Guarantees for vulnerable groups

Türkiye

Country Report: Guarantees for vulnerable groups Last updated: 29/07/25

Author

Independent

As with the LFIP, the TPR also contains definitions of “persons with special needs” and “unaccompanied children” and provides for additional guarantees. According to Article 3 TPR, “unaccompanied minors, persons with disability, elderly, pregnant women, single parents with accompanying children, victims of torture, sexual assault or other forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence” are to be categorised as “persons with special needs”.

The TPR and other related secondary legislation providing the legal framework and procedures for the provision of services to temporary protection beneficiaries identify the Ministry of Family and Social Services as the responsible authority for “persons with special needs”.

As provided by the AFAD Circular 2014/4 on “Administration of Services to Foreigners under the Temporary Protection Regime”, “services such as accommodation, care and oversight of unaccompanied minors, persons with disabilities and other persons with special needs are the responsibility of the Ministry of Family and Social Services. The Ministry is responsible for the referral of vulnerable persons to children centres, women shelters or other appropriate places.”

Being identified and registered as a “person with special needs” entitles beneficiaries to additional safeguards and prioritised access to rights and services. They should be provided “health care services, psycho-social assistance, rehabilitation and other support and services free of charge and on priority basis, subject to the limitations of capacity.”[1]

 

Unaccompanied children under temporary protection

Article 3 TPR defines an “unaccompanied minor” as “a child who arrives in Türkiye without being accompanied by an adult who by law or custom is responsible for him or her, or, a child left unaccompanied after entry into Türkiye, provided that he or she did not subsequently come under the active care of a responsible adult”.

Türkiye is a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and domestic child-protection standards are generally in line with international obligations. According to Turkish Law, unaccompanied children, once identified, should be taken under state protection with due diligence under the authority of the Ministry of Family and Social Services.

Article 48 TPR provides that unaccompanied children shall be treated in accordance with relevant child protection legislation and in consideration of the “best interests” principle. The 2015 Ministry of Family and Social Policies Directive on Unaccompanied Children provides additional guidance regarding the rights, protection procedures and implementation of services for unaccompanied children. The Directive designates PDMMs as the state institution responsible for the identification, registration and documentation of the unaccompanied children. PDMMs are also entrusted the responsibility of providing shelter to unaccompanied children until the completion of the age assessment, health checks and registration, documentation procedures upon which the child is referred to the Ministry of Family and Social Services.

Once the PDMM refers the child to the relevant Provincial Ministry of Family and Social Services Child Protection Directorate, temporary protection beneficiary unaccompanied children aged 0-12 are to be transferred to a child protection institution under the authority of the Ministry of Family and Social Services.

According to the TPR, unaccompanied children are mainly housed in Ministry of Family and Social Services shelters but may also be placed in Temporary Accommodation Centres if appropriate conditions can be ensured.[2] In practice, unaccompanied children between the ages of 0-18 are transferred to the nearest Provincial Child Protection Directorate. These children are not only Syrians, but include children from Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and South Africa. The Ministry has established child protection centres for unaccompanied children, but the number of unaccompanied children placed in these institutions has not been made public.[3]

The psychosocial well-being of Syrian children in Türkiye has been visibly impacted from the traumatic effects of war and flight, as well as deprivation, lack of opportunities for social interaction, and limited access to basic services. According to academic research conducted in 2022 and 2023, the psychosocial needs of Syrian children are largely disregarded by the authorities, and more sustainable activities, such as sport and the arts, should be performed to accelerate their social integration.[4]

Purple Roof Women’s Shelter Foundation highlights several problems[5] faced by unaccompanied children in the earthquake-affected zone. Firstly, unaccompanied children have been settled to the shelters of some organisations that are not reliably acting in the children’s best interests. Secondly, there is a lack of clarity on the determination of the adults accompanying the children were their mothers. There is no appropriate review procedure or reliable process to ensure the best interests of non-Turkish unaccompanied children regarding the person that children can be handed over. Furthermore, decisions regarding Syrian un-accompanied children appear to have been made without thorough assessment, relying solely on the children’s statements.

 

Women and girls under temporary protection

Protection from domestic violence

As regards the protection of women, Article 48 TPR refers to Türkiye’s Law No 6284 on Protection of the Family and Prevention of Violence, and the Implementing Regulation of this law, which provides a series of preventive and protection measures for women who are either victim or at risk of violence.

These guarantees are particularly important in light of the persisting risks of gender-based violence or even death generally affecting women in Türkiye.[6] Two-thirds of married women who participated in a study conducted in Kocaeli in 2022 reported experiencing one or more forms of gender-based violence in their marriages but only 38% consider divorce.[7]

Circular No. 2023/16 repealed a previously adopted inter-institutional framework for preventing violence against women and children, including so-called “honour killings.” The former circular, “Measures to Prevent Acts of Violence Against Women and Children and Honour Killings,” had assigned responsibilities to a wide range of public institutions and private actors, and introduced a system of quarterly monitoring and reporting. Developed following the work of a parliamentary research commission in 2005, it aimed to address the root causes of violence through coordinated action, with oversight roles given to the General Directorate of Social Services and Child Protection (for child-related cases) and the General Directorate on the Status of Women (for gender-based violence and honour-related killings). Institutions such as the Ministries of Justice, Interior, Health, and Education, as well as the Presidency of Religious Affairs, universities, and provincial authorities were listed among the responsible bodies.[8]

Women subjected to or at risk of domestic violence or sexual or gender-based violence by people other than family members must be protected by the competent state authorities. When a woman contacts the police or any other state institution or a third party informs the authorities, depending on the case, either preventive or protective measures should be taken. Temporary protection beneficiary women can also benefit from these measures.

On the basis of a referral from either the police, women can be referred to Centres for the Elimination and Monitoring of Violence (Şiddet Önleme ve İzleme Merkezi, ŞÖNİM), which then refer them to women shelters (kadın konukevi) run by the Ministry of Family and Social Services, municipalities or NGOs in accordance with available capacity. However, the problem is that the total number and capacity of women’s shelters in Türkiye falls far short of the demand (see International Protection: Special Reception Needs). According to data shared by the Ministry of Family and Social Services, in 2024, in total there are 150 women’s shelters with a capacity of 3,683;[9] 112 shelters affiliated with the Ministry in 81 provinces provided services with a capacity of 2,814; 35 women’s shelters affiliated with municipalities in 13 provinces with a capacity of 807; 1 women’s shelter affiliated with NGOs with a capacity of 42; and 2 women’s shelters affiliated with PMM with a capacity of 42.

Since women’s shelters are intended to house both Turkish and foreign nationals, temporary protection and international protection recipient women are also affected by the capacity issues. In refugee dense areas such as Gaziantep, Adana, and Şanlıurfa, there is an urgent need for more women’s shelters. For instance, in Şanlıurfa, the conditions are not good, especially because of the overcrowding.[10] In case of a lack of capacity, the referred women might be placed in other cities. In 2024, the women are often reluctant to access these centres, due to lack of trust, the fear of return, deportation, or any possible negative consequences[11].  Sometimes due to the differences in legal systems between countries, there is a lack of awareness among refugee women about domestic violence experienced by girls and women, to share information about what violence is, women’s shelters, and restraining orders.[12]

According to a 2024 shadow report submitted by Mor Çatı to the UN Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, language barriers remain a significant obstacle for migrant women in Türkiye in accessing protection services against gender-based violence. Many institutions lack interpretation services, limiting access to justice and long-term support. Women without legal status or outside their province of registration face additional restrictions, including ineligibility for shelters. In some cases, undocumented women seeking shelter are redirected to Provincial Migration Directorates and risk being detained or deported instead of receiving protection. The report also highlights that, in practice, access to shelters often requires a valid ID issued by the Directorate of Migration Management, although this is not legally mandated, excluding many migrant and refugee women from support mechanisms.[13]

Another related practical limitation is that, although the law clearly provides that both women at risk of violence and women who have actually been subjected to violence should be able to access shelters, in practice due to capacity problems only women who have actually been subjected to violence are offered access to existing shelters. In most cases, shelters also inquire into the women’s claim to ascertain that violence is “certain” and request evidence such as an assault report or a criminal investigation, although practice is not uniform across the country. In South-Eastern Anatolia, the need for women’s shelters is very high. Due to capacity problems, some shelters give priority to women with an assault report or a criminal investigation, which is very difficult for refugee/asylum-seeking women. As a rule, women placed in shelters can stay in the facility for up to six months. Even if they are lucky enough to find a place in a women’s shelter, they generally return to the house where they experienced violence at the end of six months. Protection and prevention mechanisms in cases of SGBV/GBV against refugee women in Türkiye do not work effectively.[14]

As a rule, women placed in shelters can stay in the facility up to 6 months. This period can be extended on exceptional basis. Victims of human trafficking are housed in two shelters located in Ankara and Kırkkale for one month (see International Protection: Special Reception Needs).[15]

The Women Shelters Regulation issued in 2013 also clearly indicates that for a woman to be admitted to a shelter, she is not required to provide a valid identity document. However, a Temporary Protection Identification Document is required of women seeking to be admitted to shelters in practice. In 2024, most women’s shelters in Türkiye required municipal registration and a valid identification number for admission. While Turkish women could be accepted without a prior criminal complaint, foreign women without registration faced significant barriers. Due to security concerns—particularly the need to identify individuals potentially involved in criminal activity— ŞÖNİMs (shelters) often defer to the police for initial screening. However, when unregistered foreign women approach police to file complaints, they are frequently referred to removal centres. Although authorities claim that at-risk women and children are promptly transferred from removal centres to shelters, stakeholders report that in practice, these individuals face a serious risk of deportation.[16]

Conditions in shelters are restrictive and many migrant women leave after a short period of time due to discrimination and psychological violence from other women[17]. LGBTQI+ women are automatically excluded from these shelters.[18]

 According to statistics shared by the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM), a total of 223 victims of human trafficking were identified in 2023. In the same year, 8,251 interviews were conducted with individuals considered potential victims of trafficking. In 2024, the identification and interview numbers have remained lower than targeted. In the first quarter of the year, 4,048 interviews were conducted, resulting in the identification of 43 victims. In the second quarter, 2,610 interviews led to the identification of 57 victims. The third quarter saw 694 interviews and 37 identified victims, while in the fourth quarter, 899 interviews resulted in 42 identified victims. PMM has explained that the number of interviews and identified victims is influenced by referrals from first-contact units and the operational procedures of provincial directorates. A consistent decline in referrals from public institutions, coupled with the loss of expertise due to staff turnover within the provincial directorates, has contributed to the figures falling below expectations throughout the year.[19]

In 2024, UNHCR continued to support gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response in cooperation with the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM), under the framework of a Protocol of Cooperation signed in October 2021. This cooperation included institutional capacity-building and operational assistance. UNHCR and its partners reached 194,145 refugees through GBV-related information campaigns, and 16,318 individuals received targeted support. A total of 2,892 refugees with GBV-related needs were identified and referred to relevant institutions for medical, psychosocial, accommodation, or transportation support. UNHCR also provided a dedicated counselling line and published GBV-related information through its UNHCR Türkiye Help Page. In addition, 1,500 technical staff were trained or sensitised on GBV prevention and response, and 126 institutions received human resources support, including the recruitment of psychologists and social workers. Cash assistance was also provided to GBV survivors to support their recovery.[20]

Discriminatory behaviour is common among public officers working at courthouses. Alongside open hate speech, public officers can display other forms of discrimination against refugees, such as not properly informing them or slowing down the judicial process. Access to justice in the courts is further complicated due to language barriers. Women receive notifications from the courts in Turkish not in Arabic including in SMS messages. Syrian women’s cases can be rejected due to a lack of translators in the courts or a lack of knowledge on the part of the legal aid staff. Some NGOs provides information on their rights, such as Women’s Solidarity Foundation, Mavi Kalem, and Refugee Rights Türkiye.

One exemplary initiative to ensure access to justice for refugee women is the grant agreement between the Council of Europe and the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (UTBA[21]). This grant, part of the “Women’s Access to Justice in Türkiye” project, aims to provide comprehensive legal aid services, particularly targeting women victims of violence and those from vulnerable groups such as refugees and migrants. The project emphasizes gender-responsive legal aid, training lawyers in gender sensitivity, and ensuring that applicants receive consistent and intersectional support. Additionally, it seeks to remove barriers and geographical obstacles to legal aid, ensuring that trained legal aid lawyers, selected by local bar associations, provide quality legal advice and representation, thereby safeguarding women’s human rights in alignment with European standards.

Courts issue suspension orders in cases of domestic violence, but in 2024, they have been still ineffective because the perpetrators and victims sometimes reside in the same household. Violence perpetrated along the migration route is pervasive but completely invisible. Syrian women cannot discuss sexual harassment or assault of this nature.[22] In case of living in common settlement areas in the earthquakes affected region, there is a difficulty regarding the implementation of the restraining order, an injunction decision is taken, but in some cases, the security has no information about this order which make harder to implement the order and provide the security to the women.[23]

Polygamous and arranged marriages

In addition to violence, the protection of women and girls under the age of 18 involved in arranged marriages and unofficial polygamous marriages – including “second wives” and girls sold by their families – is a persistent and significant concern. Despite the fact that both practises are illegal under Turkish law, polygamous marriages are lawful in Syria, and women are not always aware of the legal differences between the two countries. These issues have also contributed to an increase in the rate of early divorce among girls under the age of 18.[24] In 2023, it is observed that there is an increase on child marriages, especially in the earthquakes-affected area[25].

To overcome threats posed by prostitution and sexual assault, early marriages and becoming a co-wife (Kuma in Turkish) are considered a means of social protection for some refugee women. The rates of early and/or forced marriages, sexual violence, polygamy, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe deliveries, and maternal mortality among Syrian refugees are significantly higher than among Turkish women.[26] As the status of the second wife is not recognised in Turkish Civil Law, in the case of abuse and violence they have difficulties in accessing their legal rights.[27]

In 2023, the Turkish Court of Cassation upheld the annulment of a second marriage, conducted in Syria by a Syrian national who later acquired Turkish citizenship, on the grounds of absolute nullity due to violation of public order. The individual had legally married a second wife in Syria while still married to the first, and upon gaining Turkish citizenship, both marriages were registered in Türkiye. The decision, based on Turkish Civil Code Article 145/1, was initially challenged but ultimately confirmed by the Court of Cassation, emphasizing that polygamy is prohibited under Turkish law regardless of the individual’s previous nationality and legal practices in their country of origin.

In spite of criminalisation in Turkish law, temporary protection recipients have limited opportunities to claim the relevant legal safeguards and protection measures due to a lack of adequate public information and, most importantly, a critical shortage of counselling and legal assistance services available to refugee women. In addition, when treating child brides and mothers, public authorities such as health care institutions frequently fail to fulfil their legal obligation to inform the police of child marriage cases.  In cases where they inform the authorities, police officers may not investigate the incidents.[28] Statistics on such reports are not available countrywide in 2023.

Initiatives such as the Child Protection Centre run by Türk Kızılay in Altındağ, Ankara offer information to women on early pregnancy, child marriage, sexual harassment, reproductive rights and contraception. Many NGOs have child protection activities.

In practice, challenges arise when a co-wife seeks a divorce. In some countries of origin, religious marriage (imam nikahı) is considered official, whereas Türkiye follows a different legal procedure. Individuals married through religious ceremonies who come to Türkiye are often registered by migration authorities under only one spouse, as per official records. When seeking a divorce, some Turkish courts accept this migration management records, while others require official marriage documents from the individuals’ consulates. For a co-wife who is not registered by migration authorities, obtaining a divorce is effectively impossible. In 2024, stakeholders noted cases where multiple co-wives were registered as dependant under the same family identification number, but it remains unclear under what relationship category the co-wives were registered.[29]

In addition, polygamous marriages have an impact on refugees’ access to certain rights such as Social Welfare. The assistance granted under the ESSN, for instance, is only provided to one wife and her registered per household.[30]

The situation of sex workers

Since sex work is frequently perceived in Türkiye as behaviour endangering public order or health, certain groups like sex workers are particularly vulnerable. In an evacuation case filed against a Syrian transgender sex worker woman by the end of 2022, it was argued that she was required to leave the property because she engaged in sex work and was a transgender woman, neither of which is unlawful in Türkiye. The case is still pending.[31] Due to the small amount of the financial support provided by UNHCR and the inability to access the labour market, their engagement in sex work continued through 2024.[32] As of May 2025, the UNHCR discontinued its monthly financial assistance for transgender refugees, contributing to a deterioration in their living conditions. According to stakeholders, transgender refugees face significant barriers to formal employment due to persistent stigmatization, which often leads them to engage in informal or precarious work, including sex work. This reliance on financial support had made the discontinuation of aid particularly impactful for this group.[33] Syrian cisgender sex workers who are victims of gender-based violence have the right to be placed in SONIM, but due to the language barrier, they typically leave the shelter after three to four days.[34]

According to the study conducted by the Red Umbrella Association, Syrian sex workers are stigmatized on the basis of both being a Syrian and doing sex work/ Syrian sex workers interviewed said that they were subjected to discriminatory treatment and ill-treatment in their encounters with law enforcement officers. Syrian sex workers do not know which center they should apply to for which health problem[35].

 

Torture survivors under temporary protection

Both LFIP and TPR identify “torture survivors” among persons with special needs. Torture survivors, like all other temporary protection beneficiaries, have access to a range of healthcare services in public hospitals, including psychiatric assistance. There is also a small number of NGOs, such as Human Rights Foundation of Türkiye, that specialise in treatment and rehabilitation services to torture survivors.

 

LGBTQI+ persons under temporary protection

Persons belonging to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex populations are not defined by the TPR as a category of “persons with special needs”. The lack of a gender-sensitive registration procedure under TPR has an impact on their ability to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity or being registered as persons with special needs.[36] However, it should be noted that when they inform PDMM’s protection offices about their gender identity or sexual orientation, they are eligible for a protection interview and resettlement evaluation. UNHCR implementing partners often provide help in this process.[37]

Because of the PDMMs’ referrals, LGBTIQ+ communities living in relatively small cities like Yalova, where approximately 2,000 LGBTIQ+ individuals live encounter significant housing, labour market, and health care problems and wish to leave Türkiye as soon as possible.[38] Their access to health care, including in Migrant Health Centres (see Health Care) is hindered by high levels of discrimination and fear of being exposed to a family member and they prefer approaching to public hospitals.[39]

As a result of the change in registration policy, from 6 June 2022 to 6 February 2023, PDMMs referred Syrians seeking protection to temporary accommodation centres. For instance, one transgender person was granted access to the temporary accommodation centre in Kahramanmaras, while another transgender woman’s access was denied by temporary accommodation center in Adana. In these two cases, they were unable to register. However, in cases of gender-based violence registration was accessible.

In the context of widespread discrimination targeting both refugee and LGBTIQ+ communities, LGBTIQ+ refugees feel unsafe and vulnerable. This discrimination is prevalent when they seek accommodation or labour market access[40]. In 2024, a Syrian transgender woman was stigmatized, apprehended and then deported after her HIV status was shared publicly. Lately it was reported that she was murdered in Syria. (For more details, see: Reception of LGBTQI+ persons). An MP from the National Assembly highlighted the heightened risks faced by LGBTI+ individuals in removal centres. She stated that the conditions in these centres have effectively become punitive for all groups, but LGBTI+ persons face an increased risk of violence. Migrants who should not be housed together are forced to share rooms, and no separate facilities are provided for LGBTI+ individuals, exposing them to harassment, assault, and ill-treatment. In some cases, isolation was reportedly used as a means of “protection” against violence.[41]

In June 2024, Mülteci-Der conducted a focus group discussion in İzmir with five Syrian transgender women under temporary protection, aiming to document their lived experiences in Türkiye. Participants reported facing widespread societal prejudice and transphobia, with particularly acute challenges in educational settings. Some reported that they had been forced to leave school or experienced threats from teachers due to their gender identity.

In the workplace, participants stated they had to leave jobs due to persistent harassment and bias from both employers and colleagues. One participant shared having worked in a state-run factory but was compelled to resign due to ongoing discrimination. The discussion also highlighted the deep social stigma attached to both refugee and trans identities. One participant remarked that “some Turkish citizens show more respect to animals than to Syrian trans women,” illustrating the severe level of dehumanization experienced. The psychological toll of constant discrimination was described as severe. To avoid drawing attention in public, participants said they were compelled to change their appearance, such as growing out their hair or beards, which caused both emotional and physical distress. Due to unsafe conditions and a lack of prospects, some participants expressed a desire to leave Türkiye. Despite being aware of the risks associated with irregular migration, including trafficking and sexual violence, they viewed such routes as more bearable than enduring continued hostility and marginalization in Türkiye.[42]

 

Ethnic and other minorities under temporary protection

The number of members of ethnic minorities, such as Roma, Dom and Lom groups from Syria are not known for certain. In Gaziantep, these groups generally live in rural areas, work in seasonal agricultural work and refrain from registering out of fear of being discriminated by the public authorities.[43] In the Şirinevler district of Gaziantep 70% of the population is Dom. In Gaziantep, there is a huge industrial area in the Unaldi district where many Syrians including Doms, are employed without a work permit. In rural areas, families generally live together. However, in big cities, they prefer not to be visible and live separated from each other.

Research conducted by Kırkayak Kültür[44] has revealed that negative perceptions, attitudes and discriminatory practices against Dom and Abdal communities, and the inability of Dom and Abdal communities to access rights and services in the aftermath of the earthquake appears to be a result of multi-layered discriminatory practices. Another research highlighted the challenges faced by Dom, Abdal, and Roma communities living in the earthquake-affected provinces. In the aftermath of the disaster, these minority groups encountered significant discrimination, particularly in accessing basic services in areas they shared with refugees. Beyond exclusion from services, they were also subjected to widespread hate speech, with members of the majority population labelling them as thieves, looters, and plunderers.[45]

(For more information see AIDA Türkiye 2023)

 

 

 

[1] Article 48 TPR.

[2] Article 30(3) TPR, as inserted by Regulation 2018/11208. The previous provision in Article 23(4) TPR has been repealed by the amendment.

[3] Obianet, ‘News List’, 2023, available here

[4] Halk Sağlığı Bakışıyla Göçün Ruh Sağlığına Etkileri, ‘The Effects of Migration on Mental Health From a Public Health Perspective’, 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3DceNRf; Ali Riza Atici, ‘Ortaokullarda öğrenim gören mülteci ve göçmen çocukların motor beceri düzeyleri ve beden eğitimi temel psikolojik ihtiyaçlarının incelenmesi’ 2023, available here

[5] Türkiye’de Deprem Bölgesindeki Refakatsiz Çocukların Durumuna İlişkin Bilgi Notu, 2 Mart 2023

[6] For 2017 figures on killings and sexual abuse, see Hürriyet, ‘409 women killed, 387 children sexually abused in Türkiye: 2017 Report’, 2 January 2018, available here. See also Observatory for Human Rights and Forced Migrants in Türkiye, A Year of Impunity: A one year visual database of migration-related human rights abuses, July 2017, 14.

[7] Birkan Doğan & Hasan H. Taylan, ‘Geçici Koruma Altindaki Suriyelilerin Aile İçi Sorunlarinin İncelenmesi: Kocaeli Örneği’, 2022, available here.

[8] Eşik, Eşitlik Sağlanmadıkça Şiddet Artacak, 23.11.2024, available here.

[9]  T.C. Aile ve Sosyal Hizmetler Bakanlığı, 2024 Faaliyet Raporu, available here.

[10] Information provided by a stakeholder, March 2024, available here.

[11] Information provided by stakeholders, March – April 2024.

[12] Information provided by stakeholders, March – April 2024.

[13] Mor Çatı, Türkiye’de Göçmen Kadınlar ve Kadına Yönelik Şiddet Birleşmiş Milletler Tüm Göçmen İşçilerin ve Aile Fertlerinin Haklarının Korunması Komitesi’ne Sunulan Gölge Rapor, June 2024, available here.

[14] Information provided by a stakeholder, May 2023.

[15] PMM, ‘İnsan Ticareti İle Mücadele 2023’, available here.

[16] Information provided by multiple stakeholders, February and May 2025.

[17] Ibfirnation provided by stakeholders, March – April 2024.

[18]  Information provided by a stakeholder, March 2021 and May 2023.

[19] PMM, Faaliyet Raporu 2024

[20] UNHCR, Enhancing Protection for Refugee Women and Children Factsheet, January 2025, available here

[21] CoE, December 2022, Understanding Barriers to Women’s Access to Justice and Legal Aid in Türkiye, available here

[22] Information provided by a stakeholder, May 2023.

[23] Information provided by stakeholders, March – April 2024.

[24]  Information provided by a stakeholder, May 2023.

[25] Information provided by stakeholders, March – April 2024.

[26] Ibid, page 7.

[27] Ibid, page 8.

[28] Information provided by a stakeholder, May 2023.

[29] Information provided by a stakeholder, February and March 2025.

[30] Information provided by a stakeholder, May 2023.

[31] Information provided by a stakeholder, June 2023.

[32] Information provided by a stakeholder, June 2023.

[33] Information provided by a stakeholder, April 2025.

[34] Information provided by a stakeholder, June 2023.

[35] Gerçek Gündem, ‘Araştırma: Türkiye’deki yabancılar (2) Suriyeli seks işçileri Türkiye’de neler yaşıyor?’, 19.07.2023, available here

[36] Information provided by a stakeholder, June 2023.

[37] Information provided by s stakeholder, June 2023.

[38] Open Democracy, ‘I Am Not Your Refugee: From All Over: LGBTQ Türkiye’, 6 October 2022, available here

[39] Information provided by a stakeholder, June 2023.

[40] Information provided by s stakeholder, March 2024.

[41] Evrensel, EMEP Milletvekili Sevda Karaca: GGM’ler göçmenler için cezaevine dönüştü, 19.12.2023, available here.

[42] Mülteci-Der, Boşluk ve Düzensizlik Arasında Suriyeli Trans Kadın Mültecilerin İzmir’deki Durumu, 01.12.2024, available here.

[43] Information provided by a stakeholder, May 2023.

[44] Kirkayak Kültür, February 2024, “We started from zero, we returned to zero again…”, available here.

[45] Minority Rigts Group, REPORT ON THE MONITORING OF DISCRIMINATION EXPERIENCED BY DOM, ABDAL AND ROMA PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN TÜRKIYE FOLLOWINGTHE 2023 EARTHQUAKE, 2023, available here; Bianet, Depremlerin ardından yükselen ayrımcı ve ötekileştirici uygulamalar | Rom, Dom, Lom ve Abdallar, available here.

Table of contents

  • Statistics
  • Overview of the legal framework
  • Overview of main changes since the previous report update
  • Introduction to the asylum context in Türkiye
  • Asylum Procedure
  • Reception Conditions
  • Detention of Asylum Seekers
  • Content of International Protection
  • Temporary Protection Regime
  • Content of Temporary Protection