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Turkey must fight human trafficking
June 7, 2005
Turkey is a transit and destination country for women and children trafficked
primarily for sexual exploitation, the U.S. State Department said in its human
trafficking report released on June 1.
The report claimed that some men, women, and children are also trafficked for
forced labor. "There has been increasing evidence of the internal trafficking
of Turkish citizens for forced labor and sexual exploitation. Most victims come
from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, including Moldova, Ukraine,
Russia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Romania, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and
Belarus," the report added.
The report went on to claim that the Turkishgovernment does not fully comply
with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. However, it is
making significant efforts to do so.
US: It's too early to see results of Turkish counter-trafficking campaign
Concerning the new program in Turkey that aims to fight against human
trafficking, the US State Department report said, "The government publicly
launched its 2005 counter-trafficking campaign, which is too recent to show
results."
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in close cooperation with
the Turkish government, last week launched a campaign to fight human
trafficking in Eastern Europe, Turkey, and the former states of the Soviet
Union. The coordinated campaign aims to rescue and protect potential and
current victims of human trafficking, who are entering Turkey especially from
Moldova and Ukraine. As a part of the media campaign, a free "157" emergency
hotline to help rescue human trafficking victims will be publicized through TV
commercials. Besides TV commercial spots, Turkey will distribute small handouts
or passport supplements to those who enter Turkey through main border gates. As
well as informing people about the 157 emergency lines, these supplements will
include warnings about human trafficking.
The New Anatolian
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