1. Guidelines for Persons and Organizations Providing Support for Victims of Forced Migration
- Author:
- A. Tamer Aker, Dilek Kurban, Etyen Mahçupyan, and Pınar Önen Süren
- Publication Date:
- 01-2009
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV)
- Abstract:
- The outcomes of forced migration as a reality of Turkey have been increasing and varying over time. The situation affects not only the victims of forced migration but also the general population of the cities that accept the migrants, and from which people migrate, the socio-economic and cultural fabric of these cities, and thus, indirectly, the entire country. Although in recent years the government has taken some positive -nevertheless limited- steps, these have not been sufficient. The victims of forced migration, the vast majority of whom continue to live in deep poverty and deprivation, have legal, social, political and healthcare problems that need to be addressed urgently. That steps are taken by the state with the purpose of solving these problems is ideal and correct. However, it is also a fact that the size and scope of problems resulting from forced migration have pushed the limits of the state resources and its capacity. In addition, there does not seem to be sufficient political will in regard to generating comprehensive and permanent solutions for the problem, at least in the short term. Nevertheless, there exist some concrete steps that can be taken towards a solution by people and organisations offering support for internally displaced persons (IDPs) without waiting for the state to play the necessary role. The purpose of these guidelines is: to make easier the support and aid efforts offered to displaced persons by human rights advocates carrying out work concerning the daily lives of victims of forced migration, lawyers, health workers, and public and local government workers; to help shape the road map these persons shall prepare in order to address the problems of victims of forced migration, paying attention to the subjective conditions of each individual; and to offer a summary of the main principles, which need to be observed throughout this process. Since the present document is the first of its kind, we thought that it would be better to keep the guidelines as comprehensive as possible and, in line with this, to add certain points to the appendices; these are the points that may be deemed topical or may cause reservations, and are yet to be field tested. In this respect, matters and methods highlighted in these guidelines, whilst putting forth the ideal situation, imply that the expert who shall use the document may make a selection based on specific conditions and their good sense. Also, it should be noted that while getting into contact with victims of forced migration, it may be necessary to identify some groups that are sensitive and shy away from help, such as men and teenagers, and to generate alternative ways to reach them. We are hoping that these guidelines and their appendices, which have been designed with the goal of being developed as deemed necessary by their users, will constitute the initial steps for the users and displaced persons to work together.
- Topic:
- Refugees, Displacement, Forced Migration, and Guidelines
- Political Geography:
- Turkey and Middle East