money and have relations? Do they know that they do not get any money and they are living in the conditions same as prison?

Turkish Daily News - August 7, 2005

Turkish Daily News - Fatma DEMİRELLİ / ANKARA

    Anti-trafficking drive on course

    Turkey has come a long way in a short period of time in the fight against human trafficking, but prosecution of perpetrators needs to be increased, as the only way to stop trafficking is to hurt traffickers, says the IOM.

    Turkey has taken giant strides to combat human trafficking over the past couple of years, raising public awareness and introducing legal provisions to punish traffickers, but more perpetrators need to be prosecuted vigorously for Turkey to send a clear message that it does not condone this extreme form of international crime, the chief official of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.

    "The law is there, but it is not properly applied," said Marielle Sander-Lindstrom, chief of the mission of IOM's Turkey office, in an interview with the Turkish Daily News. "Turkey can be very strong if the authorities concerned just use the tools that they already have."

    The new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) contains an article that stipulates eight to 12-year prison terms for traffickers, but prosecutors still prefer to use other articles regulating prostitution, she said.

    IOM's efforts in Turkey, which are closely coordinated with the Turkish government, are bearing fruit, with the police having rescued a total of 17 victims of trafficking following calls made to the 157 hotline -- a national, toll-free telephone help line that has been operational for two months. In a sign of growing public awareness on the issue, an overwhelming majority of calls have been from men who are clients of the trafficked women forced into prostitution.

    IOM commends progress in counter human-trafficking, wants increased prosecution

    Turkey has made significant progress in efforts to stop human trafficking over the past couple of years but the prosecution of traffickers still needs to be increased as the country takes steps in the direction of achieving a "model success" in dealing with one of the worst forms of crime, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

     "We must be able set an example to traffickers in order for them to understand that Turkey does not condone this form of crime," said Marielle Sander-Lindstrom, chief of mission of the IOM's Turkey office.

     The revised Turkish Penal Code (TCK), which came into force on June 1, includes an article, Article 80, that calls for prison terms of eight to 12 years for traffickers but prosecutors have mostly tended to use other articles that regulate prostitution, sticking to an old habit that was sanctioned under the old TCK.

     Sander-Lindstrom, in an interview with the Turkish Daily News, said the degree of familiarity with Article 80 among judges and prosecutors should increase.

     "These [the article's provisions] were placed into Turkish law specifically for Turkey to be able to fight human trafficking, which is an international crime," she said. "Turkey is doing its part and prosecutors should support Turkey in this by applying the correct articles."

     Turkey, a destination country for increasingly many women -- mostly from the former Soviet republics -- who have been trafficked primarily for sexual exploitation, introduced an action plan and launched a national task force two years ago to cope with this issue, which is widely seen as a modern-day form of slavery. The efforts were in response to a surge over the past few years in the number of persons trafficked into Turkey, mostly in parallel to improving living standards and job opportunities here.

     The improving standards ensuing from European Union membership prospects presents a situation that is heavily exploited by human traffickers, who sometimes lure young women with promises of regular employment but which ultimately results in forced prostitution, debt and various forms of abuse including forced confinement, control of personal documents such as passports and threats. In 2004, authorities identified 266 victims of human trafficking across Turkey but officials say this is just the "tip of the iceberg." Thus far this year, the IOM has provided assistance to some 117 victims of trafficking, mostly from the former Soviet republics, identified throughout several provinces of Turkey.

     The Geneva-based IOM, which Turkey joined in 2004, is a major ally of the Turkish government in counter-trafficking efforts.

     In June, the IOM, in close coordination with the Turkish government, launched the first major multi-country prevention campaign to combat human trafficking across Turkey and main source countries in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet countries.

     The $700,000 campaign, funded by the U.S. government, is meant to raise awareness, step up legal training for law enforcement and provide medical and other assistance to the victims of human trafficking. The IOM is also promoting Turkey's 157 hotline for the rescue of trafficked individuals both in Turkey and three main source countries of the victims, namely Ukraine, Romania and Moldova.

     Travelers from source countries to Turkey are also warned of the dangers of trafficking through inserts put into their passports at ports of entry into Turkey, provided by Turkish embassies in the countries concerned.

    Miracle of 157:

    The fruits of the counter-trafficking efforts are not difficult to see. Last week, Turkish police rescued five Ukrainian women who were tortured with boiling oil and imprisoned in a basement by human traffickers in the southern province of Antalya after they contacted the 157 hotline and requested help.

    Sander-Lindstrom said a total of 17 victims of human trafficking, including the five Ukrainians, have been rescued after calls to the 157 hotline over the past two months, since the three-digit line was launched. The rescued victims include nine Ukrainians, five Moldavians and one Romanian as well as two Turks. Eight others, who are yet to be described as victims although they have been identified as such because they still await payment from people they say employed them, remain as suspected trafficking victims.

    In addition to rescue operations and a referral system where the 157 hotline system works with police and the gendarmerie to coordinate the rescue of the victims, authorities have also taken steps to provide shelter for the rescued victims, with preparations in their final phase to open a shelter in Ankara in addition to a 12-person capacity shelter already open in Istanbul. The IOM is planning to work with bar associations to provide free legal assistance to the victims.

    "Turkey has for many years been the missing link in this region and it has now moved to fill this gap," said Sander-Lindstrom. "What remains is to expand the network of NGOs [nongovernmental organizations] providing assistance in Turkey, and we also need to work with judges and prosecutors to put the perpetrators behind bars."

    Turkish NGOs, which the IOM says could be extremely helpful in providing shelter and assistance that the victims would need, either know nothing about the human trafficking problem or are unwilling to address it because they think it is about prostitution, according to Sander-Lindstrom

Turkish Daily News - August 6, 2005

Turkish Daily News - GENEVA-AFP

    Freed from sexual slavery thanks to a tip-off

    Five Ukrainian women who were tortured and imprisoned in a basement in Turkey by sex traffickers have been freed, thanks to a special telephone hotline, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday.

    The women -- one of whom was held for six years -- were to return to Ukraine after being rescued by Turkish police, following a call to the 157 hotline run by the IOM, the Geneva-based organization said.

    "This case is one of the worst instances of trafficking we have documented in Turkey," said IOM official Marielle Sander Lindstrom in a statement.

    The women, who were forced into prostitution, were tortured with boiling oil and kept in a windowless basement near the southern resort town of Antalya.

    However, one managed to call the hotline using a mobile telephone belonging to a client or trafficker, and they were freed on Aug. 1, said the IOM.

    Turkish police rescued a further five victims of trafficking on Aug. 3 in the southern city of Mersin, again thanks to a call to the hotline, the IOM added.

    They also had been tortured and kept in a basement.

    "Our greatest concern is that these cases taken together may represent a new level of cruelty and torture inflicted on trafficked individuals," said Sander Lindstrom.

    Launched in May and aimed mainly at women from former communist countries, the hotline is staffed by Russian, Romanian and Turkish speakers who pass on to the police emergency calls from victims as well tip-offs from other people.

    Criminal gangs with promises of well-paying jobs lure impoverished women from Eastern Europe to Turkey, but many are later forced into prostitution or other jobs in the underground labor market.

    The IOM said it was offering the Ukrainian women help to rebuild their lives at home, including medical and psychological support, legal aid, family and housing allowances and education or business grants.

Vatan Newspaper - August 3, 2005

Vatan Newspaper -

    Prostitution Torture with 'Boiled Oil'

    The father and son, who deceived and brought 5 Ukrainian women to Antalya by promising a job, were arrested. It was found out that the suspects had poured boiled oil over the legs of women who resisted against them and threatened to remove their nails.

    A woman in Antalya called the 157 Emergency Helpline for Human Trafficking, stating that they were kept in a darkness shelter and forced into prostitution. She gave the address in Çalkaya Municipality, Güzelyurt district. The gendarmerie raided the house. The owner of 3-floored house O.Ş. and his son were taken under custody. A 4m2 shelter was found in the garden of house that with a little ladder person could go down.

    When they saw the gendarmerie, they cried with joy. They were imprisoned in a 4m2 shelter with no toilet, no bath and no light. Only there was a ventilator. At night they were sold to men in the luxurious rooms of the house and later were locked up to shelter again. Only a breakfast was given to women in a yogurt bowl. Y.M. (20), N.P. (20), O.A. (35), K.A. (17) and N.T. (27) were brought to Turkey by promising a job but they had been forced into prostitution fro 10 months. If the women resisted against them, they poured boiled oil over the legs of women and threatened to remove their nails. One of the women, N.T. told Osman Şeker was married her on the paper and used the name of Hülya Şeker. And she was forced into prostitution every night.

    She told horror

    One of the women Y.M. told that their passports were taken at the airport and they locked up to shelter. When we refuse to prostitution, they beat us. The father and his son poured boiled oil to my legs and sexual organ.

Radikal Newspaper - August 3, 2005

Radikal Newspaper - Soner KOCAER

    DREADFUL HOUSE IN ANTALYA

    Women who were kept in 4 meter square place underground were forced to prostitution. They put to the torture to the ones who refused and poured hot oil to their legs and genital organs. They were rescued by calling 157.

    Recidivist 2 men

    In Antalya, by 157 Human Trafficking Emergency Helpline savagery last 10 months was finished. When gendarme went to three-decker house in Çankaya, they encountered with Osman Şeker and his son Murat Şener who are recidivist from prostitution and human trafficking. During the exploration, they released the voices coming from underneath of arbor.

    One of them is still a child

    When the blanket full of pebble was lifted up, the entry of the shelter was seen. In four meter square place underground, 1 women who was 17, 2 women who were 20, 1 women who was 27 and 1 women who was 35 years old were found in only 1 bed. A ventilator provided air condition. Women were brought by the promise of work 10 months ago.

    So-called marriage

    The scene is this: Their passports were taken. The ones who refused to prostitute were put to the torture. They poured hot oil to their legs and sexual organs. At night they were taken to the inside of the house and sold and they eat only breakfast. One of them is seen as married with Osman Şeker as Hülya Şeker. Police will send these women to their countries.

    157 HELPLINE HAS FINISHED THE SAVAGERY

    5 women who were from Ukraine to Turkey were kept in shelter and were forced to prostitution. 157 Human Trafficking Helpline rescued women who were put to various tortures.

    ANTALYA- Women who were brought from Ukraine by the promise of work were kept in 4-meter square shelter, which is underground. When women, who were forced to prostitution, refused they were put to dreadful tortures.

    A phone call which came to 157 Human Trafficking Emergency Helpline assisted to expose a savagery happening in Antalya. A woman who called the helpline explained that they were forced to prostitution and gave an address in Çankaya, Güzelyurt quarter. Due to the notice, yesterday gendarme arranged a rescue operation to the house of Osman Şeker, 42 years old and Murat Şeker, 19 years old which are recidivist from forcing to prostitution and human trafficking.

    They were found when voices came

    When the father and his son were taken into custody, the gendarme heard some voices coming from the underneath of arbor. They released the voices were coming from the blanket full of pebble. When the pebbles were cleaned and the blanket was lifted up, they found a shelter underground. Gendarme encountered with 20 years old Ukrainian Y.M., 35 years old O.A., 20 years old N.P., 17 years old K.A. and 27 years old N.T. in the shelter which has wooden stairs.

    Women explained they were kept by force in the shelter which had no toilet and tried to ventilated by a ventilator and taken to luxurious rooms of the house and forced to prostitution. They said when "their work was finished", they were brought to their shelter again. During this time they only receive breakfast and they said they were brought from Ukraine to Turkey by the promise of work but they were forced to prostitution for 10 months.

    They were sent to their countries

    One of the women Y.M., mentioned that their passports were taken in the airport and told that "We were locked up in the shelter. We were taking a beating when we refused prostitution. The father and his son poured hot oil to my legs and to my sexual organ. They tortured my face. The traces or torture did not pass." Then N.T. said that she was married with Osman Şeker and began to use the name Hülya Şeker and the marriage was a so-called marriage. She added that "I was forced to prostitution every night". Osman Şeker and Murat Şeker who were taken into custody after their statements, they were sent to Judicial Court due to the crimes of "human trafficking", "forcing to prostitution" and "being intermediary in prostitution". Ukrainian women, who gave their statements and were brought to Judicial Court, were delivered to The Foreign Police.

Milliyet Newspaper - August 3, 2005

Milliyet Newspaper -

    Prostitution Torture With 'Boiled Oil'

    An operation was made to a villa in Antalya, after the notification from 157 Human Trafficking Helpline.4 Ukrainian women, who were tortured to prostitution, were found in a secret room.

    The gendarmerie rescued 4 Ukrainian women, who were forced into prostitution, after the notification from 157 Human Trafficking Helpline.

    According to gendarmerie information, after the notification gendarmerie made investigation to a 3 floored house which enclosures with high walls and wire fence in Güzelyurt District. The owner of house is O.Ş. who is an ex-convict of forcing into prostitution and girl trafficking.

    A secret room in the garden

    The crew noticed a place covered with stones and camellia.

    When the crew lifted up the blanket under the stones, an iron cover was emerged. They opened the cover and went down to the place which looked like a wine cellar. There they found Ukrainian Y.M. (20), N.P. (20), O.A. (37) and K.A.

    A special air mechanism

    The place where women found had a special air mechanism that there is only one hole for air current. There is only one fan and the bed was made of quilt and blanket. The owner of house O.Ş. (45) and his son M.Ş. (18) were taken under custody and the investigation was expanded.

    These 4 women brought to Antalya for working but O.Ş. took their passports 10 months ago. These women were threat and forced into prostitution.

    The authorized told that these women faced up inhuman treatments such as pouring boiled oil. It is stated that they stayed 2 months in this shelter. These women will be sent to their countries after their desires.

    They burned my legs

    One of the women Y.M. told that their passports were taken at the airport and they locked up to shelter. When we refuse to prostitution, they beat us. The father and his son poured boiled oil to my legs and sexual organ. They tortured my face. She said the scar of tortures does not remove. N.T. stated that every night she forced into prostitution. After taking down O.Ş. and his son M.Ş. deposition was taken, they were forwarded to judicial court.

Hürriyet Newspaper - August 3, 2005

Hürriyet Newspaper - Soner KOCAER/ANTALYA, (DHA)

    5 SEX SLAVES IN 4 M2 SHELTER

    5 women, who were deceived and brought to Turkey by promising a job, were rescued with an operation from the shelter that they had been imprisoned for 10 months. The father and son who tortured them and forced to prostitution are taken under custody.

    A woman in Antalya called the 157 emergency helpline for human trafficking, stating that they were kept in a shelter and forced to prostitution. She gave the address in Çalkaya Municipality. The gendarmerie arrested Osman Seker (42) and Murat Seker (19) after the operation was made to their 3-floored house. The gendarmerie heard voices coming down from the garden of the house.

    They cried with joy

    The gendarmerie forces found a shelter under a blanket covered with stones, after they followed the voices. They went down to the shelter, with a little ladder. The 5 Ukrainian women lying on the same bed in the 4m2 shelter cried with joy when they saw the gendarmerie. Y.M. (20), N.P. (20), K.A. (17), O.A. (35) and N.T. (27) stated that they were brought to Antalya by promising a job but they were forced to prostitution for 10 months. Y.M., one of the victim, told that their passports were taken and she added "We were locked up to shelter. When we refused to prostitution, they beat us. The father and his son poured boiled oil to my legs and sexual organ. They tortured my face." Then she showed her legs. The Ukrainian women were handed to the police in order to send them to their home countries.

    They were sold to men for 10 months

    Sex slaves were imprisoned in a 4m2 shelter with no toilet and no light. At night they were sold to men in the luxurious rooms of the house and later were locked up to shelter again.

    They did it before

    Osman Şeker and Murat Şeker, ex-convicts of forcing to prostitution and human trafficking, were forwarded to judicial court.

Cumhuriyet Newspaper - August 3, 2005

Cumhuriyet Newspaper - ANTALYA

    They forced into prostitution with boiled oil

    An operation was made to a house by gendarmerie in Antalya, after the notification from '157 Human Trafficking Helpline'. 4 Ukrainian women, who were tortured and poured boiled oil to prostitution, were rescued. They were forced into prostitution for months. The women were found in the 3 floored-house's cellar of O.Ş. (48) who is an ex-convict of girl kidnapping. In this respect, O.Ş. and his son M.Ş. (18) were taken under custody. It is stated that women were locked up to cellar and forced into prostitution for 2 months.