Challenges faced by women & girl refugees

Women and children comprise 75–80% of refugees worldwide. Overall there are currently estimated to be 59.5 million refugees worldwide.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT

“At home they were engineers, teachers, doctors. Now all they can do is drink tea to pass the time. It is deeply depressing to watch.” — Aid worker, Za’atari Camp, Jordan (https://theconversation.com/rethinking-refugee-camps-turning-boredom-into-innovation-47718)

These Syrian refugees and Lebanese women aren’t knitting scarves or children’s clothes; they are learning how to make fishing nets, a skill which will help them find work along Lebanon’s northern coast, in an area reliant on its fishery but which suffers the highest unemployment rates in the entire country. DFID (https://flic.kr/p/i2puqo)

STATISTICS AND FACTS

EDUCATION

Syria was a leader in basic education in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, before the crisis began in 2011, an estimated 97% of primary school-age children were enrolled in school. Today, more than half of school-aged Syrian children are out of school.

It’s estimated that 50% of refugees worldwide are under the age of 18 and should therefore still be receiving education, out of these the majority are under 12 years old.

Education can provide protection for refugee children, but only when schools are physically safe, psychologically and emotionally healing, and cognitively transformative.

There would be 14% fewer child marriages if all girls completed primary education and 64% fewer early marriages if all young women completed secondary education?

In countries where access to education is equal for girls and boys, the per capita income is 23% higher.

EMPLOYMENT

U.N. figures have shown that the majority of people arriving in Europe come from upper middle class, well-educated backgrounds. Despite their high levels of qualifications and work experience in their country of origin, research has shown that refugees in Europe experience high unemployment and underemployment.

The arrival of high numbers of refugees in neighbouring MENA region countries has increased unemployment in urban areas, increased competition in some employment sectors and contributed to the informality of the labour market.

Unregistered refugees and asylum seekers cannot work legally and are therefore forced into informal employment where they are not legally protected and receive very low wages.

BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES

EDUCATION

Economic Hardship: Ensuring education for girls is often not a priority for displaced/refugee families. Instead they are forced to focus on day to day survival. Many parents are forced to send their children to work due to financial constraints.

Early and child marriages: Can be used as a coping mechanism in response to economic hardship. Child marriage will result in girls being denied an education.

Host country education: Child refugees have no access to the school system of the country from which they have fled. Some host countries make provisions for the education of refugee children while others do not.

Refugees outside formal camps: Education is provided for refugee children in camps however urban refugees/unregistered refugees are unlikely to have access to formal education.

Language barriers and cost: have also been identified as barriers faced by unregistered refugees throughout the MENA region.

EMPLOYMENT

Participation in a livelihoods program can challenge or reinforce existing social and economic inequalities: Simply targeting women does not guarantee that they will enjoy increased decision-making power over financial resources, nor does it address their social and economic marginalization. Programs that take steps to address constraints and inequalities that refugee women face in their relationships, roles and responsibilities (e.g., care of dependent children, older people and infirm) are more likely to succeed in supporting them to achieve their livelihood goals (e.g., inclusion of child care or income generation projects that can be completed at home or in culturally acceptable environments).

Discrimination: Despite high levels of education, women refugees in the EU are facing considerable barriers in accessing employment opportunities, many arrive with children and cannot secure childcare support, face discrimination within the host community and may be discouraged from finding work by males accompanying them.

Child Care: Barriers to employment are especially exacerbated in situations where women have arrived with children and no other individuals to support them with childcare or employment.

Informal Employment: Many refugees are forced to look for work in the informal or shadow economy, exposing them to unfair wages and unsafe conditions. This issue of safety is exacerbated in the case of women refugees.

Lack of networks: Kinship and community networks which are often extremely important in gaining employment may not exist for displaced women.

Cultural/gender role constraints: Cultural barriers stopping women from working may also exist as family members do not want their wives/daughters to work in an unknown context or culture.

Camp Constraints: Refugees in camps cannot work legally outwith the camp. Whilst female focussed vocational trainings or in-camp informal employment may exist this does not serve as a long term employment solution.

This refugee boy from Iraq lives in the community in Nauru and wrote about how his mother is often too scared to leave the house. Asked what he wants to be when he grows up, his reply was “anything, free.” (http://www.buzzfeed.com/alexlee/child-refugees-on-nauru-facebook-page#.sjdKYE5aPa)

EXISTING TOOLS

Digital Assistant Academy: enables low income, young women to generate additional, flexible income for themselves and their family around their existing commitments. www.digitalassistantacademy.org

RefugeesWork: helps new arrivals find jobs. www.refugeeswork.com

KIRON: is the international university for refugees. Kiron provides refugees with world-class higher education and the opportunity to graduate at a university free of charge. https://kiron.university/

Refugees on Rails: a coding school for refugees in Berlin. http://refugeesonrails.org/

Cash-for-Work Program Empowers Syrian Refugees — Cash-for-work opportunities include tailoring school uniforms, repurposing UNHCR tents into reusable bags, crafts-making, teaching, and working as beauticians, security guards and childcare professionals. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/un-women/cash-for-work-programme-e_b_8305178.html

POSSIBLE HACK IDEAS/RESPONSES

Skillshare — women/men can learn skills from each other and swap resources.

Tackling Language Barriers — teaching women/men how to use the local language.

Interventions and solutions should not rely solely on the demand of the affected population that is visible, but must make concerted efforts to reach women and girls, especially, who may be ‘invisible’ in the community.

The Women’s Refugee Commission’s “Building Livelihoods” Field Guide for Humanitarian Settings outlines 6 recommended areas for livelihoods intervention for refugees:

• Training and Placement Programmes
• Cash and Food for Work
• Building In Camp Economies
• Agrarian Interventions
• Microfinance
• Enterprise Development

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

“This is a conservative area. If you have been raped, you wouldn’t talk openly about it because you would be stigmatised for your entire life. The phenomenon is massively under-reported” -Dr Manal Tahtamouni is the director of the Institute for Family Health within the Zaatari refugee camp, Northern Jordan.

Syrian and Lebanese girls huddle round in a group discussion about early marriage at a community centre in southern Lebanon. DFID (https://flic.kr/p/o5YNBK)

STATISTICS AND FACTS

Early and child marriages: Can be used as a coping mechanism in response to economic hardship. Child marriage existed in Syria before the crisis — 13% of girls under 18 in Syria were married in 2011. But now, three years into the conflict, official statistics show that among Syrian refugee communities in Jordan child marriage has increased alarmingly, and in some cases has doubled. In Jordan, the proportion of registered marriages among the Syrian refugee community where the bride was under 18 rose from 12% in 2011 (roughly the same as the figure in pre-war Syria) to 18% in 2012, and as high as 25% by 2013.

Domestic violence: Reports outline how refugee women facing domestic violence may feel they have nowhere to turn to and no legal system they can engage with.

Sexual violence: Reports of rape & sexual violence within camps are extremely high & can be perpetrated by other refugees and aid workers. Cultural factors mean women are less likely to report and men face little or no consequences. Power dynamics at play discourage reporting abusive aid workers. Roughly 13% of refugees traveling to Europe are women, according to the UN. Of those, some 4,200 are estimated to be pregnant and another 1,400 at risk of sexual violence. The UN refugee agency said on the 23rd of Oct that it was concerned by “credible testimonies” it has received of sexual violence and abuse against refugee and migrant women and children within and across Europe.

Forced prostitution: Refugee women are at risk of being forced into prostitution by their family due to the harsh economic tensions placed on refugees. This may take the form of a forced, informal marriage followed by a quick divorce.

Human Trafficking: Human trafficking is the fastest growing international crime and one of the largest sources of income for organised crime. Refugees and displaced people are particularly vulnerable to this form of exploitation. Smuggling may also turn into human trafficking. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that there may be a surge in sexual assault against women being smuggled across the Mediterranean Sea from West Africa if close monitoring of sex trafficking and specialized assistance is not implemented by EU governments. IOM reported that 4,371 women and girls from Nigeria have reached Italy since January. Most of them — about 80 percent, according to IOM — were trafficked and became victims of sexual violence.

Tensions with the host community: Economic pressure and cultural differences increase the likelihood of xenophobic attacks against refugees being carried out by members of the host community or law enforcement officers. There have been reports of arson against refugee settlements throughout the MENA region and within the EU.

BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES

Child marriage: Forced child marriage amongst the Syrian refugee population in Jordan is rising sharply as more and more families see child marriage as a way to lessen their financial burden and protect girls from sexual violence.

Forced marriage in refugee settlements: There are also reported cases of forced marriage in refugee settlements. Forced marriages are reportedly sometimes arranged for Syrian women and girls who have been victims of rape,enabling their families to restore their ‘honour’.

Early Marriage: Girls who marry before 18 are more likely to experience domestic violence than their peers who marry later. The isolation of girls forced to marry makes it harder to access help, including child protection services. Sexual violence is inherent within child marriage: sex with a child under the minimum age for consent and unwanted sexual relationships are gross violations of a child’s rights, regardless of whether they take place within the context of a marriage.

GBV: According to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), women fleeing Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador have been subject to a constant threat of violence, including threats, assault, murder, rape and other gender-based violence, and their governments are unable to protect them. In a report released by UNHCR this week, Women on the Run, interviews with 160 women from the Northern Triangle countries of Central America, as well as Mexico, make clear the violence these women flee is as horrific as any in the world.

Lack of Privacy: There is no privacy in overcrowded refugee settlements which compromises the safety of women and girls.

Sexual Exploitation: Sexual exploitation or non-consensual ‘survival’ sex occurs when women and girls exchange sexual favours for food or other goods, or money to help pay the rent, especially in Lebanon.

Violence Against Men: Information on the prevalence of GBV among men and boys is lacking and research conducted by ABAAD with the support of UNICEF confirms that men and boys also have faced and/or are likely to face GBV and SGBV in Syria or in their new host communities.

Fear of Reporting: Refugee women often do not report abuse for fear of reprisal or because of their lack of documentation.

Barriers to intervention: Additionally the rapid flow of moving refugees makes it difficult to identify or intervene in cases of sexual assault, gender-based violence, and human trafficking.

“My husband works day and night and earns 5,000 Lebanese pounds [£2]. We can’t pay rent. We understand that this makes them stressed and let go of their anger on us [through violence], because they have to support us.” http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/20/female-refugees-syria-gynaecological-stress-illness

EXISTING TOOLS

THE COMPANION APP: enables users to request a friend or family member to keep them company virtually and track their journey home via GPS on an online map. The user can send out several requests to different phone contacts. Those contacted then receive an SMS with a hyperlink in it that sends them to a web page with an interactive map showing the user walking to their destination. If the user strays off their path, falls, is pushed, starts running, or has their headphones yanked out of their phone, the app detects these changes in movement and asks the user if they’re OK. If the user is fine, they press a button on the app to confirm within 15 seconds. If they do not press the button, or a real emergency is occurring, the Companion app transforms the user’s phone into a personal alarm system that projects loud noises and gives the option to instantly call the police. www.companionapp.io

HarassMap: a tool allowing those assaulted or harassed in Egypt to anonymously report their experiences. The developers hope that providing a view of the reality and scope of sexual harassment and sexual assault in Egypt will help to end its social acceptability. Reports are plotted on a Google-style map with each report appearing as a red dot. When users click on the dot, the full text of the report is displayed. http://harassmap.org/

PETALS: a phone app and website that aims to educate girls and boys about what Female Genital Mutilation is and help them access support and assistance. The website has special features to enable it to be kept hidden from prying eyes. Shaking a smartphone makes the app disappear, it leaves no history in the browser if accessed on a computer and there are no pop-up windows, meaning it can be shut down quickly if needed. Users are given access to immediate help on the first page, with links to the NSPCC and other help groups. http://petals.coventry.ac.uk/#a/

My plan APP: helps women and their friends to determine if a relationship is unsafe and create an action plan to leave safely. Designed to easily deliver life-saving information when it is needed with trained advocate support 24/7 through an embedded live chat from our trusted partner. The planning tool also helps to create an action plan by assessing and weighing the user’s preference and situation. http://www.joinonelove.org/my_plan_app

MyRefuge.world- AirBnB for refugees, with no money involved. Brings together already existing initiatives, organised by NGOs and grassroots movements aimed at opening up their homes and communities to refugees, on one single technology platform. http://myrefuge.world

POSSIBLE HACK IDEAS/RESPONSES

Searchable & two-way information portal giving women information on (shelter, education, migration manual, alternative safety options).

Online listening service to support people going through abuse, and mental health issues.

Safety apps/reporting apps within camps for things that are broken and to report humanitarian staff for harassment/corruption.

Safety, respect, confidentiality and non-discrimination should be shown in relation to survivors and those at risk at all times.

GBV-related interventions should be context-specific in order to enhance outcomes and the concept of not harming individuals. Participation and partnership are cornerstones of effective GBV prevention.

Preventing and mitigating GBV involves promoting gender equality and promoting beliefs and norms that foster respectful, non-violent gender norms.

HEALTH

“Panic is not good for pregnancy,” said Najjar (http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/91/6/13-020613/en/)

Joweher holds up a recent chest x-ray that shows the signs of lung damage, while her neighbour and her neighbour’s children look on. European Comission DG (https://flic.kr/p/zJmpvH)

STATISTICS AND FACTS

Early pregnancy: due to early marriage, early pregnancy is a common phenomenon and can lead to multiple health complications

Health support is often provided for registered refugees only.

Access to tampons/pads: NGOs are more focused on providing basic needs for refugees, but not basic needs for women. Women have to fight cultural embarrassment to ask for things like sanitary items.

Forced prostitution & abuse: this hugely increases risks to women’s health and survivors are less likely to go for a check up out of shame.

Conditions:The most frequent illnesses diagnosed in female refugees are linked to the lack of systematic and/or preventive medical care.

Access to Pre-natal and Post-natal Care: Rapid assessments of women’s health in the refugee camps indicate that 23% of women were unaware about reproductive health services, 28% had experienced unplanned pregnancies and 17% did not access antenatal care for pregnancy.

Lack of data: There is significantly less data on the health outcomes of Syrian refugees in Turkey. In contrast to Lebanon and Jordan, very few NGOs are working to deliver refugee health care in Turkey. Turkish authorities have been very strict about not allowing any independent observers, journalists, NGOs, national or international humanitarian relief organizations to enter the camps, so it is difficult to have an independent assessment of women’s status within the camps.In general, for women in camp settings, factors that contribute to poor reproductive health are women’s lack of access to amenities for basic hygiene, including lack of drinking water, access to feminine hygiene products, washing water, soap and bathing facilities

BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES

Cultural and Language Barriers: Women refugees report not feeling comfortable talking about health issues, this may be exacerbated by cultural and language barriers.

Access to Medical Services for Urban/Unregistered Refugees: Unregistered women refugees cannot access national medical services. In countries like Turkey and Lebanon women refugees are forced to go to private health sector in order to get support and medication, this is unaffordable to many. Urban refugees scattered all over Iraqi Kurdistan, Jordan and Lebanon face huge difficulties in accessing aid. This again raises the issue of how to best address the needs of people displaced in open settings.

Lack of systematic and/or preventive medical care: The most frequent illnesses diagnosed in female refugees are linked to the lack of systematic and/or preventive medical care. Respiratory problems were often linked to exposure to cold, overcrowding and lack of treatment for infections. Skin diseases including scabies, bacterial and fungal infections reflected overcrowding and poor hygiene. Gastrointestinal problems including gastritis, constipation and haemorrhoids could be a result of poor diet, lack of activity and high stress. Musculo-skeletal complaints were among other things linked to limited space and exercise and a cold, uncomfortable environment.

Detention Centres: Many asylum seekers and migrants arrive in relatively good health, despite their difficult journey. How­ever once in detention, their health soon deteriorates, at least in part due to substandard detention conditions. Recurrent issues observed by MSF teams included overcrowding; failure to separate men, women, families and unaccompanied minors; poor hygiene and lack of sanitation; poor heating and ventilation. Detention increases anxiety, fear and frus­tration and can exacerbate previous traumatic experiences that asylum seekers and migrants endured in their country of origin, during the trip or during their stay in a transit country. Their vulnerability is further aggravated by uncertainty about their future, the uncer­tain duration of their detention, and the ever-present threat of deportation. Difficult living conditions, overcrowding, con­stant noise, lack of activities and dependence on oth­er people’s decisions all contribute to feelings of defeat and hopelessness.

The costs amount to US $50 for a normal delivery and US $200 for a Caesarean section. “If the refugee cannot afford to pay, she might be refused access to the hospital or have her refugee card confiscated, which often means no access to food vouchers until she can pay off the hospital bill,” Middleton says.(http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news-stories/field-news/syrian-refugees-lebanon-pregnant-women-often-have-no-idea-where-go)

EXISTING TOOLS

7 Cups of Tea: a free app that offers free counseling and therapy. Users can anonymously seek help from trained professionals. This anonymity and easy access may be especially important if user is facing abuse that has social stigma attached i.e. domestic abuse. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/7CupsOfTea/id921814681?ls=1&mt=8

Watsi: helps fund healthcare for people around the world. Watsi has an automated monthly donation system where donors are charged on the 1st of every month. Funds collected go entirely to patients as Watsi’s own costs are covered separately by foundations, philanthropists, and donors who leave an optional tip during checkout. Whilst not specifically targeted at women, this website may be able to help fill the gaps in women’s healthcare internationally. https://watsi.org/

Universal Doctor Speaker: Free application for Refugees and medical staff who works with refugees. Provides translation from the patient language to the doctor one. http://www.universaldoctor.com/

Medicine Arabic Dictionary Free With Sound: Free Medicine Dictionary with sound from English to Arabic and Arabic to English. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/medicine-arabic-dictionary/id545501431?mt=8

Pathways to Wellness Toolkit for Primary Care: The Toolkit was created by the Pathways to Wellness Program in conjunction with medical staff from Harborview Medical Center. http://ethnomed.org/clinical/refugee-health/PathwaysToolkit.pdf

The Refugee Health Screener: Another toolkit by Pathways to Wellness. Pathways has validated a Refugee Health Screening tool in five languages, and the tool is currently integrated into Public Health Seattle & King County. http://www.lcsnw.org/pathways/index.html#p7TPMc1_4

Healthy Living Toolkit: The USCRI Healthy Living Toolkit is designed to educate refugees and immigrants so they can become proactive health consumers and health promoters in their communities. The toolkit presents material in a culturally appropriate manner and is intended to help health care-related professionals to more effectively assist refugees and immigrants and reduce the health disparities among these populations. http://www.refugees.org/resources/for-refugees--immigrants/health/healthy-living-toolkit/

POSSIBLE HACK IDEAS/RESPONSES

Access to secondary and tertiary health care — such as the cost of services, short opening hours and long distances — have to be taken into account when assisting refugees.

An online service that allows people to purchase and send female hygiene products to aid drop-off locations.

Awareness information: text message with health advices.

Application with all free health services available around the location of the person.

References:

• http://www.fmreview.org/detention/abusada-serafini
• http://www.uniteforsight.org/refugee-health/module1
• http://www.fmreview.org/detention/kotsioni-et-al
• http://www.fmreview.org/detention/bennett#sthash.V9FhCtrz.dpuf
• http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/child-labour-increasingly-common%E2%80%99-among-syrians-jordan-%E2%80%94-study#sthash.0JOMqmUS.dpuf
• http://www.euronews.com/2015/09/16/which-european-countries-offer-the-most-social-benefits-to-migrants/
• http://gbvguidelines.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015-IASC-Gender-based-Violence-Guidelines_lo-res.pdf
• http://www.unhcr.org/560be0dd6.html
• https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/infographic-education-crisis-syria-statistics
• https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-refugees
• http://www.ibtimes.com/europe-refugee-crisis-facts-wealthy-educated-syrians-risking-lives-leave-war-2089018
• http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/08/syrian-refugees-turkey-ngo-employment.html#
• http://www.fmreview.org/detention/anani#sthash.P0Uwtl1m.dpuf
• http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/Too_Young_to_Wed.pdf
• http://resourcecentre.savethechildren.se/sites/default/files/documents/4519.pdf
• http://gbvguidelines.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015-IASC-Gender-based-Violence-Guidelines_lo-res.pdf
• https://womensrefugeecommission.org/blog/2341-women-from-central-america-on-the-run-from-violence

Konrad Lembcke (https://flic.kr/p/B3kPDQ)