Turkey hosts the largest refugee and migrant population in the world, with approximately 4 million. While almost half of them are women, more than 1 million are young people between the ages of 15-30. As migrant and refugee women and young people experience hardships in accessing rights and services in protection, health, education, employment and social cohesion areas, they are among the most vulnerable groups in Turkey. The United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA Turkey, with its 2 new centers established in Istanbul and Şanlıurfa, continues working to increase the access of migrant and refugee women and young people to health and protection services.
Ankara, TURKEY - Nearly 4 million refugees and migrants, mostly women and youth, living in Turkey still have some difficulties in accessing health and protection services. With the financial support of the United States Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), UNFPA Turkey aims to reach the most vulnerable refugee and migrant women and young people to improve their access to rights and services through its new centers established in Şanlıurfa and Istanbul.
The Health and Support Center for Refugee Women and Youth in Şanlıurfa
The Health and Support Center for Refugee Women and Youth started operating in December with the cooperation of Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality. An expert team of social workers, psychologists, nurses, translators and health mediators provide health and protection services to refugee and migrant women and youth. In this context, the center aims to provide;
- Service provision as well as awareness-raising and informative activities on basic health, hygiene, women's health, adolescent health, sexual and reproductive health and family planning,
- Information and prevention activities on gender-based violence and child, early and forced marriages,
- Support those who are exposed to violence in accessing services they need,
- Consultancy, information and awareness-raising activities on social protection and legal issues,
- Psychosocial support services,
- Empowerment and social cohesion activities for women and young people,
- Basic information and guidance on education, vocational training, employment, social assistance, health services and access to social services on several issues as needed,
- Outreach work through the mobile vehicles for those who live in rural areas,
- Support in the process of referral to relevant institutions for other needed services.
Through these services, it is aimed to increase the resilience of migrant and refugee women and young people and to support their development in employment and social cohesion.
Women Solidarity Center in Istanbul
In addition to the Health and Support Center for Refugee Women and Youth in Şanlıurfa, UNFPA Turkey has started operating a new Women Solidarity Center in Istanbul in cooperation with the Refugee Association.
The center provides health and protection services for gender-based violence survivors.
A team of nurses, psychologists and social workers provide information and response services including shelter support against gender-based violence as well as sexual and reproductive health and family planning services to increase access of the most vulnerable groups to the rights and services.
UNFPA Turkey continues to work all over Turkey, in cooperation with both international and local institutions and organizations, reaching especially women, girls and the most vulnerable groups, to increase their access to rights and services and ensure that they have equal, healthier and safer lives. In the scope of the humanitarian aid program, together with these 2 centers, health and protection services are provided at 32 service delivery points in 12 provinces.
