The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) today published its latest report evaluating Türkiye’s implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.
According to official data, 1,466 victims of trafficking were formally identified in Türkiye between 2019 and 2023, representing a significant increase on the previous four years.
The main form of exploitation remained sexual exploitation (52%), followed by labour exploitation (30%), forced marriage (9%) and forced begging (6%). The primary countries of origin of trafficking victims were Syria, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, followed by Türkiye itself.
The report highlights progress made by the Turkish authorities in a number of areas. These include setting up a national Co-ordination Board for Combating Human Trafficking and co-ordination commissions in all 81 provinces, as well as designating a National Rapporteur on human trafficking.
Efforts have also been made to provide training to relevant professional groups and to raise public awareness of human trafficking. Moreover, material conditions have improved in the two specialised shelters for victims of trafficking.
Nevertheless, GRETA highlights a number of pressing concerns that require immediate action.
These include the need to adopt, without further delay, a national action plan against human trafficking, with clearly defined objectives, activities and stakeholders, as well as adequate budgetary resources.
The Turkish authorities should also intensify efforts to prevent human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation, strengthen the protection of children from trafficking and enhance the detection of trafficking through border control measures, in particular in the context of increased migration.
Additionally, the report stresses the need for improved support and assistance to victims, including better access to compensation.
GRETA also urges the Turkish authorities to improve the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases, and to adopt a specific legal provision allowing for the non-punishment of victims for crimes they were forced to commit.
Furthermore, GRETA calls on the authorities to build strategic partnerships with NGOs and other relevant civil society actors, and to ensure that anti-trafficking NGOs have adequate access to funding.
Today’s report has been published together with the response of the Turkish authorities.
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The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) is an independent body which monitors the way countries implement the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. All 46 member states of the Council of Europe are bound by the Convention, as well as non-member states Belarus and Israel.
