The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) of the Council of Europe published an unbalanced report on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Turkey on 8 October 2019.

Turkey adopts and implements appropriate regulations and measures to combat trafficking in human beings. At the same time, Turkey does her utmost to prevent irregular migration while respecting basic principles of human rights. These efforts are disregarded to a great extent in the said report.

Unfortunately, GRETA took the issue out of its context by including baseless allegations against Turkey with a narrow-minded approach, which in fact only damages Council of Europe-GRETA’s credibility.

It is disappointing that the report fails to reflect the explanations and corrections provided by the Turkish authorities during and after the fact-finding visit to Turkey, especially on issues related to the 2016 FETÖ coup attempt and the state of emergency declared aftermath, which was lifted as of 18 July 2018.

Turkey hosts more refugees than any other country in the world and continues to carry a substantial burden mainly through her own national resources. While doing so, Turkey expects more equitable burden- and responsibility- sharing and solidarity from the international community.

Turkey will continue to respect her obligations stemming from the Convention regardless of the content of the said report. Turkey takes into account the fact that the report is the outcome of only the first-round evaluation related to the Convention and expects that future reports will better and truly reflect the reality on the ground.