Annual Report

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Annual Report

ASSOCIATION FOR SOLIDARITY WITH ASYLUM SEEKERS AND MIGRANTS

ASAM

Bank Account: Yapı Kredi Bankası, Kavaklıdere Branch, 1014075-6 Ankara/Turkey

Editing and Design by Adem ARKADAŞ

Arrangement by Nevin Şen

Translation by Didem Buner

Members of the Board

Nedim Yüca (Chairman of the Board)

Selim Ölçer (Vice-Chairman of the Board)

Akif Atlı (Vice-Chairman of the Board)

Nihal Berker (Member of the Board)

Suzan Çelikel (Member of the Board)

B. Documentation Project granted by EC Democratisation and Human Rights Unit

1 - School Equipment for the Primary School co-financed by ASAM and Gaziantep/Şahinbey Municipality

FORWARD

Recently an increase in the number of people who has to flee their place due to economic deprivation, natural disasters, armed conflicts draw world’s attention to the problems of refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and migrants.

The Association for Solidarity with Asylum-Seekers and Migrants (ASAM) was established on 22 December 1995. The Association installs its priority in raising awareness in the public on matters of mainly asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants by sensitising the public on problems of those people. In addition to that, it pledges to seek answers to problems of its target population and to help those problems to diminish.

1996 was the year that ASAM took massive steps in creating public opinion as well as facilitating research, training and education, translations and publications, and last but not least, relations with other NGOs.

In 1997 and 1998, ASAM launched projects to improve the situation of internal migrants who have been facing severe problems in education, health, and employment. Meanwhile, ongoing project endeavours in improving the situation of asylum-seekers and internally displaced persons continued incessant.

In 1999, ASAM is going to concentrate in advancing its role to be the voice of those people and their problems.

ASAM’S FIELD OF ACTIVITIES

· Conducting research concerning refugees and their problems in Turkey; promoting better understanding and generating solutions to those problems via media events so as to raise awareness in public opinion and obtain their support

· Impeding the refugee creating predicaments, conducting research to better understand reasons of those predicaments, supporting and publishing research in the field, advising and doing enterprises in the field

· Advocating the rights of refugees and asylum-seekers, providing counselling to those people, and helping them to establish communication with authorities

· Assisting immigrants, internally displaced persons, asylum-seekers, refugees, victims of human right abuses; especially women, children, elderly, and sick persons who might have suffered/fled from earthquakes, floods, avalanches, fires, droughts, accidents, famine, and other natural disasters as well as international conflicts or belligerent states; working in co-ordination with national and international organisations which have similar aims

· Providing accommodation such as camps and dormitories to refugees, asylum-seekers, and migrants, supporting projects that is to establish such accommodation, facilitating projects to meet the economic and social needs of those people, on this ground working in close co-ordination with organisations in this field.

1998 ACTIVITIES

A. FORMING PUBLIC OPINION and PRESENTING ASAM

1- Ministry, Parliamentary and Embassy Level

One of the foremost aims of ASAM is to obtain parliamentarian support in order to bring the asylum laws and regulations in Turkey to the level of developed countries. For this reason, ASAM’s journal Umuda Doğru (Towards Hope) have been posted to related and/or interested parliamentarians regularly, and systematic informative personal and group visits have been undertaken.

1- On 18 February 1998, a meeting was held with Mr. Yalçın Gürtan, the Deputy of Samsun Province from Democratic Left Party, Mr. Akif Atlı (Vice President of ASAM), and Ms. Şebnem Duman, (Secretary General of ASAM). The Policy of UNHCR on the Northern Iraq and the role of ASAM were discussed in this meeting.

2- On 16 April 1998, a meeting was held with Ms. Katherine Dalcher and Ms. Fatma Özgül from the Embassy of Switzerland. In this meeting, the activities of ASAM and the projects of Gaziantep were introduced.

3- On 20 April 1998, a meeting was held with the Consul General of American Embassy, Mr Randall Biggers to introduce ASAM, its activities and projects. Nedim Yüca, Suzan Çelikel and Şebnem Duman participated in this meeting.

4- On 11 August of 1998, a meeting was held with the Second Secretary of Royal Norwegian Embassy, Ms. Anita Nergaard, to introduce ASAM’s activities and projects. Nedim Yüca and Şebnem Duman participated in this meeting. At the end of meeting, Ms. Nergaard determined their wishes to support IDPs project in Turkey.

5- On 27 October 1998, Ambassador of Finland Björn Ekblom, Ambassador of Norway Mr. Finn K. Fostervoll, Ambassador of Sweden Mr. Henrik Liljegren invited ASAM. At the meeting, ASAM activities & projects were presented and co-operation between NGOs performing in those respective governments and A.S.A.M. is foreseen.

6- On behalf of ASAM, Ms. Şebnem Duman delivered an official communiqué titled as “An NGO in Turkey working for Asylum Seekers and Refugees: ASAM” in the seminar on “Control of Refugee Movements in Partnership in Peace Operations” which was held between 14-18 December 1998. The seminar was organised by General Commandership of Gendarmerie as a part of conference series designed under the tutelage of NATO for cooperation with its members and newly liberalising Eastern European countries.

2. Media

· On February 1998, Ms. Zerrin Yalçıntepe, Editorial Board Member of Umuda Doğru and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sevil Atauz participated in a radio program called “Arayış” in Voice of Turkey. In this live broadcast they gave information about ASAM and their field of studies: “The evaluation of the labour force of IDP Women” and “The Results of the Migration to the Big Cities: Children Workers on the Streets”.

· On 1 June 1998, Nedim Yüca, President of ASAM, was participated to “Merhaba Türkiye” programme in BTV, he introduced ASAM and he gave information about asylum seekers and refugees who arrive in Turkey.

· On 24 July 1998, the crew of “Gide Gide GAP”, a television programme which is transmitted by TRT-GAP TV, visited ASAM for some footage. Later, on 28 July 1998, ASAM President Nedim Yüca and Secretary General Şebnem Duman gave informative speech in the live coverage at TRT-GAP TV Studios.

· On 7 February 1998, an article by Mr. Recep Bulut introduced ASAM’s journal “Umuda Doğru”, in “Yeni Şafak” Newspaper.

· On 17 July 1998, in its electronic news bulletin, Anatolian News Agency transmitted an informative article about ASAM and Umuda Doğru.

· An article prepared by ASAM on the “Conditions of refugee and asylum seeker women in Turkey” was published in “Uçan Haber” in its May 1998 issue. “Uçan Haber” is the magazine of “Flying Broom” civil women’s rights initiative.

· This year, a number of activities have designed throughout the world to celebrate the 50. Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. One of these activities was June 16 1998 International Refugee Day designated by a Europe-wide network named “United for Intercultural Action.” As the voice of ASAM and refugees in Turkey, “Umuda Doğru” gave a press release to a number of news-organisations in order to honour the day and its holders through media coverage.

AP, REUTERS, AFP, Voice of America, WTR, UBA, AA, THA, IHA, Cumhuriyet, Turkish Daily News, Hürriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Yeni Şafak, Yeni Yüzyıl, Radikal, Türkiye, ATV, Kanal D, TRT, Inter Star.

· In an article published in “Civil Initiative Network Weekly Bulletin” on 1 September 1998, ASAM’s Documentation Project granted by European Commission was mentioned as follows: “The permission of the EU project “Information Gathering and Awareness Raising on International and Internal Migration in Turkey“ and European Council, Project 1: Translation of the booklet “Problems raised by certain aspects of the present situation of refuges from the standpoint of the European Convention on Human Rights”, Human Rights Files, No:9 rev. and Project 2: “The collection of Turkish jurisprudence related to asylum and refugee issue.”

3. Relations with other NGOs

· On 8 January 1998, a meeting was held with Ms. Zuhal Arnaz, the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the “Foundation of Contemporary Women and Youth” to discuss our common project on Social Services for Women and Children. Since the project was planned to be carried by Mamak Municipality.

On 11 January 1998, a visit was made to the Public Centre of Mamak Municipality in Tuzluçayır with the participation of Ms. Zuhal Arnaz, Ms. Serap Sağlar, Ms. Şanal Saruhan, the Chairman of “Foundation of the Republican Women”, and Ms. Şebnem Duman.

· On 24 April 1998, two Social Workers from Holland, Dr. Marten van Der Linde, member of the Educational Board of Hogeschool de Morst, and Mr. Roel Zandberg, the head of “Central Sprang Veuchtelingen” -which is a central organisation serving refugees- visited ASAM. They introduced their;

· “Bureau of New Comers” to which every person should be applied when they arrive in the Netherlands and its service of integration program.

In addition, they pledged to send some documents about the activities of NGOs and centres working with refugees. A decision was also taken to help construct a network between the NGOs of Holland and Turkey.

· The Association of Social Service Experts invited ASAM to join their working group (Migrant Rights and Social Services) and workshops which were formed for five. National Social Services Conference on 14-17 April 1997. This kind of leadership is very important for ASAM because of being first in its’ field and presentation.

· On 4 December 1998, a series of conferences to form public opinion on refugee issues were held in Istanbul with the participation of Mr. Metin Çorabatır and Ms. Seda Kuzucu from UNHCR and Ms. Şebnem Duman from ASAM. Also, nearly 60 international relations and law students from Boğaziçi University, Marmara University and Istanbul Technical University and certain officials from GÖÇ-DER, The Development of Human Resources Foundation and TRT Istanbul Radio participated to this meeting.

4. Projects

A. Prefabricated Unit Projects

1. School Project

Gaziantep province was chosen as the pilot region for ASAM project launched to help people who are affected by internal migration. ASAM’s first project, a primary school undertaken with Gaziantep/Şahinbey Municipality was complete as 12-prefabrecated-unit school and opened its doors to students in second half of the 1997-1998 educational year. 8-class school has an estimated 40-42 students for each class. Capacity of the school is 600 students.

2. ASAM-Şahinbey Municipality and SSCPA “Multi-Purpose Community Centre” Project

As ASAM, we worked also on the idea of using prefabricated unites in creative projects for the internally displaced. One of the project alternatives of ASAM was to undertake a skill development and income generating activity in one of the provinces in the area where poverty has dramatically increased especially after the massive influx of internally displaced during 1992-1997.

a- The project co-hosted with Şahinbey Municipality and Social Services of Child Protection Agency (SSCPA) is the endeavour to materialise “Multi-Purpose Community Centre” which is going to be based on 1052 m²vacant lot within the limits of Şahinbey, Ocaklar Precinct for women and children. The Centre, which is going to contain 6 prefabricated units, will serve women and children affected by internal migration in providing health, education, and capacity building courses. Inauguration ceremony was held on 17 October 1997 with the presence of State Minister Hasan Gemici.

b- A new tripartite protocol between ASAM-SSCPA-Gaziantep/Şahinbey Municipality for a second “Multi-Purpose Community Centre” to utilise prefabricated units was signed. This project contains activities for IDPs. We established relations with AVSC and GTZ to find support for the project.

B. Documentation Project granted by EC Democratisation and Human Rights Unit

This project intends to bring various official or unofficial institutions and the interested parties (such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Police Headquarters, State Institute of Statistics, State Planning Organisation, several universities etc.) together for finding solutions about the related subjects either in administrative aspect or in academic aspect by constituting a documentation centre, collecting information from these interested parties, all publications and statistics related to the subject. A series of publication was also planned to be formed with the participation of interested institutions and persons. These publications contain summaries and interpretations of the collected data and statistics. They will be distributed to the related parties. The period of the project is 18 months. The budget of this project is 96000 ECU.

C. Translation Projects

a. The Turkish edition of the book “Social Services for Urban Refugees” was published. It was translated by Mr. Semih Bülbül, Social Services Assistant at UNHCR and was printed by ASAM in September.

b. Council of Europe

One of the main objectives of ASAM is to disseminate Refugee Law among government officials, judiciary and lawyers who are dealing with asylum seekers and refugees with the aim at improving the Turkish asylum regulations and at enhancing the procedural safeguards for asylum seekers and the overall protection situation of the country.

The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is an additional tool for the protection of refugees in Turkey. The articles and the mechanisms of this convention can be used as an effective way to prevent refoulman and to increase the respect to the rights of asylum seekers and refugees. The extensive information on the convention and its’ interaction with the refugee law are base for judiciary and lawyers to complete traditional refugee documents and to improve the legal principles of protection directed towards refugees.

1^st Project: Translation of the booklet “Problems raised by certain aspect of the present situation of refugees from the standpoint of the European Convention on Human Rights”

2^nd Project: “The collection of Turkish jurisprudence related to asylum and refugee issues”

The Ministry of Internal Affairs granted permission of aforementioned projects on 17 August 1998. These projects were completed in October and published as booklets. The budget of the projects was 6206 USD.

c. Canadian Government Project

This project named “Translation of Conclusions on the International Protection of Refugees adopted by the Executive Committee of the UNHCR” was completed in October. This projected was funded by the Government of Canada. Its budget was 5.250 USD.

The project was also intended to be part of ASAM’s efforts to promote Human Rights awareness in the framework of the Celebration for the 50^th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

D. Communication Network Project

Mr. Jouni Pirilä and Mr. Ilkka Jaakkola chose ASAM to work with in Turkey for the project of “Migration and Human Rights Network” which will be formed in Finland and work throughout whole Europe. They met with Mr. Adem Arkadaş, Editor-in-Chief of our journal. In this meeting, the activities and the projects of our association were introduced. A.S.A.M. pledges to be the Turkish counterpart of that network.

E. ASAM-UNHCR Project

· Due to the protocol between ASAM and UNHCR, ASAM received the financial aid (16.000.000.000 TL) from the UNHCR for the project on “Care and Maintenance Assistance for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Turkey.” Public information as well as academic related activities to increase public and governmental awareness of refugee problems will be the underlying theme of this protocol. This project has been carried out by A.S.A.M. since December 1995. Within this framework, A.S.A.M. will continue to assist UNHCR BO Ankara with activities related to public awareness and publications of PI materials.

· Final preparation of Umuda Doğru web page completed in Internet. From the second week of January 1999, all the previous issues shall be found at http://www.cilp.org/asam/index.html. Our gratitude will go to Center for International Law and Policy (CILP) and its Global Democracy Project. Also we would like to thank CIPL Web Administrator Lori A. Hollman and her assistant students Jannifer Kramer, Gary Leach and Patricia Bailey for creating such an opportunity for Umuda Doğru to find a place in the global environment of the Internet.

TRAINING

The main objective of ASAM is to inform and sensitise public about the issues and problems regarding refugees and the Turkish and International Laws on refugees via parliamentarians, media, universities, related public offices or ministries, publication, and others. For this reason, ASAM gave training and seminars to the journalists, lawyers, and other interested people in order to catch on the level of sensitivity in the public opinion.

· On 27 March 1998, a seminar was held on “What is a refugee? Moreover “the Social Services which were supplied to the refugees in Turkey by UNHCR” in the place of the Association of The Specialists of Social Services. In this seminar, Mr. Nedim Yüca and Mr. Semih Bülbül were participated as lecturers to a group of 60 participants.

· On 30 March 1998, a seminar was held on “The Activities of ASAM” in the High School of Social Services, in which Ms. Şebnem Duman and Ms. Ayşegül Sireilles were participated as lecturers.

· Hacettepe University School of Social Work requested UN books and documentation to be shelved in their Library. This demand was directed to Mr. Metin Çorabatır (UNHCR External Affairs Official) by ASAM, and 50 books which were collected from UN organisations were donated to Hacettepe University on 22 May 1998. ASAM also donated its publication series and UMUDA DOĞRU.

· Our publication series and journal were shelved in the UN corner of the library of Anatolian University.

· ASAM participated to the Committee, which was formed for the celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of Human Rights Declaration, with UNHCR.

· On 4 June 1998, ASAM organised a seminar at TED Ankara College. Mr Semih Bülbül, social service officer from UNHCR, participated to this seminar as a lecturer. The subjects as the UN, The Children Rights Declaration, rights and conditions of refugee children in Turkey, were explained; two video tapes, called as “Make A Little Difference” were shown and 157 puzzles were distributed to 150 students. The students also asked questions about UNHCR and ASAM.

· On 15-16 September 1998, ASAM and UNHCR held a symposium called as “The Problem of Asylum Seekers and Migrants in Turkey” Dedeman Hotel in Antalya. The officers of internal affairs of 20 cities, staffs of Canadian Embassy, Australian Embassy, IOM, and UNHCR participated in this symposium. ASAM was represented by Nedim Yüca and Şebnem Duman.

· On 28 September-2 October 1998, at Neva Palas Hotel in Ankara, UNHCR held a seminar on ”Seeking Refuge and Refugees”, in the framework of the programme to support the educational activities of Turkish Government on this subject. Staffs of Canadian Embassy, Australian Embassy, IOM, UNHCR and 20 officers of Foreigners Department from the satellite cities where refugees are temporarily settled, participated to this seminar.

· Ms. Parastoo Derakhshandeh, the intern of Social Service of UNHCR, gave a seminar on “An Artistic Therapy: The Psychological Problems of Refugee Children” at ASAM on 29 June 1998. Fifteen people among the members of ASAM and volunteers were participated to this seminar. She also gave the same seminar at Hacettepe University School of Social Work on 10 August 1998, through the mediation of ASAM.

· On 11 February 1998, ASAM, UNHCR and Police Academy organised a discussion panel on “Problem of Illegal Migration, Asylum Seekers and Refugees”, at Grand Studio of Police Academy. Tevfik Odman, Bülent Çiçekli, Nedim Yuca, Şebnem Duman, Muhittin Güngör and Ahmet Güder participated to this panel as lecturers. This was the first activity of ASAM in 1998 to constitute a public awareness on the subject.

· On 14.03.1998, Ms. Şebnem Duman, the General Secretary of ASAM, participated to a dinner, which was organised by Kocatepe Rotarian Club in the Grand Ankara Hotel. She introduced ASAM and her activities, and discussed the refugee problem in Turkey on a speech, which lasted 30 minutes.

· ASAM Executive Board Chairman Nedim Yüca participated in Public International Law class session as the guest speaker to revoke a discussion about refugees and asylum seekers in relation with statelessness at the Ankara University, Faculty of Law on December 16, 1998.

Interns

· Two intern students Rana Dayıoğlu and Bülent Karakuş from Hacettepe University School of Social Work completed their studies in ASAM between 16 February and 22 May 1998. Their internship activity report and record card were prepared and sent to their school.

· Mr. Can Ünüvar from the Department Political Science and Public Administration at Middle East Technical University completed his internship studies at ASAM on 10 August 1998.

· Mr. Serdar Altay from the Department of International Relations at Middle East Technical University, completed his internship studies at ASAM on 18 September 1998.

AID CAMPAIGNS

1 - School Equipment for the Primary School co-financed by ASAM and Gaziantep/Şahinbey Municipality

· stationery materials (for 600 students) from the National Committee of UNICEF

· On 10, May 1998 carpet-kilim auction sale and dinner were organised at Best Hotel. Its income (150 million TL.) was transferred to the school project. This money was used to buy an overhead projector and two sets of transparencies.

· On September 1998, Ms. Sevinç Soysal, the General Director of the National Committee of UNICEF, donated 707 postcard calendars, 162 agendas and 600 notebooks for 600 students. Also Ms. Seyhan Akar the owner of AKAR Publications in Istanbul, donated several educational materials. On 19 September 1998, the materials in value of 2 billion TL were sent to Şahinbey Municipality.

2 - Campaign to Supply Second-Hand Item of Clothing for Asylum-seekers

OTHER ACTIVITIES

· Thirty Bosnian Refugee Children from the Kırklareli Refugee Camp participated in the International Week of Children in Turkey, which was organised on “23 April the National Sovereignty and Children’s Day.” TRT, UNHCR, ASAM and Anatolian Development Foundation arranged this organisation. During the event, which coincided with the 50^th Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Article 14 of UDHR “Everyone has the right to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution” was emphasised. The members of ASAM, who wanted to share this special day of children, participated in the activities on 17 April 1998.

· With the help of ASAM, for the first time, two films of UNHCR were shown in short films category at the 10^th Ankara Film Festival. Ankara Film Festival Committee prepared a catalogue for the films and these UNHCR films for the first time took place in this special catalogue.

Participation in Public Events

· Due to the invitation of “Flying Broom” to a symposium on “Efficiency and Productivity of the Women Organisations and Communication Among Them”, on 17-18 January 1998, Şebnem Duman and Zerrin Yalçıntepe participated as representatives of ASAM. The aim of ASAM in participation was to discuss the alternatives of co-operation with those Women Organisations on projects related with Refugee and Asylum Seeker Women.

· ASAM received an invitation from “ÇORUM-DER” (The Association of People who were born in Çorum Province) to a Panel Discussion for “The Day of the Volunteer Organisations of the World”. ASAM participated with a stand to the panel between 19-21 February 1998.

· ASAM participated a Symposium that was organised by SABEV and German Cultural Centre (Goethe Institute) on the subject of “The Social Services for the young people in Germany and in Turkey” on 20-21 February 1998.

· On 24 February 1998, ASAM participated in “Increasing the Democratic Standards” discussions of Human Rights Panel of TÜSIAD.

· On 14-23 March 1998, ASAM opened a stand with UNHCR in the Book Fair of TUYAP in Izmir. The intern student of ASAM, Ms. Rana Dayıoğlu and her two friends worked in this stand. During the Fair, the press in Izmir interested with the stand and “Yeni Asır Newspaper” demanded additional information from ASAM.

· ASAM partook in a conference on “The Presentation of Economic Projects of Germany and Turkey” which was organised by the “Cultural Centre of Germany” on 25 March 1998.

· ASAM participated in a Conference on “The Indicative Program of Human Rights for Turkey” which was organised by the represent of EC on 31 March 1998.

· On 14 April 1998, The Foundation of Economic and Social Researches of Turkey (TESEV) invited ASAM to a meeting on “Co-operation among NGOs and Innovation”.

· On 14-15 May 1998, ASAM was invited to the meeting in St. Petersburg, which was the continuation of “The Co-ordination Between the NGOs” held for CIS on 3-4 December 1997, by Danish Refugee Council.

· With the help of ASAM, UNHCR and ASAM participated in the Spring Festivals of Bilkent University (between 4-7 May) and METU (between 13-16 May) and introduced their materials, books and ASAM newsletters.

· ASAM was invited to a meeting in Flying Broom Headquarters, on 23 May 1998. Ms. Ajda Touma Suliman, the Director of Movement of Women Against Violence from Israel, was participated to the same meeting and gave information about their organisation. She also demanded the co-operation with similar organisations and NGOs in Turkey. On behalf of ASAM, editorial board member of Umuda Doğru Ms Zerrin Yalçıntepe participated to this meeting.

· On 9 June 1998, ASAM was invited to a meeting on “The Problems and Recommendations on Employment of Women in Turkey” by the General Directorate of Status of Women. Ms. Şebnem Duman was elected as a member of the Commission of Employment of Women. The meeting of this Commission are held periodically for each 15 days.

· ASAM participated in a panel discussion by UN Population Fund on 10 July 1998.

· Şebnem Duman represented ASAM in a scientific conference on “Development in the Field of Citizenship and Aliens Act” between 24-25 September 1998. This conference was organised by Ankara University Faculty of Law, Istanbul University faculty of Law, and Deutsch-Türkische juristenvereinigung (Turkish-German Lawyers Association).

· ASAM was invited to a meeting on “Refugees in form and in the Balkan States” by the 48^th International Congress of AWR (Association for the Study of the World Refugees Problem) in Gorizia-Italy on 28-30 September.

· On 6-7 October 1998, ASAM was invited to the UNFPA Second Mid-Term Review of Country Programme Meeting, at METU.

· Between the dates of 30 September 1998 and 2 October 1998, ASAM was invited to the 49^th Meeting of Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme in Geneva, as an observer.