Alanya Yabancılar Meclisi: Yabancıların Yerel Yönetime Katılım Örneği
Türkiye’de özellikle Ege ve Akdeniz bölgelerinin kıyı şeridinde yerleşik yabancı nüfus gittikçe artmaktadır. Nitekim Göç İdaresi Genel Müdürlüğü verilerine göre Türkiye’de yasal olarak ikamet eden yabancı nüfus 2005 yılında 178.964 iken, 2016 yılında bu sayı 461.217’ye yükselmiştir. Yine bu veriler uyarınca yabancı nüfusun yoğun olduğu şehirlerden biri de, 53.278 ikamet iznine sahip yabancı ile Antalya’dır. Antalya’da ise merkez ilçe Muratpaşa’dan sonra, en fazla yabancı nüfusa sahip ilçe Alanya’dır. Avrupa ülkelerinde yabancı nüfusun yoğun olduğu bölgelerde yerel yönetime katılma şeklinin bir örneği olarak Yabancılar Meclisi modeline rastlanmaktadır. Bu modelin Türkiye’deki ilk örneği ise; çok sayıda yerleşik yabancının yaşadığı Alanya’da 2004 yılında kurulan Alanya Yabancılar Meclisidir. Esas itibariyle Alanya Yabancılar Meclisinin tanıtılmasının amaçlandığı bu çalışmada öncelikle yönetime katılma kavramı ve türleri üzerinde durulmuş; daha sonra Alanya Yabancılar Meclisinin kuruluşu, tarihçesi, amacı ve etkinlikleri gibi konular hakkında bilgi verilmiş; son olarak Kent Konseyleri ile Alanya Yabancılar Meclisi ilişkisine değinilmiştir.
Alanya Foreigners Council: The Example of Participations of Foreigners in Local Administration
Residents foreign population is on the rise in Turkey, especially on the coast of the Aegean and Mediterranean Regions. As per the data of the General Directorate of Immigration Administration, in Turkey the legal residents foreign population was 178.964 in 2005, it increased to 461.217 in the year 2016. According to this data, one of the cities where the foreign population is dense is Antalya with 53,278 residence permits issued to foreign nationals. In Antalya, the district of Muratpasa is most populated and then it is the district of Alanya. In the European countries where the foreign population is high in number and dense, the Foreigners’ Council model is an example of how to participate in local governance. The first example of this model in Turkey; is the Alanya Foreigners Council established in 2004, where a large number of resident foreigners reside. This article aims to introduce Alanya Foreigners Council, types of participation in governance, establishment, history, purpose and related activities of the Alanya Foreigners Council. Finally, the article will delve into the relation between the City Council and Alanya Foreigners Council and their respective contributions.
The geographical location of Turkey is a strong attraction for foreigners to settle which covers, natural beauty, has social and cultural significance during different eras of history. As a consequence of being seen as an attractive choice for elderly population of European Union to predominantly settle by the Mediterranean coast, including being the transit country for Asian citizens unable to find jobs in their home countries. Turkeys` immigration has been progressively intense in the recent years. Population of resident foreigners is increasing, especially around Turkey’s coastline. Antalya has become one of the leading cities where the foreign population is centered around the coastline as well. After the central district of Muratpaşa’s, Alanya has the highest foreign population in the city. In certain European countries, especially in the regions where the foreign population is dense, there are Foreigners Committees, by way of an example, which participate in the local governance by taking into account human rights and general emancipations. Thus, attempted active participation is ensured for local residents into the local governance by taking into consideration of the freedom of expression, meeting and association related rights. The first example of the Foreigners Committee model in Turkey is at Alanya, founded in 2004 with the objective of addressing complaints and suggestions of foreigners; strengthening their harmony with the people of Alanya and increasing their participation in the local governance. The aim of this study is examining the Foreigners Committee of Alanya being the first model of foreign participation in the local governance in Turkey. The concept of participation in management is defined in the literature in the first part of our study. In this section, the forms of participation in the classical approach such as the right to vote, the right to petition, the publication of the advertisement(s), the right to use and petition the press, the distribution of the papers and the new forms of participation in the management which have emerged in the recent years such as - active participation-oriented initiatives, non-governmental organizations, electronic democracy and internet are examined with regards to Foreigners Committee of Alanya. Additionally, the participation of foreigners in local governance in Turkish law is discussed in terms of constitutional and legal regulations related to its productive efforts and changes capable of being implemented. In the second part of the study; Convention on the Participation of Foreigners in Public Life at the Local Level, not signed yet by Turkey was informed and Foreigners Committee of Alanya was introduced. In this context; the formation and history, the purpose, some activities carried out in line with this purpose of Committee were explained. Besides, the membership, the expiry of the membership, the parliamentary meeting, the place of the meeting, decision-making and the implementation of the decisions of the Committee were detailed to report changes further. In the third part of the study; the relationship between the Committee and City Councils was discussed. In this context, the place of City Councils, which the representatives of local authorities and citizenships participate and which aim to implement concepts such as publicity, transparency, locality and governance with legal regulations in Turkish law, is discussed. Further, the relationship between the Foreigners Committee of Alanya and City Councils was examined in terms of the right of foreigners to participate in the local governance and the evaluations made under Turkish law. Our study would be limited to by giving assessments and recommendations from various aspects and the evaluations of our results with suggestive recourses. In our opinion, the existence of voluntary organizations in which individuals develop their social and democratic skills by acting freely such as the Foreigners Committee of Alanya is extremely important for democracy and civil society. For all these reasons, to increase the number of such organizations taking into account human rights, fundamental freedoms, economic and social development; to realize and secure the ideals which are common heritage of humanity and to make the necessary legal arrangements especially in the cities where foreign population is intense will be appropriate. As a result, when the participation of foreigners in the public life is ensured, they will be given the opportunity to express themselves strongly and there will be an understanding local government that allows the views and thoughts of the settled foreigners to be taken to implement and enforce legislation that prioritizes participation as well.