Bridging protection gaps: The critical role of NGOs in supporting refugee women in Turkey and Greece during the migration crisis

The 2015 international migration crisis exposed significant gaps in protection concerning refugee women in frontline European countries, where gender-based violence, legal uncertainties, and integration barriers compound existing vulnerabilities, while state protection systems often prove inadequate. This qualitative study examines how non-governmental organisations (NGOs) address these gaps in Turkey and Greece. The findings reveal that Turkish NGOs primarily focus on direct service provision and integration support, reflecting the country’s role as a destination for established refugee populations, while Greek organisations emphasise legal advocacy and rights-based approaches in response to restrictive asylum policies and the country’s transit-oriented context. While NGOs provide essential support through innovative, gender-sensitive programming, their effectiveness is constrained by dependence on funding, political restrictions, and coordination challenges. The findings demonstrate that sustainable protection for refugee women requires systematic state investment and coordinated policy responses rather than continued reliance on humanitarian gap-filling. Even innovative NGO programs cannot compensate for fundamental policy failures and inadequate state protection systems.