SEEKING HELP AND REPORTING

If you are exposed to or at risk of gender-based violence by either one of your family members (father, mother, husband, wife, partner, relative etc.), or a person outside of your family circle (friend, acquaintance, stranger) or if you are an eyewitness to violence, please remember that you are not alone and help is available.

Note that cases of sexual violence and abuse require immediate action to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually-transmitted infections. As per Turkish legal framework, it is obligatory for witnesses of child’s sexual exploitation and abuse to report such cases immediately. In addition, Turkish laws require provision of evidence for prosecution of sexual violence cases. Therefore, do not eliminate evidence of sexual violence while seeking support, and try to seek help within 72 hours of the incident despite the potential trauma and psychological distress associated with the incident.

You can seek help confidentially by calling available hotlines, using phone applications, or in person.

Available Hotlines

Emergency hotlines:

– General Emergency Hotline 112 / Turkish, English, Arabic, German, Russian – 24h/7
– Ministry of Family and Social Services 183 Social Support hotline / Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic, Sign Language 24h/7
– Foreigners Communication Center (YIMER) 157 line/ Turkish, English, Arabic, Russian, Farsi, German – 24h/7
Governmental hotlines:
– Ministry of Labor and Social Security – 170 Family, Labor and Social Services Communication Centre – 24h/7
– Ministry of Health – 184 / 10 languages (including Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, English) via interpreters – 24h/7
Non-governmental hotlines:
– UNHCR Counselling Line (including GBV specific counselling) 444 48 68 / English, Turkish, Arabic, Farsi, Dari, Turkmen, Pashtu, Urdu, Uzbek, Kurmanji, Sorani, Azeri, Fulani, Somali / Monday-Thursday: 09.00 – 17.00, Friday: 09.00 – 16.00
– Domestic Violence Emergency Hotline (Turkish Federation of Women’s Associations) / 0212656 96 96 / 0549 656 96 96 – 09.00 -24.00 / 7 days
– SPoD LGBTI+ hotline / 0850 888 54 28 / Turkish / Monday – Friday / 12.00-18.00
– KAOS GL Consultation Line / +90 541 720 79 23 (for Arabic speakers, every Thursday) and +90 545 340 82 12 (for Farsi speakers, every Tuesday) / 11.00 – 18.00
– Mor Çatı Women’s Shelter Foundation / 0212 292 52 31 – 32 / Turkish, English, Arabic (via volunteers), Farsi (via volunteers) / Monday – Friday / 09.30 – 17.00
– Association for Solidarity with Asylum-seekers and Migrants (SGDD-ASAM) Headquarters Hotline / +90 312 427 55 83 , +90 312 212 60 12 , +90 312 212 60 13 / Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, English, French, Somali / – Monday- Friday 09:00- 17:30.
– Support to Life Information and Support Line / 0800 670 1010 / Arabic, Turkish / Monday-Friday: 09.00-18.00
– Mavi Kalem Consultation Line / 0850 441 62 84 / Arabic, Farsi, Turkish / Monday-Friday: 09.30-17.30
– UNFPA / Refugee Support Hotline / Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, English / 0850 888 05 39 – 24h/7
– Refugees Association / 0216 784 51 05-06 / Arabic, Turkish / Monday-Friday: 09.30 – 16.00
– Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) Emergency Social Safety Net Programme (ESSN) 168 Call Center / Arabic, Turkish, English, Persian, Pashtu / Monday- Friday 09:00- 18:00; Saturday 09:00- 13:00.

Phone applications

You can download and use the Vodafone Easy Rescue or KADES phone applications through App Store or Google Play to report gender-based violence incidents or receive information on gender-based violence. Vodafone Easy Rescue and KADES provide you with immediate support in cases of GBV by referring the security forces to your registered residence, therefore, make sure that your address information on MERNIS is up-to-date.

  • MoFSS – Vodafone Easy Rescue (Kırmızı Işık) application / Turkish, English, Arabic. Please click here for detailed information on how to use the application.
  • Ministry of Interior – Directorate General of Security – KADES application to combat violence / Turkish, Arabic, Farsi, English, French Russian.
  • Domestic Violence Emergency Help Line (Aile İçi Şiddet Acil Yardım Hattı) – Turkish Federation of Women’s Associations / Turkish

You can use the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) phone application for general information.

  • PMM Phone App / Turkish, English, Arabic, Farsi, German, Russian

In-person approach

To report gender-based violence incidents and to receive related assistance in person, you can approach the below listed services in your province:

  • Approach nearest public hospital or family health clinic (please refer to: https://turkey.servicesadvisor.org/en/search?category=1666 )
  • Approach nearest police station and/or Bureaus of Combating Domestic Violence and Violence against Women under the District Directorate of Security in your province (also see GBV hotlines above).
  • Approach nearest Provincial Gendarmerie Command, Children and Women Section Chiefs (also see GBV hotlines above).
  • Approach nearest PDoFSS service provider, i.e Violence Prevention and Monitoring Center/ŞÖNİM, Social Service Center) (please refer to: https://turkey.servicesadvisor.org/en/search?partner=2621,3056,21345)

For legal support;

For psychosocial support;

Please remember that all listed support and assistance are free.

 Reporting your situation will enable the relevant services to provide you with the appropriate support. Please get in touch with the entities listed to see what assistance may be most appropriate, and can be provided, for your individual situation.

Please remember that under Turkish law, the Turkish authorities are required to treat all complaints in strict confidence.

If your circumstances do not allow you to report a violent incident on your own, you can approach UNHCR or its partners in order to obtain assistance.

UNHCR and its partners will guide you on the steps for complaining against the perpetrator. In line with the confidentiality principle, your personal information/situation will not be shared with third parties except for the security forces or prosecution office. (These authorities are always informed of official complaints.)