A destination and transit country for trafficked women from countries of the former Soviet Union. As a bridge between Europe and Asia, Turkey is both a destination and transit country for victims of human trafficking.
Geographically, the majority of Turkey is located on the Anatolian peninsula. With more than 5, miles of coastline, countless inlets and obscure landing docks facilitate illegal entry to the country, where many hope to find their way to Western countries such as Italy and Germany. Most of the victims in Turkey are found in the cities of Istanbul, Izmir, and Trabzon, where they are trafficked for sexual exploitation and domestic service.
Russian and Ukrainian organized crime groups are cited as the main traffickers in Turkey, but there are also reports of collaboration between Turkish gangs and Chinese snakeheads. Some , people have been trafficked through Turkey since , according to the International Organization for Migration.
There are reports of girls being kidnapped and trafficked from orphanages in Romania, but most leave their homelands voluntarily, under the belief that they are headed for work as waitresses, models, dancers, or housekeepers. Girls may be trafficked as far away as Southeast Asia for work in the sex trade. Those who resist their captors may be beaten, raped, or murdered. Many are forced to sign work contracts that result in debt bondage. The U.
Trafficking in Persons report places Turkey in the bottom tier of countries β a ranking that could place the country at risk for losing its non-humanitarian financial aid. Areas for improvement, according to the report, include prevention of trafficking and protection of trafficking victims.
