Country of Publication:

• Turkey

Kerem Morgül, Osman Savaşkan, Identity or interests? Religious conservatives’ attitudes toward Syrian refugees in Turkey, Migration Studies, Volume 9, Issue 4, December 2021, Pages 1645–1672, https://doi.org/10.1093/migration/mnab039

Country of Publication:

• Turkey

Ahmet İçduygu, Kemal Kirişçi; Land of Diverse Migrations: Challenges of Emigration and Immigration In Turkey, İstanbul Bilgi University Press, 2009.

Project Title: EU Policy Making on Migration Jean Monet Module

Project Aims & Objectives:

This three-year-long Module will inform graduate and undergraduate level students of European studies on policy-making processes in the field of EU Migration Policy and migration policies of the EU member states, make the students practice the migration policy-making process through various learning tools, produce reference material and generate insights for the future students at European studies. Planned activities are lectures on the roles of EU institutions in migration policy, seminars, workshop on EU policy-making, role distributions to students for Model EU, and practising Model EU.

Scholars/Institutions: Zuhal Ünal, PhD; Burçak Müge Varol, PhD; İrem Aşkar Karakır, PhD; Sinem Abla, PhD. (Dokuz Eylül University)

Start Date: October 1, 2024

End Date: October 01, 2027

Country of Publication:

• Turkey

Website: https://ihh.org.tr/en/about-us

Mission:

IHH has been working since 1992 with the purpose of delivering aid to all people who are in need, who have experienced a catastrophe, who are victims of war, natural disaster, etc. or wounded, crippled, starved, homeless and persecuted, wherever they are, regardless of their religion, language, race or sect, and to prevent the violation of the basic human rights and freedoms of those people. IHH’s voluntary relief activities evolved into an official organization in 1995 and spread around five continents as it established a bridge of goodwill stretching from Turkey to 123 countries.

IHH gives priority to the following in its relief operations:

War-zone or war-torn countries and territories
Regions struck by natural disasters
Poverty-stricken countries and territories
Mission

To give all needy and oppressed people the chance of a dignified life while delivering aid wherever they are with an understanding of universal brotherhood in order to help prevent evil and to let good and justice prevail.
To work toward stopping the policies and activities persecuting and discriminating against people in order to prevent violations of their basic rights and freedoms.
To maintain consistent values in an ever-changing world
To let the good rule everywhere.
Vision

To eliminate the negative effects of wars and natural disasters and to create the circumstances that will allow individuals and communities to become self-reliant.
To pioneer humanitarian work globally and improve cooperation between countries and organizations to pave the way to the formation of a common consciousness.
To strengthen the individuals and organizations in impoverished communities.
To get help to the areas in trouble right away so that as little damage as possible is done.
To offer permanent solutions by realizing permanent projects
To contribute to the elimination of poverty and the establishment of justice.

Country of Publication:

• Turkey

Website: http://gocder.com.tr

Mission:

Today, the phenomenon of migration is not only a priority issue for countries receiving migrants but also for all regions where globalization is felt or experienced intensely, affecting everyone and every structure. Almost every country in the world has been affected by migration. Particularly in the second half of the 20th century, mass population movements were witnessed, and the migrant population has shown a rapid increase over the last half-century. Indeed, according to United Nations data, if it continues to grow at the current rate of the past 20 years, the number of international migrants worldwide is expected to reach 405 million by 2050.

In particular, the unrest that began in Syria in 2011 quickly escalated into conflicts and eventually into a civil war involving numerous actors, marking one of the most severe humanitarian crises in history. As a result of this migration movement, the number of asylum seekers in our country has exceeded 3.7 million. This figure corresponds to 4.5% of Turkey’s population, and the country is now facing the most serious humanitarian crisis and population mobility in its history.

GÖÇDER, as stated in its statute, was established with the purpose of conducting research on migrants and developing solution strategies, without any discrimination and based on gender equality, in line with human rights and universal legal principles. This includes individuals who have left their countries for various reasons and are under international protection or temporary protection in Turkey, as defined by the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (Law No. 6458) and the Temporary Protection Regulation (migrants, refugees, conditional refugees, individuals subject to secondary protection procedures, temporarily protected persons, stateless persons, etc.), as well as individuals within the scope of internal migration. Additionally, GÖÇDER aims to provide guidance, implement social cohesion activities, develop national and international policies and projects related to the field, and inform the public within the framework of definitions made under United Nations conventions for other countries.

In this context, GÖÇDER aims to play a functional role in a broad perspective in the field, from macro-level works such as developing national and international policies and strategies on migration, and directing legislative work, to micro-level works such as ensuring access to all necessary services for disadvantaged individuals and families, particularly those within this scope, and improving their social cohesion levels. To achieve this goal, GÖÇDER coordinates macro-level activities at the center while also aiming to reach end-users with its services by increasing the number of branches (micro-level).

The founders and board members of GÖÇDER consist of volunteers with experience in civil society and knowledge in the context of migrant services, and/or those actively working in the field.

Among the founding members of GÖÇDER are Turkish citizens who are migrants (of Syrian, Palestinian, and Circassian origin) as well as members under temporary protection status and humanitarian residence permits.

This text is taken from the organization’s website.

Country of Publication:

• Turkey

Website: https://en.goc.gov.tr

Mission:

The movements of migration which nowadays have acquired an international qualification have placed at the top of the agenda not only in the migration-receiving states but also in all geographies through its political, social and cultural dimensions. Thus, having serious effects on societies, the aforementioned human movements have become the main determiner of international affairs and politics. Turkey, located on significant transit routes, is one of the countries which have become a focal point of the aforementioned population movements. The most remarkable example for that is the significant increase in the number of foreigners arriving in our country for various reasons. The number of foreigners entering into and exiting from Turkey is approximately 40 million while the number of foreigners residing in Turkey is over 5 million.

For foreigners, Turkey is a natural bridge connecting east and west due to its geographical position. The most important reason for this situation is due to the geopolitical importance of Turkey. Considering the migration routes, Turkey is a natural bridge connecting the East and the West for foreigners due to its geographical location. Another reason for this is Turkey’s growing economic power and political stability.

The position of Turkey as a “transit country” in terms of movements of migration has undergone some changes in recent years, thus our country has also become a “target country”.

In this context, like the examples in the world, a competent institutional structuring which improves and implements strategies and current policies towards area of responsibility; which is human rights-oriented, equipped with qualified staff and a strong infrastructure was required in terms of effective management of issues in the field of migration. Therefore, Turkey has put new regulations into force with the purpose of determining and implementing more efficient policies on migration. The most important of these regulations is Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection published in the Official Gazette dated 11.04.2013 and numbered 28615.

Law on Foreigners and International Protection has become an assurance for the rights of migrants and international protection seekers by basing an effective asylum and migration management on a strong legal ground. With this Law, the legal framework of the rights of migrants and refugees has been brought in line with the international standards. With this Law also Presidency of Migration Management has aimed to be organized in 81 provinces, 148 districts and abroad.

Presidency will carry on its activities with the aim of implementing policies and strategies regarding the migration area, facilitating the coordination between the institutions and organizations on these issues, carrying out the activities and actions regarding foreigners’ entry into and stay in Turkey, their exit and being deported from Turkey, international protection, temporary protection and the protection of the victims of human trafficking.

Country of Publication:

• Turkey