Women’s Life Centres from Türkiye, a lifeline for women and girls affected by the earthquake

Since December 2023, more than 6,500 women and girls affected by the February 6 earthquakes in Türkiye have found safe spaces, support, and empowerment opportunities through the Women’s Life Centres established in Hatay and Adana regions. Founded by the Association for Women’s Freedom and Equality (KÖVED), based in Adana, in collaboration with the Women’s Coalition and with the support of UN Women, these Centres have become a vital part of the recovery process and reaffirmed, once again, the critical role women’s organizations play in humanitarian response.

In the aftermath of the February 2023 earthquakes, the collapse of social infrastructure had a disproportionate impact on women and girls. Access to safe spaces, psychosocial support, and essential services was severely limited. In response to these urgent needs, the Women’s Life Centres were created to support women from earthquake-affected communities reconnect with social life.

“The Centres were established with an approach that places the needs and expectations of women affected by the earthquake at its core,” says Kadem Doğan, the board member of KÖVED. “They were designed to provide a safe space where women can access protection and legal services, participate in social and recreational activities, and take part in empowerment programmes,” she continues.

For Yasemin Gezici and Hatice Öztürk, their first visit to the Women’s Life Centre in Adana marked a turning point. “Only after coming here, I realized the invisible burden I had been carrying for years,” says Gezici. “For the first time, I felt heard, supported, and stronger,” adds Öztürk, who later became one of the Centre’s support staff. Through the Centre, they gained access to information, solidarity, and confidence, transforming their own lives and encouraging other women in their community.

A second Women’s Life Centre is located in the Samandağ district of Hatay. Established by KÖVED and the Samandağ Women’s Solidarity Association in partnership with Samandağ Municipality, the Centre provides psychological and legal counselling and offers skills-development activities. To date, with the support of UN Women, 115 women have learned about their rights through legal counselling and referral services. In addition, 185 women – both  Centre visitors and those reached through home visits - have received information on protection mechanisms and psychosocial support, while 38 women have benefited from one-on-one legal counselling.

“This place helped us with issues related to inheritance and reserve areas,” says Nurcan, one of the Centre’s visitors.

Since opening in December 2023, the Samandağ Women’s Life Centre has supported more than 2,500 women and children. In addition to counselling and training, it offers practical facilities such as a kitchen, laundry, and children’s play areas, helping women, girls, and families manage daily responsibilities during recovery.

Programmes are regularly adapted based on the feedback from women. “Participants asked to restart choir activities they had done before the earthquake,” says Manolya Su Özçelik, a special education teacher at the Centre. “We began weekly sessions, and by August, they were performing together on stage. It became a very meaningful step in building solidarity.”

Local partners stress the importance of sustaining the Centre beyond the immediate response phase.