Some Results of Irregular Migration in Turkey
Some Results of Irregular Migration in Turkey

Author(s): Melek Zubaroğlu Yanardağ, Umut Yanardağ
Subject(s): Geography, Regional studies, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Welfare systems, Migration Studies, Socio-Economic Research
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: Irregular Migration; Irregular Migrants; Social Work Profession; Advocacy;
Summary/Abstract: The issue of irregular migration in Turkey is gaining an increasingly important dimension. In the context of irregular migration, it is known that many foreigners use Turkey as a target or transit country for economic and political reasons. Only in 2016, 174,466 irregular migrants were apprehended in various regions of Turkey. This number has been increasing, especially in recent years. The current irregular migration movements in Turkey affect not only Turkey but also the European countries around it. In 2014, 280 thousand people illegally reached Europe by sea and land. In 2015, this number increased to 1,046,600. It is known that irregular migration concentrates on the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Marmara coasts. According to the Turkish Coast Guard Command, a total of 490 irregular migrants lost their lives while illegally trying to cross into European countries in 2015, 2016, and the first months of 2017. This picture makes it necessary to address the human dimension of irregular migration from a broader perspective. While coping with irregular migration, policies should be developed by keeping the human dimension of the subject in mind through investigating the causes that drive migrants to irregular migration. In parallel with this, fighting against human smugglers is indispensable. At this point, social work profession, which has to take an active role in the field of migration, must be maintained by improving its practices on the basis of human rights. While working with irregular migrants, social workers must stay away from stigmatizing and judicial attitudes and advocate for the protection of the human rights of these migrants.

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