Refugee Women
Written By: Neha Sharan
Hook:
Being forced to flee your homeland is heart-wrenching enough, but even more so when you’re faced with the responsibility of looking after your kids, who you would never want to put through such a horrific time. Though this seems like a plot straight out of a novel, in truth, many women in the world today face such a situation. Sadly, with the recent influx of wars, conflicts, and environmental issues forcing people out of their homes, there are more refugees than ever. All refugees face a certain degree of hardship. However, some specific groups are more vulnerable than others; namely, women.
Background:
Women refugees, seeking safety or a better future for their families, are forced to flee challenging environments in their countries due to persecution, conflict, or violence. Out of the millions of refugees, according to UNHCR, 43% of the global refugee population is female, many of which are further burdened with being pregnant, unaccompanied, or the head of the household.
48% of migrants/refugees are female.
Source: Report of the Secretary-General, Making Migration Work for All, 12 December 2017
These women, struggling through the hardest time in their lives, undergo strenuous challenges and overcome unimaginable barriers that no one should be put through. They face countless struggles that others do not have to overcome: raising/carrying kids, facing hygienic obstacles, a high risk of sexual abuse, to name a few. Thus, it is important to learn their stories and pay them respect, for no one should have to go through those hardships.
Struggles:
Refugee women encounter a multitude of challenges that are often exacerbated by their gender and status. Refugee women are often more vulnerable to gender-based violence, including sexual assault, domestic violence, and trafficking. The chaotic and overcrowded conditions in many refugee camps lead to refugee women being at a high risk of experiencing more violence that other groups may not face. Many struggle with inadequate access to essential healthcare services, such as reproductive and mental health. As said by the Women’s Refugee Commission, “access to sexual and reproductive health care services is often limited,” which increases the risk of unintended pregnancy and disabilities. Alongside all these challenges, women refugees must deal with educational and economic barriers. USA for UNHCR states that each year, millions of women and girls among the growing refugee population continue to grow without an education, leaving them weak due to economic and educational barriers. Education, which is so common to many of us that we fail to recognize how important it is, is, in reality, unavailable for many of the less fortunate. Education is vital for humans to grow and be able to take their rightful place in society, yet many refugees lack access to this basic right. This makes it so much harder for refugees to rejoin society and live a normal life, simply because of an unexpected deterrent in life.
A woman refugee fleeing from her home.
Photographer: Murad Sezer/Reuters
Monicah Malitha’s Story:
Monicah Malitha is one such example of a refugee who struggled to overcome gender norms and receive access to education. Originally from South Sudan, Monicah was able to flee from the conflict brewing there and seek refuge at the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. At first, when she was enrolled in primary school, she was way older than the rest of her peers, yet knew nothing. However, through hard work and determination, Monicah was able to surpass her peers and realize her ambition for learning. Her journey did not continue without struggles, though. As Monicah grew older, she experienced various obstacles, “As the crisis in South Sudan worsened, financial constraints made it hard to continue paying school fees, while the social and cultural pressure to marry became unbearable as I grew through my teenage years.” Even with all these restraints, Monicah was able to overcome them and become the first refugee President of the University of Nairobi Students Association, and continues to advocate for refugees struggling to receive education as well. Her story inspires many refugees around the world, especially women refugees wanting to seek access to higher education to fulfill a better life.
Monicah Malitha
Photographer: Charity Nzomo
Women's Role in Refugee Camps:
In regular society, we are accustomed to the man being the head of the household, taking on the more active tasks: working to earn money, managing the property, and more. Women are usually expected to maintain the household through various chores and take care of the kids. However, women refugees often need to take on both roles. More often than not, women refugees flee with kids and are forced to raise them on their own. They take care of caregiving, managing household affairs, and ensuring the well-being of their families, but also need to focus on finding a way to earn money to get them out of their situation. On a brighter side, despite challenges, refugee women contribute significantly to the community's resilience, such as organizing support networks and participating in education programs.
Women refugees in a refugee camp.
Photographer: S. Baldwin
Unfortunately, the risk of security concerns makes it all the more difficult for women refugees to get back on their feet. Women, in particular, are vulnerable to sexual assault, trafficking, and enslavement in refugee camps. Authority figures cannot be trusted in this regard either, as the Gender in Geopolitics Institute states, “Sometimes even sex might be required to obtain services from the police: for example, in Dzaleka camp, the Malawi Police ‘is the main culprit in corruption allegations’ and they ‘may also force women to do prostitution’.” In difficult times, women have almost no one to support them, which is why we must do our best to help and uplift them.
How Can We Help?
There are several meaningful ways we can support refugee women to help improve their lives and empower them. As WomenforWomen suggests, helping women hear their voice and donating helps support their journey. The most efficient and costless way to help them out is to raise awareness about the specific challenges they face and advocate for policies that prioritize gender-sensitive humanitarian aid and protection measures. Supporting women refugees is not only humanitarian, but also an investment in building beautiful communities and fostering their development. By addressing needs and empowering individuals, we can take a step in ensuring that women refugees receive the support and opportunities they deserve. As Monicah says, “If you seize every opportunity, no one and nothing can hinder you from achieving what you want.”
Women refugees striving for a better future.
Source: The UN Refugee Agency
