April 2006

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

Istanbul Training Targets Increasing Identifications Law Enforcement to Participate in IOM Training on CT Workshop Set for Writing Law Enforcement Plan Session to Provide Input on LE Assessment Training for Shelter Staff to Be Held in Ankara and Istanbul Psychological Assistance, Emotional Burnout in Focus NGO Shelter Faces May 31 Funding Shortfall in Ankara Ten Bed Facility Facing Closure without Donor Support Workshop Set For Increasing Identifications A View from Previous Trainings Increasing identification of trafficked persons is the focus this month of a three day law enforcement training. The IOM training will target 50 law enforcement officials from the Ministry of Interior responsible for counter-trafficking activities and identifying trafficked individuals. It will also focus on building operational capacity of workshop participants. The workshop is being funded by the Swedish Consulate General in Istanbul in partnership with MOI's Department of Public Order. The training from April 12-14 is aimed at addressing a major goal of Turkish authorities and international partners to increase identification of trafficked individuals. Increasing identifications provides humanitarian protections to trafficked individuals. And they assist police in lowering overall trafficking rates, specifically through witness information and testimony in prosecutions. The workshop will include sessions on process, indicators and international standards regarding victim identifications. Sessions will also include psychological assistance, interview techniques on identifications as well as investigative methods. The workshop will be conducted by representatives from IOM, the Turkish Government, NGOs, and international law enforcement agencies, including EUROPOL and New Scotland Yard. A high-level delegation of Swedish parliamentarians is also set to attend. ...As Workshop on Law Enforcement Plan Scheduled for April IOM this month will assist in coordination of a one-day workshop on developing law enforcement strategies for combatting trafficking. The workshop is part of the of Royal Netherlands Embassy-funded project on writing a law enforcement strategic plan to combat trafficking in human beings. The project is coordinated closely with the Turkish authorities to assess capacity of Turkish law enforcement on combating trafficking. The goal of the workshop to be held April 28 is to provide feedback on needs and proposed strategies that have been identified by the research team, conducting the situational analysis and capacity assessment. The reseach team's recommendations and conclusions are required to be endorsed by key Turkish ministries. The project is being coordinated with the assistance of IOM by a high-level working group made up of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, key Ministry of Interior agencies, including the Turkish National Police and Gendaramerie, and the Ministry of Justice. Trainings to be Conducted for Shelter Staffs IOM this month coordinates trainings for shelter staff in Istanbul and Ankara on providing psychological assistance and emotional support to trafficked individuals. The trainings to be held in mid-April will target staff at the Istanbul shelter run by the Human Resources Development Foundation and the Ankara facility under the administration of the Foundation for Women's Solidarity. The training will involve managing emotional burnout and responding to the unique psychological needs of trafficked persons.The skills building training will include active listening techniques, building appropriate trust and empathetic relationships. Training will also be conducted for 157 Helpline operators to improve c ommunication skills and building trust with callers seeking rescue as well as managing emotional burnout. The trainings are being conducted by Yan Feldman, an IOM consultant based in Moldova. ...As Major funding for Ankara Shelter to End 31 May Ankara Shelter Major funding for the Ankara shelter for trafficked persons, operated by the Foundation for Women's Solidarity, will end 31 May unless new donor support can be mobilized to support core operations. The shelter is currently funded through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) under a project administered by IOM. But that project is due to end 31 May. Since its official opening in Fall, 2005, the shelter has assisted 32 trafficked persons. The opening of the ten-bed shelter marked a major milestone in Turkey's counter-trafficking efforts, doubling the number of shelter beds available to persons trafficked to Turkey. The Human Resources Development Foundation, an Istanbul-based NGO, also operates a ten-bed shelter in Istanbul. Unless additional funds are secured, the Ankara shelter will be forced to close its door on the eve of the summer months, when trafficking is expected to peak.