JOURNAL OF GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, cilt.25, sa.1, ss.251-269, 2021 (Hakemli Dergi)
In this research, dynamics of child marriages among Syrian refugees who are in
temporary protection status in Turkey, and the refugee communities who immigrated from
Afghanistan were analyzed from the viewpoint of professionals working in the fields related with
child welfare. Qualitative research design was applied, focus group interviews with 47
professionals and in-depth interviews with six professionals were conducted. The dynamics of child
marriages were analyzed with themes of marriage as being wide traditional and religious practice
in the source countries, poverty and financial gain, considering marriage as a means of protection
from security problems and protection of “honour”, problems of attending education, covering up
sexual abuse and lastly the aim of increase in population to compensate war losses. Finally,
recommendations to improve child welfare with the focus on child rights to prevent child
marriages within the refugee communities are provided drawing on the results.