PROTECTION
The government increased efforts to identify trafficking victims, but did less to provide protection services. The government identified 50 potential trafficking victims during the first three quarters of 2014, 43 of whom were victims of sexual exploitation and seven were victims of labor exploitation, which may include trafficking crimes; this represented a significant increase from the 15 adult female victims of sex trafficking identified in 2013. Two of the victims identified were children. The victims were predominantly from Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and Syria. Twenty-six victims accepted support services and 24 elected for immediate repatriation, which the government facilitated.Though the TNP reported 100 potential trafficking victims discovered through law enforcement operations, it did not report referring them to protection services. Additionally, because the government did not recognize children engaged in begging or Turkish nationals could be trafficking victims; these populations were not identified or referred to care. The government reported utilization of its national referral mechanism for victim identification and assistance, which included law enforcement, civil society groups, embassies, and international organizations. During the reporting period, the government issued two directives to officials with guidance on victim identification procedures. In September 2014, the government began cooperation with the EU to improve victim identification measures, update the national referral mechanism, and broaden anti-trafficking trainings; however, the government did not provide funding for these efforts. The government did not ensure trafficking victims were not punished for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being subjected to human trafficking. For example, front-line police officers often failed to identify sex trafficking victims, particularly among women in prostitution, and deported them without providing them access to victim assistance. NGOs continued to report some first-line responders and police officers were not trained in victim identification and assistance, and police and prosecutor re-assignments and firings made it difficult for NGOs to coordinate effectively with law enforcement officials.

In September 2014, the government ceased funding three NGO shelters offering assistance to victims, including psychological and medical care, legal counseling on humanitarian visa and residence permit issuance, and counseling on their rights to return home. These shelters were also closed during part of the reporting period while the NGOs waited for an international donor project to fund them.These shelters continued to be underutilized due to law enforcement’s inability to proactively identify and refer victims to shelter services. The government did not offer specialized facilities for child trafficking victims, but reported the protection and rehabilitation services for child victims of domestic violence would be used for child trafficking victims; however, similar to the previous reporting period, no data was provided to specify if child trafficking victims accessed such services. The government reported domestic and foreign victims would be given the same assistance; however, the government did not identify Turkish victims.The government continued to allow automatic residency status for 30 days to any identified foreign trafficking victim, who had the option to apply for extensions of that status for up to three years; victims were not repatriated unless they requested it.

PREVENTION
The government demonstrated improved prevention efforts.The government convened its interagency taskforce on combating human trafficking in December 2014 for the first time since 2012; however, the government did not update its 2009 national action plan.The government continued to fund an international organization-run hotline for trafficking victims and law enforcement tips, and it publicized the phone number on pamphlets and posters in airports and other ports of entry around the country. The government also conducted public outreach on human trafficking in mid-2014 and the TNP published monthly bulletins on anti- trafficking issues. In September 2014, the government conducted field research on the trafficking of Syrian refugees and officials allegedly involved in such crimes. Though the research revealed officials were not involved in these crimes, the government committed to prevent the trafficking of this vulnerable group. The government neither made efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts or forced labor, nor demonstrated efforts to prevent child sex tourism by Turkish nationals traveling abroad; furthermore, it denied child sex tourism occurred within Turkey or involving its nationals abroad.Turkish armed forces participated in anti-trafficking training prior to their deployment abroad on international peacekeeping missions. The government did not provide anti-trafficking training or guidance for its diplomatic personnel.

TURKMENISTAN:
Tier 2 Watch List 
Turkmenistan is a source country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. Men and women from Turkmenistan are subjected to forced labor after migrating abroad for employment in the textile, agricultural, construction, and domestic service sectors. Turkmen women and girls are also subjected to sex trafficking abroad. Residents of rural areas are most at risk of becoming trafficking victims. International organizations report that the proportion of male victims subjected to trafficking abroad increased to surpass female victims in 2014. Turkey and Russia are the destinations of most Turkmen victims,

followed by other countries in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and Europe.An international organization estimates between 10 and 15 trafficking victims return to Turkmenistan each month. Turkmen nationals are subjected to forced labor within the country in the informal construction industry. Participation in the cotton harvest is compulsory for some public sector employees, who face termination if they refuse to work or are unable to pay for a surrogate worker. State officials in the Lebap and Dashoguz regions reportedly required some business owners to send staff to pick cotton.
The Government of Turkmenistan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. Despite these measures, the government did not demonstrate overall increasing anti- trafficking efforts compared to the previous reporting period; therefore,Turkmenistan is placed on Tier 2 Watch List for a fourth consecutive year. Turkmenistan was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, and it has committed to devoting sufficient resources to implement that plan. The government continued to convict trafficking offenders under its anti-trafficking statute and actively partnered with an international organization to organize official trainings and draft a 2016-2018 national action plan to combat trafficking.The government, however, did not demonstrate adequate efforts to identify and protect victims; rather, officials penalized some trafficking victims for acts committed as a result of being subjected to trafficking.