On 26 April 2021, a roundtable on “The role of non-governmental organisations in combating trafficking in human beings in Turkey” was conducted online, with the participation of representatives from nine NGOs, the Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM), several municipalities as well as international organisations.
The Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings stipulates the need to promote partnerships with civil society organisations in dealing with the complex issue of trafficking in human beings. The importance of such partnerships becomes even more apparent in crisis situations, such as the coronavirus pandemic.
Participants exchanged examples of good practice regarding the involvement of NGOs in the provision of assistance to victims of trafficking, awareness raising and other measures to combat human trafficking. The roundtable also provided an opportunity to discuss problems encountered by NGOs and ways to address them.
The meeting was conducted within the framework of the action “Strengthening the rights of migrants and victims of human trafficking in Turkey”, as a part of the joint Council of Europe and European Union programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022”.
