CemberDE Podcast: We discussed the Immigrant Women Support Project.

In the third episode of the ÇemberDE podcast series, we began discussing the Migrant Women Support Project , a meaningful bridge of solidarity built between Brussels and Eskişehir. Launched in 2024, this project focuses on the human rights violations, risks of violence, and unique needs of women migrating from Turkey to Belgium.

A Struggle for Rights That Transcends Borders

In this episode, we took a closer look at the stories of women on the migration route, particularly from the Eskişehir and Emirdağ regions to Brussels. In this conversation with Gülfer Kırbaş, Merve Köseoğlu, and Sevgi Nur Bakır, we discussed how migration is not just a relocation, but also a complex process of reconstructing identity, belonging, and feelings of security. We explored the challenges women face both in Türkiye and Europe, within their limited social circles.

We emphasized how much they need "safe spaces" where they can talk about their problems due to societal pressures.

What did we talk about?

Invisible Victimizations: Challenges specific to immigrant women, such as early marriage, language barriers, and social isolation, overshadowed by the assumption of "going to a better country."

Intersectional Approach: How the burdens of being an immigrant and being a woman intertwine, and how this affects access to rights.

International Cooperation: How the partnership with the Brussels-based Groupe Santé Josaphat Family Planning Center addresses the problems faced by women in both Turkey and Belgium.

Needs Assessment and Workshops: Tools and methodologies developed to build safe spaces where women can speak about their own issues without judgment.

This section outlines the general framework of the project. In the following installments, we will delve into the details of the legal guide, one of the most tangible outputs of the project, and discuss mechanisms for protection against violence in a more comprehensive manner.

You can listen to the full episode on Spotify, and find more details about the project at cemberdernek.org .