Draft Bill to combat human trafficking in North Cyprus could go before Parliament this year

A draft legislation to combat human trafficking – and end the TRNC’s reputation as “a zone of impunity” for the practice – could go before Parliament for approval by the end of this year.

According to a report by Turkish Cypriot daily, Cyprus Today online,  work to prepare a Bill outlining measures for cracking down on the exploitation of vulnerable people is now underway, said Interior Minister Ayşegül Baybars during a panel discussion hosted by the European Commission to mark October 18 EU Anti-Trafficking Day.

Changes of government and “political instability” had prevented such legislation from reaching the TRNC statute book earlier, although Parliament last April ratified the 2000 Palermo Protocol to “prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children” Mrs Baybars said during a speech at the event in Lefkoşa’s Chamber of Commerce headquarters.

Now, however, with the expertise and support of the European Commission and the [Prime Ministry’s] EU Coordination Centre, we have launched work to draw up an anti-trafficking law, she said.