Is it really possible for migrants to return home voluntarily?

Middle East, Eurasia and Asia Pacific Research Platform (ODAP) and Istanbul Beykent University organized the Turkey Migration and Security Workshop. At the workshop, which was attended by many academics from different universities, the measures to be taken for the voluntary and safe return of Syrians were discussed academically. Assistant Professor Kemal Olçar stated that the return of Syrians requires a migration action plan and said, “Somehow, the Assad regime must guarantee that they will not be mistreated when they return to their country. Maybe this report is a small clue for some problems that cannot be solved in this picture.”

ODAP and Istanbul Beykent University organized a workshop under the main title of ‘Migration and Security’. In the meeting held at the Ayazağa Campus of the University, the sessions held under the sub-headings of ‘Safe and Voluntary Return’, ‘Social Cohesion’, ‘Cooperation with the International Community’ were discussed in an academic framework.

The recommendation declaration that emerged as a result of the meeting will be shared with the public, government units and NGOs in order to provide academic support to policy-making processes.

OLÇAR: WE DISCUSS WITH OUR SELECTED PROFESSORS IN THE FIELD OF 

Istanbul Beykent University Political Science and Public Administration Assistant Professor Kemal Olçar said, “With the cooperation of Istanbul Beykent University and ODAP, we are discussing the measures to be taken for migration, the driving factors related to migration activities, especially the picture that emerged as a result of the migration of Syrians from their own land to Turkey with distinguished faculty members in the field. What are the push factors coming from Syria? Syrian migrants are scattered not only in Turkey but also in neighboring countries. Therefore, there is a population movement that affects the demographic, economic and cultural structure and ultimately affects security issues. This issue is being discussed. On the one hand, measures to be taken for voluntary and safe recycling are discussed and debated from the perspective of social sciences, political sciences and international law. It can be published as a declaration after the meeting is over.”

“A REALISTIC REFUND SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE ESTABLISHED”

Stating that the return of Syrians requires a migration action plan, Olçar said, “It also requires consultation with all institutions. This also has an international dimension. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a partnership mechanism. It is necessary to establish a joint mechanism involving state actors such as the Syrian Assad regime, the US, Iran, Turkey and Russia. At the very least, a security environment needs to be established in the places where Syrians go. Once this is achieved, returns will take place much faster. On the other hand, it should be voluntary. A realistic return system needs to be established. Perhaps it is necessary to interview all Syrians one by one to make sure that they are willing to return. Somehow there should be a guarantee that the Assad regime will not mistreat them when they go back. Maybe this report provides a small clue to some of the unresolved issues in this picture. At some point, it could be a suggestion and a clarifying call to decision-makers. Because this will be an academic study, it is very easy to verify. They can test, falsify and verify.”