Forced Migration: Old Phenomenon, New Challenges

In 2016, MiReKoc Summer School explored the theme of forced migration. As António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, (2015) stated “We are witnessing a paradigm change, an unchecked slide into an era in which the scale of global forced displacement as well as the response required is now clearly dwarfing anything seen before.” While there have been a number of refugee movements throughout history due to wars, the dissolution of empires, conflicts fuelled by ultra-nationalism, the oppressive regimes, and resource scarcity, they pale in comparison to the scope of what we face today. The outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in March 2011 has undoubtedly caused the world’s largest humanitarian crisis since World War II. Globally, one in every 122 humans is now either a refugee or internally displaced or asylum seeker according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR). Forced migration has become a growing issue in recent years, all over the world, which unquestionably has long-term impacts not only on immigrant-receiving and emigrant-sending countries, but also those who are forced to flee their homes. As the influx of forced migrants is likely to increase, the phenomena has sparked public debate on the causes of forced migration, its impacts on host societies, its international legal dimension, and discussions about the vulnerability and uncertainty faced by these individuals. This issue has been put on the agenda of academic communities, policy-makers, various governmental, inter-governmental, and non-governmental organizations, as well as humanitarian actors. Right now, the issue of forced migration is more important, and more challenging, than ever.

The MiReKoc International Summer School of 2016 focused on the discussions around forced migration and its challenges. The Summer School consisted of ten days of lectures and discussions led by a distinguished international faculty, combined with seminars led by NGO representatives, and a field trip within Istanbul. Summer School of 2016 blended historical, theoretical discussions along with the case studies of forced migration from around the world, as well as in and from Türkiye.

ACADEMIC PROGRAM

Sunday, 10 July 2016

Arrival to Koç University, Sarıyer

19:00-21:00 Welcome Reception at Koç University

 

Monday, 11 July 2016

09:00-09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) Room CASE 124, Koç University

09:30-09:45 Welcoming Remarks by Prof. Dr. Ahmet İçduygu, Koç University

09:45-10:00 Opening Speech by Klaus Wölfer, Ambassador of Austria to Türkiye

10:00- 10:45 Opening Speech by Dr. Howard Duncan, Asylum Policies of Canada, Metropolis

10:45-11:30 Discussion led by Howard Duncan

11:30-11:45 Coffee Break

11:45-12:45 Keynote Speech by Lado Gvilava, Chief of Mission, IOM Türkiye

12:45-13:45 Discussion led by Lado Gvilava

13:45-14:30 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria

14:30-14:45 Koç University Orientation

14:45-16:00 History of Forced Migration in the Late Ottoman Era and Republican Era, Asst. Prof. Fuat Dündar, TOBB

16:00-16:15 Coffee Break

16:15-17:15 Discussion led by Asst. Prof. Fuat Dündar

19:00-22:00 Welcome Dinner

 

Tuesday, 12 July 2016

09:00 – 09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) CASE 124, Koç University

09:30 – 10:45 Türkiye’s Asylum Legislation and Policies in Line with International Standards, Asst. Prof. Lami Bertan Tokuzlu, Bilgi University

10:45 – 11:00 Coffee Break

11:00 – 12:00 Discussion session led by Asst. Prof. Lami Bertan Tokuzlu

12:00 – 13:00 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria

13:15 – 14:30 Forced Migration , Status Determination and Welfare: the Case of Canada by Dr. Şule Tomkinson,University of Kansas

14:30 – 14:45 Coffee break

14:45 – 16:00 Discussion led by Dr. Şule Tomkinson

16:00 – 16:15 Coffee break

16:15 – 17:15 Thematic Presentation

2 individual presentations (10 min presentation, 20 min discussion)

 

Wednesday, 13 July 2016

09:00 – 09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) Room CASE 124, Koç University

09:30 – 10:45 Gender, Sexual Identity and Age, Dr. Ayşen Üstübici, Koç University

10:45 – 11:00 Coffee break

11:00 – 12:00 Discussion led by Dr. Ayşen Üstübici

12:00 – 13:15 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria

13:15 – 14:30 Forced Migration, Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Kerstin Schmidt, The University of Bielefeld

14:30 – 14:45 Coffee Break

14:45 – 16:00 Discussion led by Dr. Kerstin Schmidt 

16:00 – 16:15 Coffee break

16:15 – 17:15 Thematic Presentations

2 individual presentations (10 min presentation, 20 min discussion)

 

Thursday, 14 July 2016

09:00 – 09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) Room CASE 136, Koç University

09:30 – 10:45    Internal Displacement: The Case of Kurdish IDPs, Prof. Dr. Ayşe Betül Çelik, Sabancı University

10:45 – 11:00 Coffee Break

11:00 – 12:00 Discussion led by Dr. Ayşe Betül çelik

12:00 – 13:15 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria

13:15 – 15:00 Thematic Presentations

3 individual presentations (10 min presentation, 20 min discussion)

15:00 – 15:15 Coffee Break

15:15 – 17:15 Thematic Presentations

3 individual presentations(10 min presentation, 20 min discussion)

 

Friday, 15 July 2016

09:00 – 09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) Room CASE 136, Koç University

09:30 – 11:00 Displacement, Healthcare and Humanitarian Action

09:30 – 10:15 Displacement, Healthcare and Humanitarian Action, MD. Apostolos Veizis, MSF

10:15- 10:45 Public Health: Primary Healthcare and Mental Health for Migrants, Asst. Prof. Nathan Bertelsen, Koç University

10:45-11:15 Does the integration policy for migrants is increasing inequity on access to health services in Türkiye?, Deniz Mardin, Koç University

11:15- 11:30 Coffee Break

11:30 – 12:45 Joint discussion by both lecturers

12:45 – 13:30 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria

14:30 Field Trip in Kumkapı, Aksaray

 

Saturday, 16 July 2016

Peacemakers Annual Conference: Human Security by Koç University International Office

In the evening: Bosporus boat tour

 

Sunday, 17 July 2016

Free Day

 

Monday, 18 July 2016

09:00 – 09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) Room CASE 136, Koç University

09:30 – 10:45 The EU Neighboring Countries: The Case of Bulgaria, Assoc. Prof. Daniela Bobeva, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Development

10:45 – 11:00 Coffee Break

11:00 – 12:15 Discussion led by Assoc. Prof. Daniela Bobeva

12:15 – 13:30 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria

13:30 – 15:00 Thematic Presentations

3 individual presentations

15:00 – 15:15 Coffee Break

15:15 – 17:00 Thematic Presentations

3 individual presentations

 

Tuesday, 19 July 2016

09:00 – 09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) Room CASE 136, Koç University

09:30 – 10:45 Current Crisis: The Case of Türkiye, Prof. Dr. Ahmet İçduygu, Koç University

10:45 – 11:00 Coffee Break

11:00 – 12:00 Discussion led by Prof. Dr. Ahmet İçduygu

12:00 13:15 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria

13:15 – 14:30 UNRWA and the Palestinian Refugees, Prof. Dr. Riccardo Bocco, Graduate Institute Geneva

14:30 – 14:45 Coffee Break

14:45 – 16:00 Discussion led by Prof. Dr. Riccardo Bocco

 

Wednesday, 20 July 2016  

09:00 – 09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) Room CASE 136, Koç University

09:30 – 10:45 Demographic Transition in relation to Forced Migration in Northern Africa after the Arab Spring, Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Awad, American University in Cairo

10:45 – 11:00 Coffee Break

11:00 – 12:00 Discussion led by Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Awad

12:00 – 13:15 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria

13:15 – 14:45 Institutional arrangements and the role of NGOs

13:15 – 13:45 Sema Genel, Director of Support to Life

13:45 – 14:15 Metin Çorabatır, Director of IGAM

14:15 – 14:45 Muhtar Çokar, Director of IKGV

14:45 – 15:15 Leyla Akca, Clinical Director, Maya Foundation

15:15 – 15:30 Coffee Break

15:30 – 17:00 Joint discussion led by lecturers

18:00 – 21:00 Meeting with the representatives of migrant communities in an early dinner at Nişantaşı

 

Thursday, 21 July 2016

09:00 – 09:30 Breakfast at (the entrance of) Room CASE 136, Koç University

09:30 – 10:45 Za’ateri Refugee Camp and the Role of NGOs in the Region, Hovig Etyemezian, Za’ateri Camp Manager

10:45 – 11:00 Coffee Break

11:00 – 12:00 Discussion led by Hovig Etyemezian

12:00 – 13:15 Lunch, Koç University Cafeteria

13:15 – 14:00 Role of Migrant Smuggling in Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants and the Human Trafficking Consequences by Dr. Berlan Pars Alan, IOM Geneva

14:00 – 14:30 Discussion  led by Dr. Berlan Pars Alan

14:30 – 14:45 Coffee Break

14:45 – 15:30 Accessing Quality Education and Child Protection: Preventing a Lost Generation within the Context of Crisis in Syria, Işık Oğuzertem, Save the Children Türkiye Programme Director

15:30 – 16:00 Discussion led by Işık Oğuzertem

16:00 – 16:30 Closing Remarks