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Rights of Refugee Women – Victims of Violence

Rights of Refugee Women – Victims of Violence. Birgit Einzenberger UNHCR Office in Austria www.unhcr.org – www.unhcr.at 11 th WAVE Conference Vienna, 24 September 2009. Refugee women and girls – victims of violence. May become victims of violence when living in our societies

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Rights of Refugee Women – Victims of Violence

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  1. Rights of Refugee Women – Victims of Violence Birgit Einzenberger UNHCR Office in Austria www.unhcr.org – www.unhcr.at 11th WAVE Conference Vienna, 24 September 2009

  2. Refugee women and girls –victims of violence • May become victims of violence when living in our societies • Have normally fled violence in their home countries • Have often encountered violence on their flight to Europe • Violence affects all stages of their displacement cycle!

  3. Refugee women and girls – they flee violence • Persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group (including in UNHCR’s view sex/gender) or political opinion – 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention • War and civil unrest – extended refugee definition and notion of ”subsidiary protection” in the EU • Severe gender discrimination incl. gender-based violence is a contributing cause for displacement!

  4. Refugee women and girls – where do they flee too? • Women and girls represent on average 50 per cent in any refugee population • Significant geographical differences • Half or more of displaced persons in regions of origin, notably Africa (e.g. 55 per cent in Chad) but also parts of Europe (e.g. Georgia and Montenegro) • Only a third of asylum claimants in the EU • Discrimination and human rights violations prevent especially women-headed households from reaching European asylum space!

  5. Women and girl asylum-seekers – obstacles to refugee protection • Insufficiently sensitive procedures may prevent disclosure of flight reasons • Traditional refugee law instruments (including the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention) are silent on women and girls • But since 1980s increasing recognition that gender-related persecution is covered by them • Still gender-related persecution in Europe thus far only inadequately recognized!

  6. Violence against asylum-seeking and refugee women and girls in Europe • Increased vulnerability and limited access to support structures due to: • Detention, refugee camps, emergency accommodation • Separation from their families and communities • Inadequate information • Restricted access to labour market and education, etc.

  7. Realizing the right to freedom from violence for women and girl refugees • Increase resettlement programmes for refugee women and girls to Europe • Collect data and adopt as well as apply policies to ensure gender equality in refugee protection • Improve reception standards for asylum-seekers • Enhance links between those working with refugees and those supporting women / girl victims of violence • Improve information of women and include them in planning protection and assistance activities

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