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IOM 157 Helpline Press Launch |
The IOM-operated 157 helpline for victims of trafficking marks its first month of operations as the multi-country promotion campaign ramps up in Moldova, Ukraine and Turkey. The 157 helpline went live late last month and saw its official press launch on 1 June. Within days of the press launch, the helpline coordinated the successful rescue of two Moldovan trafficked individuals from a location in southern Turkey. The two trafficked individuals first called the La Strada-operated hotline in Moldova, which referred them to the 157 helpline. IOM Turkey is working closely with La Strada-Moldova on training and cross-promoting respective caller lines. Cross promotion areas include a jointly produced television commercial to run on Moldova channels publicizing caller lines in both countries. The multi-country promotion campaign is also expanding throughout this month to include distribution of small handouts (or passport inserts) to potential victims of trafficking traveling to Turkey from the Crimea and Odessa regions of the Ukraine. A television commercial will also run on Ukrainian stations. Back in Turkey, border police early this month are expanding their distribution of inserts from Istanbul airports to Antalya airport and Trabzon seaport, Istanbul seaport. The 157 Helpline is being funded through the U.S. Government with strong support from the Turkish Government. Funding for the helpline is also being provided by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
IOM this month steps up building NGO capacity to combat human trafficking. First, IOM through funding from the Swedish Consulate in Istanbul will hold a two-day workshop to write a long-term NGO capacity building strategic plan. Representatives from 22 NGOs throughout Turkey are scheduled to attend the event on 16-17 June. Second, IOM will complete an assessment of NGO capacity throughout Turkey. That assessment is being developed and researched in conjunction with the Istanbul workshop, also funded through the Swedish consulate project. The Turkish government has highlighted the need for development of the NGO sector to fulfill its goals for combating trafficking. Currently, there is only one NGO in Turkey working in the human trafficking field, although a second NGO will soon come on line to operate the Ankara-based shelter for victims of human trafficking.
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FWS marks launch of shelter project
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The Foundation for Women's Solidarity this month begins major planning for the new Ankara-based shelter for trafficked individuals. IOM late last month selected FWS to run the shelter under a competitive tender process. The shelter facility is being funded by SIDA through a new project launching this month. The SIDA project is also providing six-month funding for the 157 Helpline, now operated by IOM but scheduled to be spun off to a qualified NGO later this year. When it is fully operational this summer, the Ankara shelter will provide ten beds to trafficked individuals, doubling current shelter capacity in Turkey. In the coming weeks, FWS will hire staff and begin training on counter-trafficking and shelter management.
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Refugees prepare for Australia
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IOM this month ramps up movements of refugees from Turkey to the United States. From June to September, IOM is schedule to move up to 440 refugees to the United States under the U.S. refugee resettlement program. The vast majority of these are Iranians who lacked religious freedom in their home country, but these also include Iraqis, Somalis and Sudanese. This month, IOM is scheduled to transport 170 individuals, with 205 tentatively slated for July and the additional 200 in August and September. IOM-Turkey operates a comprehensive resettlement program to half-dozen nations, including the United States, Canada and Australia. IOM also conducts family reunification activities to all major European countries as well as cultural orientation seminars for refugees traveling to Australia.
