US embassy cable - 05ANKARA6303

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006303 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT, FOR, G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, EUR/PGI, EUR/SE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KCRM, PHUM, KWMN, SMIG, KFRD, PREF, TU, TIP IN TURKEY 
SUBJECT: ANKARA'S NEW TIP SHELTER -- MUNICIPALITY SETS A 
FINE EXAMPLE 
 
Classified By: PolCouns Janice G. Weiner for reasons 1.4 (b,d). 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY: The first Ankara Trafficking in Persons 
(TIP) shelter, second in Turkey after Istanbul, will start 
accepting victims of trafficking (VOTs) by the end of 
October.  The Ankara Municipality has delivered a first-rate 
shelter, totally renovated and furnished, and has offered to 
pay for some utilities.  The Women's Solidarity Foundation 
(WSF), winner of an International Office of Migration (IOM) 
tender to run the shelter, may not be the right choice, but 
under IOM's direction will be able to function sufficiently 
well.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C)  Chief Advisor to Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek, Murat 
Dogru, advised us that Gokcek, in response to pressure from 
Ambassador Faruk Logoglu, has donated a shelter for victims 
of trafficking (VOTs) in Ankara.  The Ankara Municipality has 
provided two adjoining townhouses in a quiet neighborhood in 
western Ankara and sunk over 150,000 USD in materials and 
countless man-hours into renovating and furnishing the 
shelter. 
 
3.  (C)  IOM awarded NGO Women's Solidarity Foundation (WSF) 
the tender to run the shelter, despite our warnings that the 
WSF has previously tried to run several battered women's 
shelters in Ankara, only to have Mayor Gokcek shut them down 
due to claims of prostitution in the shelters.  WSF President 
Gulsen Ulker Al vehemently denies the charges.  IOM awarded 
the tender to WSF in order to broaden NGO capacity in the 
trafficking field. IOM expects the shelter will start 
accepting VOTs by the end of October. 
 
4.  (U)  The Ankara Shelter is in prime condition, both 
inside and out.  Wrought iron fencing surrounds the property. 
 Security cameras monitor the entrance and smoke detectors 
are located in key areas of the shelter.  The shelter 
includes a small backyard where VOTs may maintain a garden if 
they like.  Two balconies off upstairs bedrooms have been 
enclosed by glass panels, making the space more functional. 
 
5.  (U)  The ground floor of the shelter houses two 
administrative offices for WSF, each furnished with a desk 
and computer, wall art and a kilim.  Staff monitor the 
security cameras from one of the offices. 
 
6.  (U)  The shelter also has a kitchen, outfitted with 
brand-new appliances, a laundry room, and a living room 
supplied with a large-screened television and computer area 
with three computers with flat-screened monitors.  The 
municipality has provided internet and cable television 
hookup.  WSF plans to teach computer literacy courses to VOTs 
who express an interest. 
 
7.  (U)  Upstairs are six bedrooms with room for 12 VOTs (one 
room with two sets of bunkbeds, three rooms with two single 
beds, and two rooms with single beds).  The shelter has an 
official capacity of 10, however.  The municipality also 
included bed linens, pillows and bright yellow bedspreads, 
along with clothes wardrobes.  One bedroom has a small 
television.  Two full-sized bathrooms with new fixtures 
complete the upstairs floorplan. 
 
8.  (U)  The Municipality has offered to pick up the tab for 
water, natural gas, cable TV and high-speed internet service. 
 WSF is responsible for electricity and telephone usage. 
 
9.  (C)  COMMENT:  The Ankara TIP shelter is impressive.  The 
Ankara Municipality has gone out of its way to provide a 
modern and functional TIP shelter, the first in Ankara and 
second in Turkey (Human Resource Development Foundation runs 
one in Istanbul).  WSF, however, is not so impressive.  Murat 
Dogru has told us that the Municipality will not interfere 
with the running of the shelter.  IOM, on the other hand, 
will be watching WSF's every move.  Hence, there is a good 
chance that mistakes will be dealt with immediately, before 
they can become serious problems.  END COMMENT. 
MCELDOWNEY