TRNC Bar Association makes urgent call for effective anti-trafficking laws

The Turkish Cypriot Bar Association has stressed the need for better laws to support victims of human trafficking and to improve how these crimes are investigated and prosecuted. 

They have asked Parliament to review their proposed “Law on Combating Human Trafficking and Protecting Victims,” which they submitted. 

In a statement released on July 30, World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the Bar Association highlighted that modern slavery persists in various forms today. They pointed out, “Even though we don’t have obvious ‘markets’ for trafficking in our country, local operations by international criminal networks use methods that fit the profile of modern slavery”.

The statement went on to describe how, from 2018 to 2021, the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation worked on the ‘Justice for Victims of Human Trafficking’ project. This included setting up a hotline that provided legal help to victims and was later transferred to the Human Rights Platform. 

The statement mentioned: “Most of the people who reached out were seasonal workers, construction workers, university students, and nightclub staff. However, the issue is broader than these groups. During the project, we identified 220 victims from Nicosia, 23 from Kyrenia, 2 from Güzelyurt, 4 from Famagusta, 6 from Iskele, and 8 from Turkey and unknown areas. Since the existing laws at that time didn’t classify human trafficking as a crime, it was difficult to address complaints effectively. As a result, we held a workshop with civil society organisations, government officials, and politicians to highlight the need for changes in the criminal law. Thanks to these efforts, human trafficking was included in the criminal code in 2020, but its implementation still faces challenges”.

The statement explained that traffickers employ tactics such as manipulation, deception, kidnapping, intimidation, and the misuse of authority to coerce victims into activities like prostitution, sexual exploitation, organ trafficking, forced labour, or confinement.

The statement also emphasised that just updating the Criminal Law isn’t enough to effectively combat human trafficking or offer proper support to victims. There is a need for further protective and supportive measures. They noted that the “Law on Combating Human Trafficking and Protecting Victims,” which was presented to Parliament on August 5, 2021, has not yet been reviewed.

 The statement concluded: “On July 30, World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening laws to better protect victims, especially those affected by labour and sexual exploitation. We also urge that the draft law we proposed three years ago be reviewed by parliamentary committees without further delay”.