The Analysis of the Rights and Welfare of Refugees in Turkey based on the Max-Neef Human Scale Development Approach

Abstract

Turkey is a country with the largest immigrant population in the world. In 2011, Turkey had to quickly prepare its laws and practices for immigrants. However, the fieldwork indicates that there are some deficiencies in the rights, needs and welfare of immigrants, especially women, children, elderly, disabled and LGBTIQ. Therefore, the aim of this research is to explore the situation of meeting the human needs of migrants in Turkey by analysing Turkish migration policy systemically and deeply. To do that, the human need matrix of Max-Neef is used. According to Max-Neef, human needs are categorised as existential and axiological. The most detected categories in Turkish migration policy are protection-having, subsistence-being and protection-doing. It shows that the Turkish migration policy only barely covers fundamental human needs. There is a huge gap between documents and practical usage of them in the field. It is suggested that it is important and urgent to develop more humane, whole and social work–focused migration policy and services for women, children and other disadvantaged groups.