Human Trafficking and Migration Management in the Global South (original) (raw)

‘Institutional Blind Spots’ in Turkey’s Policy Against the Trafficking of Women

Women, Migration and Asylum in Turkey Developing Gender-Sensitivity in Migration Research, Policy and Practice, 2020

Turkey’s political approach considers trafficking as a criminal issue affecting migrant women brought in from abroad but ignores its strong links with the structures and systems underpinning migration, prostitution and gender inequalities within Turkey. The relationship between trafficking in women and gender equality has not yet been linked either in policy making or in practice and the lack of gender sensitivity in data collection and identification and protection processes continues to miss the links between trafficking and gender inequality in general. In response to this lack of official recognition, this chapter offers a critical reading of Turkey’s policy and practice against different forms of trafficking and identifies the institutional blind spots that result from the legal frameworks and structures underpinning prostitution, migration and gender regimes in Turkey.

Human Trafficking in Turkey: Findings from Northeastern Anatolia, Asian and Pacific Migration Journal, vol.18 no.3 p.419-440

2009

This study is based on field research implemented in four cities in Northeastern Anatolia, Turkey. It focused mainly on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of different stakeholders with regard to human trafficking. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews conducted among 142 inter-viewees representing different sectors. Human trafficking in the region seems to occur solely in the form of sex trafficking of women. Findings suggest that the knowledge level of most officials, NGOs and community members is rather low, which may lead to stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes towards trafficked women in the region. Anti-trafficking activities thus far have been limited and more remains to be done to combat human trafficking more effectively and more efficiently.

The Problem of the Trafficking of Women: An Assessment from the Global View to Turkey's Domestic Position

2018

This paper focuses on presenting the main characteristics of trafficking in human beings, especially in women not only in international and regional level but also Turkey's domestic level. In this regard, the side effects of globalization and regional differences are analysed in order to evaluate the main aims of traffickers and vulnerabilities of victims from different age, gender and nationalities. The purposes of this paper are to analyse the causes of regional differences and tendencies in human trafficking crime, and to criticize Turkey's failures and practice related problems. A set of solid recommendations for Turkey are formulated by using EU reports and U.S. Trafficking Reports in order to identify and to produce potential solutions for the specific problems such as perceptual issues, complications in Turkey's political aspirations.

Turkey's Response to Sex Trafficking of Migrant Women: Is It Efficient Enough?

Human trafficking for sexual exploitation is a serious problem affecting especially women and children. Turkey has been particularly affected by sex trafficking because of the large numbers of female migrants that it receives. This article aims to critically assess the effectiveness of Turkey's current policies against sex trafficking using a feminist theoretical perspective with a particular focus on migrant women. To this end, the scope of the problem in Turkey, the supply and demand sides of sex trafficking, and the existing policies are discussed. Sex trafficking is examined at the intersection of Turkey's migration and prostitution regimes. It is argued that Turkey's response to sex trafficking has been inefficient because it currently focuses only on the economic supply side of the problem, ignoring the patriarchal demand side of it. The article concludes with a discussion of policy recommendations for Turkey that could help reduce sex trafficking in this country.

Human Trafficking in Turkey: Findings from Northeastern Anatolia

Asian and Pacific Migration Journal, 2009

This study is based on field research implemented in four cities in Northeastern Anatolia, Turkey. It focused mainly on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of different stakeholders with regard to human trafficking. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews conducted among 142 inter-viewees representing different sectors. Human trafficking in the region seems to occur solely in the form of sex trafficking of women. Findings suggest that the knowledge level of most officials, NGOs and community members is rather low, which may lead to stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes towards trafficked women in the region. Anti-trafficking activities thus far have been limited and more remains to be done to combat human trafficking more effectively and more efficiently.

Curbing sex trafficking in Turkey: The policy–practice divide

2015

Based on field research, this study examines to what extent Turkey’s current policy on sex trafficking adheres to the UN Protocol in practice and discusses how prostitution and migration regimes inform and affect the policies and practices against sex trafficking in Turkey. For this study, data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 23 key informants, each representing different perspectives on sex trafficking in Turkey. The study found that the prostitution and migration regimes of Turkey render migrant women susceptible to gender violence, and weaken the identification and protection systems that may result in the ‘re-victimization’ of ‘victims’ of sex trafficking.

Human trafficking in Turkey: A feminist analysis

fe dergi feminist ele, 2014

Human trafficking has grown into a global issue especially after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Due to its geographical position and economic situation Turkey is both a destination and transit country for victims of human trafficking. Human trafficking mostly emanates from sexual exploitation of women in Turkey. In the study transnational sex trafficking of women in Turkey and Turkey's counter trafficking policy is analyzed from a feminist perspective under three titles-legalizing prostitution, tightening the borders and victim protection, and prosecution of traffickers. Feminism suggests a counter trafficking policy focused on victim's perspective however it cannot offer a universally valid formula. As every country Turkey has its own economical, social and cultural conditions which it should consider while building a victim oriented anti-trafficking policy.

Migration and Human Trafficking: The A Case Study of the Deceived Sub-Saharan African Women in Turkey

Article, 2023

Since the mid-1990s, Turkey has experienced a massive increase in sub- Saharan African migrants. According to the U.S. Department of State’s 2021 report on trafficking in Turkey, in 2019, there were 276 victims of human trafficking. This paper examines the issue of human trafficking through the lens of the concept of deceptive trafficking. The cases of eight victimized women trafficked to Turkey from sub-Saharan Africa are examined, and their responses are thematically analyzed using migration theories with a focus on Van Hear’s model. The testimonies of these sub-Saharan African women exploited by human traffickers serve as the foundation for this study. The paper reveals the circumstances that give rise to the practice of human trafficking and the factors that maintain its existence in sub-Saharan African countries. The results highlighted the vulnerability of African women as a target for international and transnational human trafficking.