International organizations and human rights: The case of International Organization for Migration (IOM) as part of counter trafficking efforts in Turkey


Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Sosyoloji Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2008

Öğrenci: ŞERMİN YILDIZ ÇINAR

Danışman: AYŞEGÜL AYDINGÜN

Özet:

Trafficking in persons is a phenomenon that threatens not only basic human rights but also source, passage and destination countries; therefore, it rightfully draws international attention. Being a global threat, it necessitates cooperation and intervention. The aim of the thesis is to analyze anti-trafficking efforts in Turkey by focusing on a particular international initiative. To this end, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is selected as a case and its activities in Turkey are mentioned with the ultimate goal of questioning its effectiveness in the process of fighting against trafficking in persons. The thesis examines the phenomenon of trafficking in persons with a conceptual analysis by dwelling upon the objectives, function and perspective of the IOM. It concentrates on the IOM, which actively assists the Turkish government in every aspect of migration and in combating human trafficking with a particular focus on trafficking in women through the counter-trafficking program implemented in 2004. The thesis also aims at evaluating whether international and local actors take effective actions that cover both the prevention and punishment of trafficking in women, and the protection of victims’ rights. The binding international legal instrument on the subject matter, the UN Trafficking Protocol of 2000, will be referred to and different approaches to the evaluation of the problem will be mentioned so as to present the focal points of the varying goals.