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Refugee Women
In any refugee population, approximately 50 percent of the uprooted people are women and girls. Stripped of the protection of their homes, their government and often their family structure, females are often particularly vulnerable. They face the rigours of long journeys into exile, official harassment or indifference and frequent sexual abuse even after reaching an apparent place of safety. Women must cope with these threats while being nurse, teacher, breadwinner and physical protector of their families. In the last few years, UNHCR has developed a series of special programmes to ensure women have equal access to protection, basic goods and services as they attempt to rebuild their lives.
In any refugee population, approximately 50 percent of the uprooted people are women and girls. Stripped of the protection of their homes, their government and often their family structure, females are often particularly vulnerable. They face the rigours of long journeys into exile, official harassment or indifference and frequent sexual abuse even after reaching an apparent place of safety. Women must cope with these threats while being nurse, teacher, breadwinner and physical protector of their families. In the last few years, UNHCR has developed a series of special programmes to ensure women have equal access to protection, basic goods and services as they attempt to rebuild their lives.
UNHCR Handbook for the Protection of Women and Girls
This Handbook describes some of the protection challenges faced by women and girls of concern to UNHCR and outlines various strategies to be adopted with partners to tackle these challenges.
First edition, published January 2008
Photo Gallery
Refugee Women: Dignity and courage in even the most difficult circumstances
Photo Gallery Special – Refugee Women
A pictorial gallery honouring refugee women and some of the many roles they play around the world in the most difficult of circumstances.
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence against Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons
Guidelines offering practical advice on how to design strategies and carry out activities aimed at preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence.
UNHCR Executive Committee conclusions
The consensus of UNHCR's Executive Committee on protecting refugee women
UNHCR Executive Committee reports on refugee women
UNHCR Executive Committee reports covering refugee women issues.
Women Leading for Livelihoods (WLL)
A UNHCR initiative aimed at promoting the economic independence and empowerment of refugee and displaced women and girls around the world.
Latest news on refugee women:
UNHCR Policy on Refugee Women
Refugee Consultationsin Bangladesh
Published March 2007, this report summarises the outcome of consultations held in March 2007 with refugees from Northern Rakhine State in Myanmar in the two refugee camps of Nayapara and Kutupalong in Bangladesh.
UNHCR Good Practices"A Practical Guide to Empowerment" – UNHCR series produced by the Refugee Women/Gender Equality Unit to demonstrate and disseminate successful gender mainstreaming practices. Published 2001.
UNHCR Women's Initiatives
Targeted initiatives to empower women in post-conflict societies
Guidelines for Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian SettingsPublished by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), September 2005 (pdf, 876 Kb)
Dialogue with Refugee WomenHeld in Geneva, 20-22 June 2001
Conference on Sexual and Gender-Based ViolenceHeld in Geneva, 27-29 March 2001
UNIFEM
United Nations Development Fund for Women: Working for Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality.
WCRWC
Website of the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children.
Gender Equality Mainstreaming
Links to websites and documents on gender maintreaming
Women, Peace and Security
Links to UN and NGO websites and documents illustrating the role of women in conflict and peacebuilding.
Gender and Humanitarian Assistance Resource Kit
Link to this valuable collection of practical tools, policies and research materials on gender and humanitarian action compiled by UN agencies and non-governmental organisations.