Webinar Organized on the Occasion of December 18 International Migrants Day:

From Temporary Protection to Permanence?:

Socio-Economic, Political and Legal Dimensions of the Integration of Syrian Refugees in Turkey

December 18 International Migrants Day, where various events are held every year, aims to raise awareness about the lives and problems of forced migrants, both labor migrants and the majority of displaced people, worldwide. December 18 is also known as the day when the international community recognizes migrant rights worldwide. The reason for choosing this day as "International Migrants Day" is the signing of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families at the United Nations General Assembly on December 18, 1990.

The Convention is considered an important result of the long struggle of migrant rights advocates at the global level and the negotiations between states. December 18 was officially accepted as "International Migrants Day" by the UN in 2000.

As the European Studies Institute of Marmara University, we have organized a webinar on December 18, International Migrants Day, to address the legal, economic and social dimensions of the integration of Syrian refugees living in Turkey, which is the country hosting the highest number of displaced people in the world, with 4 million refugees and asylum seekers, including over 3.6 million Syrians.

 

In this webinar, researchers from different universities presented their work despite the difficult conditions dictated by the pandemic. Another important feature of the webinar was that young researchers from the newly established Department of European Political Communication within the European Research Institute had the opportunity to share their work with academics who are experts in the field within the scope of the project titled “Syrian Refugees in Turkey”. The studies presented at the conference will be published as an e-book after the necessary arrangements are made.

As is known, temporary protection status has been granted to Syrian refugees in Turkey. However, despite this status, it is also a fact that the tendency of Syrian refugees to return is gradually decreasing, and especially Syrian children and young people who were born here or came to Turkey at a young age have started to accept Turkey as their homeland. Due to this situation, one of the main views formed at the conference was that the issue closely concerns Turkey in many ways.  

In concluding the webinar, the participants unanimously agreed on the need to encourage further scientific research on this subject in order to follow the events in this field, and to share the findings with the public through national/international conferences and workshops to be held frequently.