2007 Trafficking in Persons Report - Center for Women Policy Studies

increase its efforts by launching a number of public
awareness campaigns. It also developed and distributed
a victim assistance and referral handbook for all
relevant government departments. However, more
remains to be done. The Government of Cyprus
must continue to demonstrate a credible political
commitment to address trafficking by increasing
serious law enforcement efforts and increasing the
number of traffickers convicted and sentenced to
time in prison. Moreover, Cyprus must pass its pending
new comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation;
abolish or greatly restrict use of the “artiste” category
work permit; and provide more dedicated resources
for the protection of trafficking victims, including
a government-provided shelter. The government
should also continue to develop and implement
a more comprehensive demand reduction public
awareness campaign.
Prosecution
The Government of Cyprus showed some progress
in its law enforcement efforts. Cyprus’ 2000 anti-trafficking
law criminalizes trafficking for sexual exploitation;
a separate law enacted in 2003 prohibits forced
labor. Prosecutors utilize the anti-trafficking law and
trafficking-related statues to prosecute traffickers for
sexual exploitation. Penalties prescribed for both
sexual exploitation and forced labor range up to 20
years’ imprisonment, which are sufficiently stringent
and commensurate with those for other grave crimes.
Police increased the number of trafficking investigations
from 47 cases in 2005 to 60 cases in 2006.
Authorities prosecuted 40 cases for trafficking and
obtained convictions of 20 traffickers. Courts imposed
penalties ranging from nominal fines to two years’
imprisonment to these 20 convicted traffickers. These
punishments, however, should be strengthened to
more effectively deter trafficking in persons. During
the year, the police investigated at least three police
officers for possible trafficking-related corruption; one
official was prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced to
14 months’ imprisonment.
Protection
The Government of Cyprus demonstrated limited
improvements in its efforts to protect and assist
victims; however, overall efforts remained inadequate.
Although the government made ready its
long-promised, government-run victim shelter,
the facility was not opened due to delays in hiring
qualified staff. However, the Anti-TIP Police Unit
actively referred victims to an NGO-run shelter.
These referral mechanisms are based on procedures
outlined in a handbook on victim identification and
referral procedures distributed to relevant government
agencies and NGOs in February 2007. The Social
Welfare Department provided 99 foreign victims
with short-term shelter and other forms of assistance.
The Ministry of Justice and Public Order provided
approximately $22,700 to an NGO-run shelter during
the reporting period. Fifty-nine of the 79 trafficking
victims identified in 2006 assisted in investigations
and prosecutions. Some foreign women who do not
cooperate with authorities may be deported with no
legal alternatives to removal to countries where they
may face hardship or retribution. Cyprus does not
have a reflection period for victims; pending comprehensive
anti-trafficking legislation will establish a
reflection period. The rights of trafficking victims were
generally observed; however, police initially attempted
to arrest some later-identified victims in order to keep
them in the country to testify against their traffickers.
Prevention
The government demonstrated increased efforts to
prevent trafficking and raise awareness during the
reporting period. Although the government did
not abolish the “artiste” work permit category, it
continued to reduce the number of “artiste” permits
issued in 2006. The Ministry of Labor and Social
Insurance distributed Greek and English-language
brochures to all non-EU temporary workers entering
Cyprus. Police printed and distributed 10,000
trafficking awareness fliers during community
policing activities. A government-funded NGO
public awareness campaign distributed 15,000 fliers
and 1,000 posters on streets, college campuses,
and in government offices. The Ministry of Interior
also distributed 50,000 anti-trafficking fliers and
800 posters across the island and aired UN public
service announcements on trafficking on the staterun
television station, beginning in March 2007.
Area Administered by Turkish Cypriots
The northern area of Cyprus is administered by
Turkish Cypriots; the area has declared itself the
“Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (“TRNC”).
The United States does not recognize the “TRNC,”
nor does any other country except Turkey.
The area administered by Turkish Cypriots is a
destination for women trafficked from countries in
Eastern and Central Europe, including Moldova,
Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Georgia, and Belarus,
for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation.
The area administered by Turkish Cypriots does not
have a law that specifically prohibits trafficking in
persons, and authorities continue to confuse trafficking
with smuggling. All potential trafficking cases
were tried on the charges of “living off the earnings of
prostitution” or “encouraging prostitution.” Persons
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