On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Türkiye LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Türkiye Country of Origin Information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents, visit our Türkiye COI page.
Türkiye is one of the largest refugee-hosting countries worldwide, with most of the refugees hosted coming from Syria.
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Türkiye.
Türkiye is party to:
- 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, which provides the internationally recognised definition of a refugee and outlines the legal protection, rights, and assistance a refugee is entitled to receive. However, Türkiye maintains a geographical limitation to the 1951 Convention and only applies it to refugees originating from European countries.
- 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, which expanded the Convention to apply universally and protect all persons fleeing conflict and persecution.
The instrument for accession to the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, which establishes a framework for the international protection of stateless persons, was deposited in March 2015, and the Convention entered into force on 24 June 2015. However, as of 2025, Türkiye is still not a party to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, which sets rules for the conferral and non-withdrawal of citizenship to prevent cases of statelessness from arising, despite the submission of the draft law endorsing ratification of the 1961 Convention to the Parliament in 2011.
In addition, Türkiye has ratified several other international legal instruments that also relate to treatment of refugees, including:
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which sets out protections for a wide range of human rights, including freedom from torture and other cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment, fair trial rights, equality, and non-discrimination. However, Türkiye does not consider itself bound by Article 22 of this Convention.
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which ensures the enjoyment of economic, social, and cultural rights to education, fair and just working conditions, adequate standards of living, social security, and the highest attainable standard of health. However, Türkiye reserves the right to interpret and apply the provisions of Article 27 of the ICESCR in accordance with the related provisions and rules of the Constitution of the Republic of Türkiye and the Treaty of Lausanne of 24 July 1923 and its Appendixes.
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which protects children’s rights and obliges public bodies to consider children’s best interests. However, Türkiye reserves the right to interpret and apply the provisions of articles 17, 29 and 30 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child according to the letter and the spirit of the Constitution of the Republic of Türkiye and those of the Treaty of Lausanne of 24 July 1923.
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which sets out provisions to ensure women’s full enjoyment of human rights on an equal basis with men. However, Türkiye does not consider itself bound by Article 29 para. 1 and 2 of this Convention.
- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), which obliges signatories to take action to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which seeks to eliminate disability discrimination and safeguard the rights of disabled people
- International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW), which sets standards for national laws and procedures to protect migrant workers’ rights. However, Türkiye reserves the right to interpret and apply certain parts of the Convention in accordance with the constitution and national laws.
- Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), which requires signatories to take effective measures to prevent acts of torture. However, Türkiye does not consider itself bound by Article 1 of this Convention.
Additionally, Türkiye ratified the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR, formally the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms), which is a supranational convention to protect human rights and political freedoms in Europe. While not a refugee-specific treaty, the ECHR provides a set of fundamental human rights and freedoms that apply to everyone within the jurisdiction of its Member States, including refugees and asylum seekers. These rights serve as important legal protections for refugees, especially when national asylum or immigration decisions are challenged.
Along with its obligations under the aforementioned international instruments, Türkiye is obligated to respect the international customary legal principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits any country from deporting any person to a country where they face the threat of persecution.
Türkiye has been undertaking legislative and institutional reforms to build an effective national asylum system in compliance with international standards. In April 2013, the Turkish Parliament endorsed Türkiye’s national asylum law, Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection (Yabancılar ve Uluslararası Koruma Kanunu, LFIP), which entered into force on 11 April 2014.
Articles 2 and 4 LFIP transpose the non-refoulement principle, stating that foreigners and others with international protection will not be sent back to countries where they will suffer inhuman treatment, punishment, or persecution on the basis of race, religion, or group membership.
The international protection system in Türkiye is laid down in detail in the third section of the aforementioned legislation. Four different types of protection status that can be granted to applicants in Türkiye are defined:
1) Refugee status
According to Article 61 LFIP,
“A refugee is a person who as a result of events occurring in European countries and owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his citizenship and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it, shall be granted refugee status upon completion of the refugee status determination process.”
It should be noted that the geographical restriction on the 1951 Convention is reiterated in the national legislation. Accordingly, Article 3(b) LFIP states that “European countries” refer to Member States of the Council of Europe and other countries determined by the Council of Ministers.
2) Conditional refugee status
Conditional refugee status is a concept unique to Turkish law due to Türkiye’s geographical restriction on the 1951 Convention. The “conditional refugee status” was introduced for the purpose of differentiating between Convention refugees (persons fulfilling the criteria set out in the 1951 Convention) originating from non-European countries and those originating from European countries.
Article 62 LFIP sets forth that a conditional refugee is a person with the same well-founded fear of persecution as set out in Art. 61 LFIP, except that they must originate from non-European countries. Conditional refugees are allowed to reside in Türkiye temporarily until they are resettled to a third country.
A conditional refugee has the right to reside in Türkiye temporarily and to apply for a work permit six months after lodging an international protection claim. Conditional refugees are issued an identity document bearing a foreigner identification number with one year validity period at a time.
3) Subsidiary protection status
According to Article 63 LFIP, subsidiary protection status is given to:
“A foreigner or a stateless person, who neither could be qualified as a refugee nor as a conditional refugee, shall nevertheless be granted subsidiary protection upon the status determination because if returned to the country of origin or country of [former] habitual residence would:
- a) be sentenced to death or face the execution of the death penalty;
b) face torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
c) face serious threat to himself or herself by reason of indiscriminate violence in situations of international or nationwide armed conflict;
and therefore is unable or for the reason of such threat is unwilling, to avail himself or herself of the protection of his country of origin or country of [former] habitual residence.”
Subsidiary protection status in Türkiye is analogous to the definition of serious harm pursuant to Article 15 of the EU Qualification Directive.
4) Temporary Protection status
Article 91 LFIP stipulates that “[t]emporary protection may be provided for foreigners who have been forced to leave their country, cannot return to the country that they have left, and have arrived at or crossed the borders of Türkiye in a mass influx situation seeking immediate and temporary protection.”
The Temporary Protection Regulation (Geçici Koruma Yönetmeliği) was adopted on 22 October 2014, and further details the rights and obligations of individuals under temporary protection in Türkiye, as well as the procedures for granting temporary protection.
Since 2018, the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) (Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı), as the national authority entrusted by the LFIP, has been the sole responsible authority for processing all asylum applications and refugee registration in Türkiye, including refugee status determination. UNHCR continues to provide protection services, including counselling related to registration with the authorities.
For more information regarding the national legal framework in Türkiye, please consult the following sources:
– Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection (Yabancılar ve Uluslararası Koruma Kanunu) available in English, Turkish, Persian, and Arabic
– PMM FAQ on International Protection
- Application for asylum and registration
The general procedure to apply for international protection is laid down in Articles 65 to 87 LFIP. Your application must be lodged in person with the governorates (Provincial Directorates of Migration Management, PDMM). If an application is lodged with law enforcement units within the country or at the border gates, it will immediately be reported to the governorates. If you are an unaccompanied child and want to apply for international protection, the application process will continue by contacting the Protection Offices and the Provincial Directorates of Family, Labor and Social Services.
Applications for international protection generally cannot be submitted by legal representatives or attorneys on your behalf, unless you are subject to administrative detention within the meaning of Article 68 LFIP. You may apply on behalf of accompanying family members whose applications are based on the same grounds. If you apply on behalf of an adult family member, you need their written consent to lodge the application.
Make sure to apply for international protection promptly to avoid being subjected to criminal actions for breaching the terms and conditions of legal entry into Türkiye or for illegally staying in Türkiye.
- Processing of the asylum application
Please consider the following aspects regarding the documentation of your identity for the application process:
- You must provide accurate identity information and, if available, submit your identification and travel documents to the authorities.
- If you do not have any identity documents upon registration, the authorities will determine your identity by comparing personal data with information obtained through investigative efforts .
- If the authorities cannot find any information using these methods, they will have to rely on your statement regarding your identity.
Applications for international protection are usually decided within six months of being lodged. The LFIP does not provide for a statutory application period. However, from the moment you enter Türkiye – legally or illegally – you must apply for international protection within a reasonable period of time.
As per the law (Article 75 LFIP), an in-person interview should be conducted with you within 30 days from the date of your application for international protection; however, it is possible that the interview is being conducted later. It is important that you present yourself at a PDMM at the scheduled time. When considered necessary, additional interviews may be conducted.
Upon completion of the interview(s), you will be provided with an International Protection Applicant Identity Document valid for six months and your application is being assessed. In principle, you can expect a decision on your application within six months from the date of your application. Where a decision cannot be reached within this period, you will be informed (Article 78 LFIP).
- Outcome of the application
If your international protection application was rejected or has been considered withdrawn by PMM/PDMM, and you disagree with this decision, you may appeal it. Appeals must be submitted to the International Protection Evaluation Commission (IPEC) within 10 days of the date of the notification of the decision. Under certain circumstances (in particular where your application has been evaluated under the so-called ‘accelerated procedure’), you can appeal the decision within 15 or 30 days (depending on the type of decision/action being appealed) from the date of notification to the competent administrative court. Please be aware that appeal periods may vary depending on the process your application followed. If your application is rejected and you wish to appeal the decision, consult legal advice as soon as possible, if available to you.
You have to inform the authority that has ordered your removal about your appeal. This will suspend execution of deportation until a final decision on your application is issued.
You can also consult the PMM’s FAQ for further guidance on the application process.
Alternatively, please consult the 2018 leaflet “Steps to Apply for International Protection – National Refugee Status Determination Procedures in Turkey”.
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Email: cases@advocatesabroad.org
Remote legal aid and psychosocial service teams provide legal aid hotlines in several languages and 24/7 online assistance.
Advocates Abroad opened its operations in Idomeni, Greece, in 2016. Since then, its legal, research, interpreter, and psychosocial teams have worked in a variety of countries, including Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and Türkiye. Advocates Abroad provides on-the-ground legal aid. Qualified lawyers will prepare refugees for interviews, assist in reunification processes, and run information sessions. Remote legal aid and psychosocial services teams provide legal aid hotlines in several languages and 24/7 online assistance. The field teams operate throughout Türkiye.
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Address: Spor, Mücahitler, 27090 Şehitkamil/Gaziantep
Tel: +90 5013 5654 02
Email: info@amals-ac.org
AHAC is an organisation led by women, specialising in empowering women and raising their capabilities. AHAC strives to respond specifically to the needs of Syrian refugee women, and survivors of violence in particular.
AHAC’s services consist of legal advice, awareness sessions, psychological and social counselling, as well as referral service.
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Address: Osmanağa Mahallesi, Çuhadarağa Sokak, Galerium İş Merkezi, No:23/40 Kat:1, 34714 Kadıköy / İstanbul
Tel/ WhatsApp: Website
S.O.S. Voice Mail (Persian/Arabic): +90 2165 5090 63
Email: iletisim@ateizmdernegi.org.tr / arap@ateizmdernegi.org.tr
Atheist Refugees Assistance Programme (A.R.A.P.) is an initiative under the Ateizm Derneği in Türkiye that supports atheist refugees facing persecution or discrimination. The programme offers the following services:
- Temporary Safehouse Accommodation: Refugees are provided with secure housing for up to 120 days in a safehouse that accommodates up to 15 individuals. This service aims to offer stability and safety while refugees transition to long-term solutions.
- Legal Support: Assistance with legal matters related to asylum applications, residency permits, or other refugee-related issues.
- Psychological and Social Support: Counselling services to help refugees cope with trauma, stress, and the challenges of displacement.
- Advocacy and Rights Protection: The organisation actively advocates for the rights and freedoms of atheist refugees to ensure they are treated with dignity and respect.
- Integration Guidance: Practical advice and resources to support refugees in areas such as education, employment, and community integration.
- Community Building: Creation of a supportive network where refugees can connect with others who share similar experiences.
Email: bilgi@hayatadestek.org / info@hayatadestek.org
Address (headquarters): Koşuyolu Mahallesi Cenap Şahabettin Sokak No:42, 34718 Kadıköy / Istanbul; see here for the list of Provincial Representative Offices in Adiyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Şanlıurfa and İzmir
Tel: +90 8006 7010 10
Hayata Destek (Support to Life) is a non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to providing aid to vulnerable communities, particularly those affected by crises such as natural disasters, conflict, and displacement. The organization focuses on ensuring that all individuals, especially refugees and those in need, have access to their basic rights and essential needs.
Here are some key areas in which they operate:
- Emergency Aid: Hayata Destek delivers rapid assistance in the aftermath of disasters, such as providing food, water, shelter, and medical care.
- Refugee Support: The organization has a strong focus on refugees and displaced individuals. They provide support in terms of legal assistance, psychosocial support, health services, and integration programs.
- Child Protection: A significant part of their work is dedicated to protecting children from exploitation, abuse, and neglect, particularly in crisis situations. They aim to ensure that children are safe and have access to education and care.
- Capacity Building and Localization: In addition to direct assistance, Hayata Destek works on strengthening local communities by providing training, resources, and support to build local capacities in crisis management and resilience.
- Psychosocial Support and Mental Health: Recognizing the psychological impact of crises, the organization provides mental health support, counseling, and recovery services to help individuals cope with trauma.
The organization operates across various provinces in Türkiye, with a central office in Kadıköy, Istanbul. Their services extend to many affected communities, particularly those who have experienced displacement due to the Syrian conflict, the 2011 earthquake in Van, and other humanitarian crises.
For more detailed information on their programs, contact details, and how to get involved, you can visit their website directly. They also offer opportunities for individuals to join their efforts as volunteers or through other forms of support.
Email: ikgv@ikgv.org
Address (main office): Tomtom Mahallesi Yeniçarşı Caddesi, No:34 Beyoğlu 34425 İstanbul; see here for the list of Provincial Representation Offices in Ağrı, Ankara, Eskişehir, Kütahya, Van and İstanbul Esenler
Tel: +90 2122 9316 05
HRDF is a non-profit organisation based in Türkiye, committed to supporting vulnerable populations, including refugees, migrants, and local communities, particularly in times of crisis. The foundation works in collaboration with the UNHCR and other humanitarian entities to provide comprehensive support services.
Key Areas of Work:
- Legal Assistance: The organisation offers legal support to refugees, migrants, and displaced individuals, helping them navigate asylum procedures and understand their rights under Turkish and international law.
- Psychosocial Support: HRDF provides vital mental health services, including counselling and psychosocial assistance, to help individuals cope with the trauma caused by displacement, conflict, and other hardships.
- Material Assistance: The foundation distributes essential items such as food, clothing, and hygiene kits to those in need, particularly in the wake of emergencies or ongoing displacement situations.
- Community Support and Capacity Building: HRDF works on strengthening local communities by providing training, resources, and guidance to build their resilience and better respond to social challenges and emergencies.
- Refugee and Migrant Assistance: The foundation offers tailored support to refugees, with a particular focus on those affected by the Syrian conflict, including integration programmes, educational support, and healthcare services.
HRDF operates across multiple provinces in Türkiye, including Istanbul, Ankara, Eskişehir, Kütahya, Van, and Ağrı, with its primary office located in Istanbul. The organisation’s services focus on empowering individuals and communities through legal advocacy, psychological support, and direct humanitarian assistance, ensuring that refugees and other vulnerable groups have access to their fundamental rights and a better quality of life.
Website / Facebook / Legal Information Website – Legal information available in Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, English, French, Haitian Creole, Pashto, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tigrinya, and Ukrainian.
IRAP provides free legal services to refugees and displaced people seeking refugee protection and resettlement. Any information sent to IRAP is highly confidential, and “all [legal] services are free of charge”. Please note that IRAP does not provide assistance regarding the asylum procedure in Türkiye, but may assist with resettlement or family reunification to other countries.
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Address: Uğur Mahallesi 848 Sokak No:16 Konak İzmir Province
Tel: +90 232 483 54 21 / +90 549 483 54 21 / +90 549 483 54 22
Email: bilgi@multeci.org.tr
Mülteci-Der was founded in 2008 in İzmir. It works in the areas of human rights, humanitarian solidarity, and humanitarian aid. Its services include legal counselling, psychosocial counselling, research, and advocacy. Mülteci-Der assists with cases regarding risk of deportation, access to basic rights, non-refoulement, readmission, and migration-related child detention and detention of vulnerable groups. Mülteci-Der also carries out research and reporting activities on conditions in detention facilities and access to basic services such as health care, shelter, education, food, and clothing.
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Address: Barbaros Mahallesi, Başkan Sokak No.14 Üsküdar, İstanbul
Tel: +90 850 218 4830
Email: info@mhd.org.tr
RRT is an independent NGO based in Istanbul, providing specialised legal information and assistance to asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants in Türkiye, including persons in immigration detention. RRT delivers training, reference resources and other expert support services to lawyers on refugee law, Turkish migration and asylum procedures. RRT also undertakes advocacy for improvements in Türkiye’s migration and asylum legislation and policies, in line with international standards, and engages public opinion to promote solidarity and positive attitudes towards refugees and other vulnerable migrants.
RRT’s activities are organised in terms of three interrelated programmatic components: (1) Legal Information and Assistance Services, (2) Expertise Support & Capacity Building, and (3) Policy and Legislation Advocacy.
RRT also provides a continuously updated platform aiming to inform refugees and vulnerable migrants in Türkiye about asylum and migration procedures and rights. The platform currently offers information across media (Q&A, infographics, and videos) in 10 languages: Turkish, English, Arabic, Farsi, Pashto, Urdu, Russian, French, Somali, and Sorani Kurdish. Click here to access the information platform.
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Address: Turgut Reis Mah. Fatih Bulvarı, No: 306 P.K. 34930, Sultanbeyli / İstanbul
Tel: +90 216 784 51 05
Email: info@multeciler.org.tr
Working hours: Every Weekday between 8:45 AM and 5:30 PM
RASASA began providing services to refugees in the Sultanbeyli district of Istanbul in 2014. The organisation aims to find solutions for individuals who have fled their countries and require international protection. It works to increase access to rights and services, facilitate adaptation to social life, and improve social welfare without discrimination based on language, religion, race, gender, age, disability, or political opinion. Services are provided at multiple locations in Sultanbeyli and Ümraniye.
Within the scope of its ongoing projects, RASASA provides services in the areas of physical therapy, mental health, protection, legal counselling, vocational training, career counselling, Turkish language education, psychological counselling, guidance for students, and mentoring activities.
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Address: Sahabiye Mah. Ahmet Paşa Cad. NO: 24/A Kocasinan – Kayseri, Türkiye
Tel: +90 352 222 54 81
Email: info@arsa.org.tr
In 2014, ARSA was founded as an independent non-governmental organisation by journalists, doctors, academics, architects, and humanitarian workers. As of September 2020, ARSA operates in 60 provinces with the help of 370 volunteers across Türkiye and primarily focuses on providing support and solidarity to refugees in Türkiye and collaborates with various stakeholders such as local authorities, government institutions, non-governmental organisations, and international organisations. ARSA’s mission is to advocate for the rights and welfare of refugees in Türkiye, with a strong emphasis on social integration and participation within the community. The organisation is involved in a wide range of activities and projects, including legal support, educational programs, cultural and social initiatives, and advocacy efforts.
Website
Address: Kurt Ismail Pasa 2nd Street Demiray Apartment Floor: 3 Office, Diyarbakir, Türkiye
Tel: +90 412 224 4477
Email: sohram@hotmail.com
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM and on Saturdays and Sundays From 11 AM to 3 PM.
SOHRAM-CASRA, based in Diyarbakir, works with survivors of violence and torture. Its website is available in Turkish, Arabic, French, German, Italian and English, and the organisation offers social assistance, educational support, legal support, psychological and physical rehabilitation services to people affected by all kinds of violence (torture, war, civil unrest, social turmoil, domestic violence and harassment, etc.). They also assist in the preparation of legal reports and provide consultations for survivors. SOHRAM-CASRA also carries out research and educational programmes.
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Address: Ali Kuşçu Mah. Fatih Türbesi Sokak No: 31 Daire: 2, İstanbul
Tel: +90 212 444 21 57
Email: info@umhd.org.tr
IRRA provides legal support to refugees, assisting them in navigating legal systems and securing their rights in various countries. This includes offering advice and representation, and helping refugees understand their legal entitlements and obligations. IRRA also collaborates with international organisations such as UNHCR and other human rights groups to advocate for refugee rights and develop policies that protect displaced individuals. In this context, IRRA assists refugees with applications for asylum and relocation to other countries, including helping with paperwork, preparing legal cases, and guiding individuals through the application process.
Further, IRRA conducts research and studies on the issues faced by refugees, examining the legal, social, and economic challenges they encounter; regularly visits refugee camps to address the legal needs of refugees, providing on-the-ground support by offering advice, resources, and addressing legal concerns, raises awareness about violations against refugees, such as forced displacement, human rights abuses, and the need for international protection through campaigns, events, and publications.
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Email: turan@unhcr.org
Address: UNHCR Representation in Türkiye, Enis Behiç Koryürek Sok. No: 15 Aziziye Mah. 06690, Çankaya/Ankara
Tel: +90 3124 0973 00
UNHCR Counselling Line : 444 48 68 (Monday to Thursday from 9 AM to 5 PM and on Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM; counselling in Arabic, Persian, Turkish and English) / Fax: +90 312 4412173
UNHCR provides essential support to refugees and displaced persons in Türkiye. Their services include:
- Legal Protection: Assisting with legal documents, residency permits, and ensuring refugees are not forcibly returned to unsafe situations.
- Durable Solutions: Supporting resettlement to third countries, facilitating voluntary repatriation, and promoting local integration.
- Humanitarian Aid: Providing food, shelter, healthcare, and education, along with financial and material assistance.
- Protection Against Violence: Addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and offering support for vulnerable individuals, including unaccompanied children.
- Psychosocial Support: Offering psychological counselling and social services for those affected by trauma.
- Advocacy and Awareness: Raising awareness and collaborating with governments and organisations to support refugees’ rights and needs.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
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Address: Pazarkapı Mah. Kahramanmaraş Cad. No:108 61020 Ortahisar / Trabzon
Tel: +90 4623 2244 89
Email: info@ahcsa.org
AHCSA was established in 2012 in Trabzon, Türkiye. AHCSA is dedicated to the rights of refugees, and focuses on problems faced by refugee children, refugee women and elderly refugees. In this context, AHCSA offers consultancy, referral, case management and interpreting services. AHCSA has organised many courses in the field of non-formal education and social cohesion in cooperation with local authorities.
Website
Facebook
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YouTube (SGDD-ASAM also launched Migrant TV)
Address: offices in various provinces across Türkiye; click here for a list of representative offices
Tel: +90 0312 212 60 12
Email: info@sgdd-asam.org
SGDD-ASAM strives to address the problems faced by women, children, youth, persons with disabilities, the elderly, refugees and migrants, in particular, regardless of their race, religion, nationality, membership to a particular social group, political opinions, gender, or legal status, and to support and assist them in meeting their needs. SGDD-ASAM seeks solutions in all dimensions to resolve the problems of those in need within the framework of the laws of the Republic of Türkiye and the international humanitarian principles. In 2020, ASAM launched the YouTube channel Migrant TV, which produces content in 7 languages (Turkish, English, Arabic, Farsi, French, Somali, and Ukrainian) to enable the access of displaced persons living in Türkiye. Migrant TV produces content on issues such as the registration process in Türkiye, rights and obligations, irregular migration, access to education and health services, work permits and access to the labour market, and social, cultural and urban life in Türkiye. SGDD-ASAM has over two thousand full-time employees and 29 offices across 21 provinces in Türkiye.
CARE Türkiye is responding to the refugee crisis with cash assistance, hygiene promotion, dignity kits for women and the elderly, and by establishing community groups that address protection issues, including psychosocial needs, early marriage, and gender-based violence.
However, significant gaps between needs and response persist. Our programming in Türkiye focuses on protection, basic needs, and economic empowerment for refugees, especially women and girls.
Address: Necatibey street, No: 82 / 11-12 (6th Floor) Demirtepe/Ankara, Türkiye
Tel: +90 312 3567 6869
Fax: +90 312 230 1707
Email: ihd@ihd.org.tr / baris@ihd.org.tr / hukuk@ihd.org.tr
Contact Person: Barış Karacasu / Günizi Satar
İHD was founded in 1986 following the military coup d’état of September 1980. The association was created by the relatives of prisoners, intellectuals, writers, journalists, doctors, lawyers, and a variety of other human rights defenders. Today, İHD continues its work to protect the right to life, abolish capital punishment, prevent executions, and find forcibly displaced persons. İHD publishes reports, press releases, and investigates complaints regarding a number of human rights violations including explosive ordinance, freedom of expression, violence against women and children, and forced disappearances. You can access the application form here.
Address: Alsancak Mah. 1456 Sokak Yasar Apt. No: 92/3 Konak, İzmir /
Güniz Sokak 38/8 06700 Kavaklıdere/Ankara
Telephone: +90 552 343 6330
Email: posta@rightsagenda.org / gunalkursun@rightsagenda.org
Contact Person: Dr. Günal Kursun (Representative to Ankara)
The HRAA, an independent national NGO, was founded in 2003 in İzmir, Türkiye. It currently has offices in Ankara, İzmir, and Diyarbakir. In addition to monitoring human rights status activities in both Türkiye and neighbouring countries, the HRAA works to promote awareness of rights under international and European law. HRAA carries out research and professional workshops to promote the analysis and development of a common understanding of European asylum law, cooperation among domestic and international NGOs, and to improve living conditions of migrants
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Address: Osmanağa Mahallesi, Kırtasiyeci Sokak, No: 15, Daire: 13, Kadıköy/İstanbul; see here for the list of other offices in Istanbul and Hatay
Tel: +90 850 441 62 84
Email: mavikalem@mavikalem.org
Mavi Kalem Sosyal Yardımlaşma ve Dayanışma Derneği (Mavi Kalem Association) is a non-profit organisation based in Türkiye, dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities, particularly women, and children. The organisation supports those affected by crises such as natural disasters, displacement, and social inequality, ensuring they have access to essential services and basic rights.
Their Key Areas of Operation include:
- Support for Refugees and Migrants:
The organisation places a strong emphasis on assisting refugees and displaced individuals, particularly those affected by the Syrian crisis. Services provided include:- Psychosocial support
- Health and hygiene awareness
- Educational programmes to support the integration of children and families
- Emergency Aid and Disaster Response: Mavi Kalem provides immediate support to communities affected by natural disasters, including earthquakes and floods. Their aid includes distributing food, water, clothing, hygiene kits, and medical supplies to those in need.
- Women and Child Protection: A central focus of Mavi Kalem’s work is protecting vulnerable women and children from exploitation, violence, and neglect. Their programmes aim to:
- Promote gender equality
- Empower women through training and support
- Ensure children’s access to education, safety, and care in crisis situations
- Health Awareness and Community Well-Being: Mavi Kalem organises health education campaigns to raise awareness about hygiene, disease prevention, and reproductive health. These initiatives target underprivileged communities to improve their overall well-being.
- Education and Capacity Building: The organisation actively engages in educational support by offering literacy courses, vocational training, and workshops to help individuals and families become self-sufficient. They also focus on empowering local communities to build resilience and respond to future crises.
Psychosocial Support: Recognising the mental health challenges faced by those affected by trauma and crises, Mavi Kalem provides counselling, psychosocial support, and community-building activities to help individuals recover and rebuild their lives.
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Address: Birlik, 411. Sk. No:9/2 D:3, 06610 Çankaya/Ankara
Tel: +90 8504 550 00
Email: info@ysyd.org
YSYD aims to deliver humanitarian aid and development activities in line with the needs and capacity requirements of all people affected by natural and human-induced crises. YSYD humanitarian aid is a concept that includes various activities carried out in order to meet the needs of societies, improve human life and increase well-being in emergencies or long-term development projects. This aid usually includes meeting basic needs such as food, water, shelter, health services, education and infrastructure. Humanitarian aid organisations carry out these activities at local, national and international levels using various resources and expertise and help societies to respond better to crisis situations by increasing their resilience.
Address: Gümüşsuyu Mah. Ağa Çırağı Sokak No: 7 Pamir Apt. Daire 3, 34437 Gümüşsuyu – Beyoğlu – İstanbul
Tel: +90 2122 9268 42 / +90 2122 9268 43
Fax: +90 0 212 292 68 44
Email: iletisim@hyd.org.tr
Contact Person: Tuba Dokur (tuba@hyd.org.tr) / Fatma Melek Taylan (meletaylan@gmail.com)
The Citizens’ Assembly is an NGO based in Istanbul that provides psychosocial and primary healthcare to Syrian refugees living in Kilis, Türkiye, advocates for legislation and policies in line with international standards, and monitors state policies and practices in irregular migration control. While not directly providing legal aid to refugees, it collaborates with Bar Associations and lawyers throughout Türkiye. The Citizens’ Assembly is a member of the advisory committee on the SILA project, and the Urfa Bar Association Refugee Commission.
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Last updated February 2026
