Experts from the Council of Europe have urged the Turkish authorities to take a number of important steps to better combat trafficking in human beings. The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has 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. 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.
Council of Europe experts urge Türkiye to step up the fight against human trafficking
