Country of origin information report Turkey March 2007

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24 Trafficking
24.01 As noted in the USSD 2005 report:
“The law prohibits trafficking in persons; however, there were reports of trafficking in women and children to, from, and within the country for the purpose of sexual exploitation. There were allegations that police corruption at all levels contributed to the trafficking problem. The law punishes trafficking with prison terms ranging from 8 to 12 years’ imprisonment in addition to heavy fines. The new penal code came into effect in June [2005] and specifically addresses trafficking as a crime. However, prosecutors have mostly tended to use other articles that regulate prostitution, rather than the new law on trafficking, which has rendered the new law nearly ineffective.” [5b] (Section 5)
24.02 The USSD 2005 report continued:
“The government reported that prosecutors opened 75 cases against alleged traffickers during the year through September. Courts convicted 29 defendants and acquitted 75 on trafficking charges during that period. Several cases were ongoing at year’s end… The country was a destination and source for trafficked persons. The government placed at 235 the number of identified trafficking victims during the year. Various NGOs operating in the country and in neighboring source countries estimated the number of trafficking victims to be nearly 10 times that figure.” [5b] (Section 5)
24.03 The European Commission 2005 report stated:
“Articles 79-80 of the Penal Code, which came into force in June 2005, substantially increase penalties for smuggling and trafficking persons. When the offences are committed by an organisation, the penalties are increased further. The Penal Code also provides for the freezing and confiscation of assets of smugglers and traffickers. The Turkish authorities arrested several members of organised human trafficking gangs in the first nine months of 2005.” [71d] (p112)
24.04 The EC 2005 also recorded that “54,810 illegal migrants were apprehended in Turkey in 2004 (compared to 48,055 in 2003). The Turkish authorities apprehended 7,470 illegal migrants in the first quarter of 2005.” [71d] (p111)
24.05 As noted in the US Department of State ‘Trafficking in Persons Report’, released on 5 June 2006:
“Turkey is a major destination and transit country for women and children trafficked primarily for sexual exploitation and, to a lesser extent, forced labor. In 2005, IOM's office in Turkey reported that 60 percent of cases identified involved victims from Ukraine and Moldova; other victims are trafficked from throughout Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Reports of trafficking within Turkey continued. Turkish traffickers used violence to control their victims, often using threats against victims’ families as a powerful form of coercion.” [5d] (Country narratives – Turkey)
24.06 The USSD ‘Trafficking in Persons Report’ continued:
“The Government of Turkey does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. The Turkish Government actively investigated cases of trafficking in 2005 and continued to screen potential trafficking victims, increasing the number of identified and repatriated victims during the year. However, the application of this screening appeared uneven; IOM reported that many trafficking victims were not identified prior to their deportation by Turkish authorities. The number of government prosecutions decreased in 2005 and courts acquitted or dismissed cases against a significant number of suspected traffickers. The Turkish Government should improve the screening of potential victims and ensure they are fully informed of their rights. The government should take steps to improve its investigations and judicial awareness of trafficking, fully implement the revisions to the penal code to strengthen punishments for trafficking, and encourage victims to assist in investigations.” [5d] (Country narratives – Turkey)
24.07 The Trafficking in Persons Report 2006 continued:
“The Government of Turkey made modest, but uneven, progress in its efforts to punish trafficking crimes over the last year. Turkish authorities investigated 166 trafficking cases against 241 suspects in 2005. The government prosecuted 48 cases involving 144 suspects during the reporting period, a decrease from 142 cases in 2004. Turkish courts increased the number of trafficking convictions to a total of 29 traffickers in 2005, nine of whom received sentences of four to five years’ imprisonment. The remaining 20 convicted traffickers received probation or fines. Seventy-five of the suspected traffickers prosecuted were acquitted and 40 other cases were dismissed or remanded to other courts. Of the 379 suspects arrested for trafficking, 134 were released and 105 escaped in 2005.” [5d] (Country narratives – Turkey)
24.08 On 10 August 2006 the Turkish Daily News reported:
“Criminal courts in Turkey over the last year settled almost 200 cases involving the crime of human trafficking, with 687 people appearing before the courts. In response to an official question from Justice and Development Party (AKP) Balıkesir deputy Turhan Çömez, Justice Minister Cemil Çiçek said yesterday in a written statement that 116 of those cases are still pending this year. Thirty-seven out of 210 people who were tried concerning 66 cases were sentenced, Çiçek said. The number of aggrieved people who have been trafficked in 182 cases is 683, he noted, and added that those people were from Iraq, Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Palestine, Romania, Bangladesh, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Dagestan.” [23o]
24.09 The BIA News Center reported that:
“A joint study conducted by the International Organization for Migration (IMO) and Turkey’s Security General Directorate has revealed a significant increase in human trafficking victims being brought to Turkey, a majority of them by force… In the first three months of 2006, IMO revealed eight forced kidnapping cases all from former East Block countries involving women aged 19 to 29. A statement from IOM said eight of the women involved were kidnapped from the Istanbul Airport by persons speaking Russian and proposing to assist them in transport arrangements… Despite the concentrated efforts of the IOM and Turkey’s National Police Directorate, there is a significant increase in documented kidnap cases. The police department against Smuggling and Organised Crime (KOM) figures shows that following the abolishment of the Soviet Union and the subsequent economic crisis in the region, human trafficking to Turkey has reached “dangerous proportions.” [102m]
24.10 The European Commission 2006 report further stated that:
“Overall, some progress can be reported, particularly in the areas of asylum, border management, fight against trafficking in human beings, customs and police cooperation. Alignment with the acquis in this chapter is underway but considerable and sustained efforts are required in areas such as migration, the fight against organised crime, money laundering and judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters.” [71a] (p65)
See also Section 28.01 Foreign Refugees