August 2006
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
   

New counter-trafficking project aimed at increasing identification of trafficked persons

Igdir Border Gate

IIncreased identification of victims and promoting community action against trafficking are two key aims of Turkey’s new comprehensive counter-trafficking program which launches this month. Funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Turkish Government. The project will implement a comprehensive strategy to combat human trafficking in Turkey, fostering community-based solutions, increasing humanitarian protection of trafficked individuals and bolstering law enforcement interventions. First, the project will coordinate the development and execution of local action plans to combat trafficking in persons in pilot communities to be identified in northeastern Turkey. Second, trafficking will be reduced through stepped up law enforcement identification of trafficked persons in border regions in northeastern Turkey. Third, public awareness of trafficking realities will be increased in the pilot communities to increase local ownership of counter-trafficking strategies. Finally, the project will provide co- funding for the 157 Helpline and will also support our two NGO partners, Human Resources Development Foundation (HRDF) and Foundation for Women’s Solidarity (FWS) for the shelters for trafficked persons.

Bilateral meeting to be held between Georgia and Turkey to promote cross-border cooperation on THB

Five law enforcement officers from the Turkish ministries of Interior and Justice will meet with Georgian counterparts in Tbilisi 9-10 August 2006 to establish an implementation mechanism for the anti-trafficking cooperation protocol signed between the two countries on 10 March 2005. The meeting, supported by IOM Georgia, will also identify focal points in the two countries to facilitate a direct line of communication when planning joint actions against human traffickers. IOM Tbilisi and Ankara offices are coordinating the visit with their local government counterparts.

Report on human trafficking identifies key areas for intervention to promote prosecution

Conclusions from a recent project financed by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Ankara highlight the need for legislative changes to promote prosecution of traffickers under article 80 (trafficking statute) of the new penal code. The 150 page Report also identifies gaps and goals for CT law enforcement activities and emphasizes the need for training of judges and prosecutors on the specifics of human trafficking as well as international and Turkish law related to human trafficking. Awareness-raising about the Turkish referral system (the 157 helpline and the assistance available to victims) is essential in order to improve coordination among law enforcement in the fight against trafficking. The report also underlines the importance of collecting, reporting and analyzing data on human trafficking and calls for a Turkish coordinating body to do this. The inter-ministerial working group met four times during the course of the project and consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, key Ministry of Interior agencies, including the Turkish National Police and Gendaramerie, and the Ministry of Justice.

Turkey's National Action Plan on Integrated Border Management (IBM) ready for distribution

Integrated Border Management Workshop

Turkey’s first National Action Plan (NAP) on Integrated Border Management (IBM) will be distributed this month to all agencies involved in effective border management in Turkey. Two thousand copies of the National Action Plan, introduced to the IBM Working Group at July workshop with the support of IOM and the Australian Government (DIMIA), will be distributed to the 124 border gates, 81 provincial governors, Municipalities, Turkish Land Forces, Turkish National Police and Gendarmerie. The NAP, developed in support of Turkey’s EU accession process, identifies 28 key areas for future project intervention. These projects will elaborated by the IBM working group for future EC funding.

IOM Turkey Hosts Global Capacity Building Training for Operations Staff

IOM Operations Support Movement Management Division (MMD) will arrange two training sessions for a total of 24 IOM staff from 21 field missions globally. Between August 14-24, 2006, participants of the 5-day SAFARI workshops will upgrade skills on the Amadeus reservations systems, the Global airlines ticket order recording (Gator) system and general movement related procedures. IOM has more than five decades experience in assisting migrants and facilitating movements and resettlement world-wide. On-going training and capacity building for IOM staff will ensure that migrants assisted through IOM have access to the highest standards of facilitated migration services.

IOM in the world:Lebanon evacuations continue

Migrants arriving in Manila

IOM’s program to assist Third Country Nationals continues (TCN), working in partnership with governments and funded by the European Union and other IOM Member States. IOM emergency teams have been set up in Beirut, Damascus and surrounding areas to provide assistance to those stranded in Lebanon. Total persons assisted ex-Lebanon exceeds 5,000 and will reach 8,000 by the end of the week. Departures over the next few days include Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Philippines, Nepal, Cameroon, Bangladesh and Vietnam. We have also received requests for assistance from Uganda, Madagascar and Seychelles.


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