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.