- Mutual Legal Assistance in Combating Trafficking in Human Beings?
International seminar was organized on 27-28 November 2008 in Istanbul - High Level Training Workshop on International Migration Law
First Workshop on International Migration Law was conducted in Ankara - Technical Cooperation in Migration
Two seminars and Study Visit to Sweden were conducted - Progress on the "Supporting the Capacities of Local Municipalities on Migration Management in Turkey" project
Pilot training course targeting staff of municipalities was delivered - Refugee Resettlement Operations Gather Momentum
Progress on Operations
Mutual Legal Assistance in Combating Trafficking in Human Beings
Project "Supporting Turkey's Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking and Promote Access to Justice for All Trafficked Persons" envisages activities which will be implemented in close cooperation with Ministry of Justice in Turkey in order to promote mutual legal assistance in the area of combating human trafficking between Turkey and the main countries of origin. An international seminar was organized in close cooperation between Turkish Ministry of Justice and IOM on 27-28 November 2008 in Istanbul. This seminar aimed at improving methods for information sharing and exchange of experience in order to promote mutual legal assistance in the area of combating human trafficking between Turkey and the main countries of origin.
A benchmark analysis was conducted by the International Law and Foreign Relations Directorate of the Ministry of Justice. The study aimed at analyzing Turkey's standing point in the area of mutual legal assistance and it played an important role in the identification of the topics of discussion during the seminar. Representatives with experience on mutual legal assistance with regards to trafficking in human beings participated in the seminar from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine. Each representative conducted their presentations in line with the topics below;- Identification of the current problem with regards to mutual legal assistance in the area of combating human trafficking
- Counter trafficking implementations and national strategy
- Practical and concrete recommendations so as to bridge the gaps in the areas of mutual legal assistance
High Level Training Workshop on International Migration Law
On 1st of December IOM Turkey organized a three day training with the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with the General Directorate of Security on International Migration Law in Ankara. Training is funded by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship of Australia.
The seminar brings together high level representatives, experts from different line ministries including Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labor and Social Security and Undersecretariat of Customs and other law enforcement agencies. IOM has provided high ranking officials hands with state of the art knowledge of migration law issues. The training a first time ever for Turkey, will cover three levels of legislation: International Law, European Union Law and Turkish Law in an attempt of comparing them and ascertain eventual existing gaps. 'This initiative contributes to Turkey's work towards EU accession by strengthening the capacity and expertise of practitioners and decision makers.' says Maurizio Busatti, IOM Turkey Chief of Mission. In addition, the workshop will provide a platform for fostering communication and integration among all relevant institutions and offices involved in policy development and implementation of migration management. This seminar organized in the context of the project 'Supporting Migration and Border Management in Turkey through Capacity Building for Migration and Border Officials at the Local Level' funded by Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) of Australia. The fund aims at strengthening cooperation and transposition of good practices among different institutions involved in migration management in Turkey.
Technical Cooperation in Migration
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Istanbul Seminar on Human Trafficking |
As a first phase of the project, the first kind of its kind in Turkey, a pilot training course targeting staff of municipalities in Istanbul in order to enhance their understanding of international migration and strengthen their ability to deal with humanitarian needs of migrants in line with the Turkish framework and international best practices was delivered over the course of 8 days throughout October and November 2008. To this end, the training curricula based on 4 modules was designed in a participatory and interactive way together with national institutions and universities, incorporating inputs of local experts from various professional circles.
By the end of February, the materials, training modules and methodologies gathered throughout the training course will be accessible to the other beneficiaries via a comprehensive training manual in the paper copies and CD ROM. The training manual will constitute a conceptual guide for local stakeholders and potential beneficiaries that can be used to lead them through the issues of essential migration management and the implementation of knowledge / best practices in the delivery of social services with provision of specific tools. This training was a ground braking step for its capacity building and action driven approach in the field of social services and allowed already discussing the future collaborations of IOM with different local administrations on migration management. It is also planned to roll over this support to the other municipalities across the country. In line with results of training courses and completion of a training manual, the round table briefings with the participation of relevant institutions, stakeholders and representatives of different actors will be held to disseminate/consolidate the results of the project and to encourage local municipalities designing sound migration polices.
Refugee Resettlement Operations Gather Momentum
During the last quarter of 2008, 1325 individuals departed Turkey for resettlement to the USA, Canada, and Sweden, which the mentioned figure also includes family reunification cases to Switzerland. In addition, travel for 65 individuals to Australia under governmental funded project and 4 passengers to Finland under the Governmental Quota Project have arranged. Processing time and exit procedure have considerably improved as result of smooth coordination between the several institutional and international partners involved as well as increased awareness of the procedures on the part of the beneficiaries.
In February; Mr.Rusty Ingraham, the Regional Refugee Coordinator for Admissions from the Embassy of the United States of America came Ankara for a courtesy meeting as well as to discuss the general situation of the resettlement cases to USA. Mr. Ingraham has met with IOM, UNHCR and ICMC. A number of 420 individuals have departed to USA under USRP program during first quarter of the FY2008/2009 (September/December). This number represents 50% of the target for this period. The exit visa process was an issue for delaying and canceling departure for the majority of the refugees in particular those residing in certain satellite cities.
