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Intersecting issues which must be addressed to provide comprehensive protection for Girls 0 – 12

This group is sometimes not specifically considered as it is assumed that their needs are addressed with those of their parents. It is important that these are articulated and addressed, otherwise they can be overlooked. For example: If babies do not receive birth registration, they are usually not included on their mothers’ refugee registration, which means they have no protection status, and have difficulty accessing their basic needs, food and non-food items, health care and education. If the mother is stateless, her children will be stateless. Even when registered, girl children face many barriers. Crowded, unsafe accommodation significantly increases the risks of child sexual abuse. Single mothers who have been forced to marry often abusive men as a means of survival report a high degree of sexual abuse of children by step-fathers. Children old enough to be sent to collect food, water, and fuel or to forage for food suffer sexual abuse and violence. Unsafe camps and urban sites make it dangerous for a girl to travel to school and a concerning level of abuse by teachers was reported. Fear for their daughter’s safety caused many families to stop their children from going to school. Extreme poverty forces some parents to choose to educate boys and not girls. Lack of education makes girls extremely vulnerable as they grow older. WASH facilities are also dangerous places for young girls. The constant threats to their health and safety coupled with lack of access to safe education have a negative impact on many girl children, who have little or no access to either physical or mental health services leading to low self-esteem, depression, and lack of hope for the future. There are limited special services for children with a disability.

There is little childcare for children whose parents have to work and many young children are left alone to fend for themselves for much of the time, which again makes them vulnerable to SGBV. This is particularly the case for girls with a disability, who cannot access school. The needs of children are not independently considered when considering durable solutions, and arrangements made for unaccompanied children such as fostering, are often both unsuitable, dangerous and not monitored. The children of LGBTIQ communities are often excluded from services available to other children because of the marginalisation and shaming of their mothers. Older girl children are seldom consulted about programs designed to directly assist them, both because it is not culturally acceptable, and because they lack education.

Example pledge to effectively address the needs of children 0-12

Member states and other stakeholders could include all or some of the following Language in pledges to address the need of this group.

Member states Acknowledging the multiple and intersecting needs of children aged 0 – 12, we, x State will ensure that mechanisms are in place to guarantee that babies in refugee sites can be registered at birth, at no cost and included in their mother’s registration status. All steps will be taken to ensure that babies born in refugee sites are not subject to Statelessness.

Member states and other key stakeholders Recognising the complex nature of issues affecting the wellbeing of girl children, we commit to strengthening the protection of babies and girl refugees aged 0-12 by ensuring families, including single mothers will be provided with secure accommodation and safe access to food, water and non-food items. Additionally, we will ensure access to early childhood health care, including special services for children with a disability. Recognising the trauma experienced by issues including separation from and loss of parents and other family members, grief, and the impact of sexual abuse, and domestic violence, specialist mental health care will be available to this group. Childcare will be provided for children whose parents have to work and who do not have an extended family. In order to encourage education for girls, steps will be taken to ensure that schools are secure, free from SGBV and that children can travel safely within camps and refugee sites. Education is recognised as a major protection measure. Awareness-raising campaigns and family support will be undertaken to ensure that boys are not given precedence over girls when families do not have sufficient funds to send all children to school. Child labour will be strictly controlled, and actions are taken to prevent child trafficking and exploitation. Steps will be taken to ensure that children of LGBTI refugees and other marginalised groups are not excluded from services provided to other children. Steps will be taken to provide suitable foster placements for unaccompanied minors, and monitoring will be put in place to ensure that the children are not exploited.

Intersecting issues which must be addressed to provide comprehensive protection for girls 13 – 18

Many of the issues affecting this group are similar to those experienced by younger girls. However, there are significant differences. Refugee communities identified this group as at the highest risk of rape and sexual abuse, trafficking and exploitation. Once again, unsafe shelter and WASH facilities pose major problems. Girls who are known to be raped are shamed, and not considered marriageable, and therefore a burden on their families. Without education, they have little access to safe livelihoods. Early and forced marriage is common, both as a means of survival as families cannot afford to feed their children and is also seen as a means of protection from endemic SGBV. Girls in this age group who become pregnant either from rape or forced marriage have little access to sexual and reproductive health services. Many die because they are malnourished and not mature enough to bear a child. Lack of comprehensive gender-disaggregated data collection means that these issues are seldom identified and therefore not addressed. Even if allowed to attend primary school many girls aged 13-18 are not allowed to attend secondary school because of the increased danger of SGBV. Lack of access to sufficient sanitary material stops many girls from attending school once they commence menstruation.

Lack of education leads to a lack of access to opportunities and many girls are forced into exploitative unsafe labour and some have to sell sex to survive. A combination of early marriage and lack of education makes it difficult for many in this age group to participate in decision-making forums. It was reported that many of the older men who take a child-wife are abusive and frequently leave the girl with one or more babies to raise alone. This is a further shame factor. Girls with a disability across the spectrum from physical to intellectual are extremely vulnerable especially when they have been left home alone, without specialist services. Refugee communities reported endemic rape and sexual abuse of this group, leading to some parents locking their children indoors alone all day to try to protect them. There is also a shame factor associated with disability, and if a girl with a disability becomes pregnant from rape it is an enormous burden on the family already struggling to care for her. Adolescent lesbian, bisexual and transgender girls are marginalised, and targeted for rape, forced by families into marriage, and shamed in the community. This leads to exclusion from many services and opportunities for education, training and livelihoods. Despite these barriers, some girls, often from families who had the opportunity to be educated before becoming refugees, are supported to get an education and join youth groups, which, has been clearly seen and acknowledged in the COVID-19 Pandemic are extremely effective in reaching out to help support their communities.

Example pledge to effectively address the needs of children 13 – 18

Member states and other stakeholders could include all or some of the following Language in pledges to address the need of this group. Many of the recommendations for the 0-12 age groups are appropriate for this age group. Additionally:

We X state, X stakeholder commit to ensuring that adequate protection services are funded and implemented to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence for youth, in particular girls. These will include comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, counselling and psychosocial support, including for women and girls with a disability and members of the LBTI communities.

It will include measures to address the structural issues which inhibit girls from attending secondary school, including safety when travelling, ensuring that teaching staff are not abusive, and provision of adequate sanitary materials. Consultations will be held with families and communities to address forced marriage and the education of girls and measures put in place to address structural aspects of this problem. Training and effective, as opposed to tokenistic, livelihood opportunities, will be provided to girls who cannot attend school to foster self-reliance. Actions will be taken to address the trafficking and labour exploitation of this cohort. Safe recreational facilities will be provided in refugee sites. The needs and preferences of unaccompanied minors will be taken into consideration when considering durable solutions for this group. Strategies will be developed to encourage the maximum participation of girls in decision making, and support will be provided to strengthen the already functioning and successful groups run by and for these groups.

Intersecting issues which must be addressed to provide comprehensive protection for girls 19 – 24

This group of women fall into the category of “Youth” but that implies a homogenisation of experience for everyone in this age group.

Those lucky enough to have completed education, and to have lived with a loving and protective parent or family often have considerably more opportunities such as access to information, training, safe livelihoods and freedoms to travel within the refugee communities. This gives them more possibilities to form or join Youth groups and organisations and to participate in consultations and decision making.

Girls from extremely poor families, from abusive families and girls who have been denied education for whatever reason seldom experience what is conjured up by the term “youth”. As well as the generalised sexual abuse experienced by women and girls across the refugee sites, their lives are confined by forced or arranged marriage, childbirth and childcare, and high levels of family and domestic abuse. They have little access to training, safe livelihoods and are often forced into exploitative work as domestic servants or in factory work where they are abused by employers and often forced to exchange sex for their rations, or salaries. They struggle with inadequate shelter and lack sufficient food or access to sexual and reproductive health care. Counselling services are scarce and often of dubious quality. There is a paucity of safe houses for women fleeing violence across all age groups. Despite this, across refugee sites, young refugee women who face these abuses and barriers still rise to positions of leadership, providing support and encouragement to their peers.

Example pledge to effectively address the needs of women 19-24

Member states and other stakeholders could include all or some of the following language in pledges to address the need of this group. In addition to many of the provisions mentioned above.

We X state, X stakeholder commit to ensuring that the needs of all young women in this cohort are addressed. Those who have gained an education will be provided with opportunities for further study and supported to build their leadership skills and further develop their organisations. Women who were denied education will be offered adult education and training, both to increase pathways to safe livelihoods and self-sufficiency, and to support their leadership capacities. For both groups, this will include childcare, and the range of access to safe shelter, basic needs and comprehensive health care, sexual and reproductive health care and psychosocial support requires by all groups. SGBV prevention and response mechanisms will be prioritised in all refugee sites.

Intersecting issues which must be addressed to provide comprehensive protection for women 25 – 50

This group report a high incidence of family and domestic violence. There are reports of a high incidence of suicide in this age group. They are less likely to have received education than younger girls, they, therefore, have little access to safe employment. As with all groups of women, they lack access to safe shelter and basic needs and education. This group takes prime responsibility for the care of children, older relatives and people with a disability. If their husbands have been killed or are absent, they are effectively the head of the family. Many are traumatised because of the refugee experience and long exposure to conflict and endemic sexual abuse. Many have lost children in conflict or flight. Their husbands are often also traumatised and feel inadequate to care for their families. This leads to further violence.

While these things can impede their access to participate in meetings and decision making, they are also strong and resilient and are often first responders in times of crisis, and take a lead role in keeping communities functioning. Their lack of education excludes them from some durable solutions, and if they are married, most husbands make decisions on behalf of families. Many women still do not have individual registration and are totally dependent on their husbands. Women who were raped in conflict are sometimes forced to return to home countries where people in control, such as the police are often the men who have raped them. When returning, women find it difficult to retake land and property which belonged to their families prior to flight. Members of LGBTIQ communities are marginalised and excluded and many are forced to sell sex to survive. Women in this age group who have a disability struggle to find services or livelihoods, or even information about what is happening, such as in the COVID-19 pandemic, and often live excluded from community life.

Example pledge to effectively address the needs of women 25 – 50

Member states and other stakeholders could include all or some of the following Language in pledges to address the need of this group.

Acknowledging that this is one of the groups who because of their caring responsibilities, and historic lack of access to education have the least access to services that offer protection, we, X state, X stakeholder commit to the provision of pathways to adult learning, education and training that could lead to safe livelihoods and participation.�� Steps will be taken to make sure that the lived experience, skills and knowledge of this group is respected in the decision-making process. We will ensure safe shelter and access to all services and facilities is provided for single women and parents whatever the reason for their status.

SGBV services will be increased, and steps taken to ensure that this cohort of women has accessible information and support if needed. Women who have been forced to sell sex to cover basic needs and provide for their families will be offered services to build better futures. Married women will be provided with their own registration and access to food, cash when applicable, and non-food items. Age-specific medical treatment will be provided by female doctors, and psychosocial support services are available, with counsellors trained in suicide prevention.

Intersecting issues which must be addressed to provide comprehensive protection for older women

It was reported that older women still suffer from sexual abuse, when in the community or alone at home. They also witness family and gender-based violence and are the victims of elder abuse when there are not enough resources for the family. There is sometimes an unrealistic expectation that elderly women will care for grandchildren. They are often not able to collect their own food, water and fuel and are dependent on family or neighbours if they live alone. They do not receive age-specific sanitary materials such as incontinence pads, which erodes their dignity. The state of paths in camps and refugee sites often make it difficult or impossible for them to leave their homes. Many are not accorded the respect that they would have expected in their home country. Despite years of experience and informal knowledge, they are not consulted about family or community decisions, and are excluded from training, and information. They are seldom taken into account when durable solutions are considered and are actively excluded from most resettlement programs. They also have experienced conflict and often horrendous journeys in flight. Memories of past abuse stays with them and rates of depression are very high. Older women with disabilities are doubly disadvantaged. Older LBTI women have generally lived a life of marginalisation and shaming, and have few supports to call upon as they get older.

Example pledge to effectively address the needs of older women

Member states and other stakeholders could include all or some of the following Language in pledges to address the need of this group.

We X state, X stakeholder commit to ensuring that the needs of older women are addressed in the spectrum of protection service delivery. Steps will be taken to ensure that support is put in place so that they can access food, water and service and WASH facilities. Strategies will be identified to ensure that older women can access information about their situation, and information on elder abuse will be provided to all elderly persons, with a nominated person and place where they can access help. Community consultation and awareness sessions will be held to address the problem. Health services will have dedicated sessions on health issues affecting elderly women. Incontinence pads and other aids will be provided when necessary. Their opinions and experience will be sought in community consultations, and mechanisms put in place to ensure that they can attend all relevant meetings. The needs and wishes of the elderly family members will be taken into account when considering durable solutions.

Drafting AGD Sensitive Pledges to barriers to Jobs and Livelihoods

Issues and responses to include in new pledges:

• That all refugees be provided access to legal, safe and sustainable work opportunities.
• That the specific barriers and challenges faced by women and adolescent girls when seeking employment and livelihoods, in particular risks of SGBV, including forced marriage, and being forced to sell or exchange sex, be documented at a local level, and strategies put in place to address these.
• That livelihood projects targeting women and adolescent girls look beyond the traditional craft and dressmaking skills, and include skills audits, analysis of local markets, and feasibility studies.
• The future benefits to both refugee and host communities of programs which support self-sufficiency and sustainability should be core to program development and recognise and address the diversity of women and girls’ needs. Programs should offer opportunity to all women and girls ranging from those with high level tertiary skills to those who are preliterate. The additional barriers and discriminations frequently faced by women and girls with a disability, Indigenous and stateless women and by lesbian, bisexual and transgender women must also be addressed in all programs.

Examples of possible pledges:

A pledge inclusive of women and girls across all age and diversity groups:

• In partnership with the ILO and refugee women’s CBOs, we x NGOs commit to developing innovative livelihoods programs that provide inclusive and sustainable employment opportunities and pathways for all women and girls. Targeted support will be provided for women and girls with a disability and for women and girls survivors of SGBV and those who have missed educational opportunities due to early and forced marriage. This pledge will address …… Plus issues from above.

A pledge inclusive of all AGD groups:

• We x state commit to providing work rights to all refugee women and men and to developing labour legislation that respects and is inclusive of the rights of all members of refugee communities. This will include special provisions to support the development of disability-friendly workplaces and employment quotas for refugee women. This Pledge will address …… Plus issues from above.
  

Intersecting issues which must be addressed to provide comprehensive protection for Women and girls with a disability

Women and girls with a disability have long been overlooked in the provision of protection measures in camps and refugee sites. In recent times the very high levels of sexual and gender-based violence experienced by this group are finally being articulated. However, service providers striving to meet their needs continue to be seriously underfunded. The potential of many women and girls with a disability to contribute positively to their families and communities has not often been considered because of the huge barriers they face. In some communities, disability is seen as a shame, but measures to protect children with a disability from sexual predators, such as having to lock them in a shelter when parents are absent, is often misconstrued by NGOs.

There are very few specialist services, or equipment in many sites, and the state of roads and pathways make it difficult for people with a physical disability to move around. Services, including WASH are often not disability accessible. When considering durable solutions, having a disability or a child with a disability will often exclude people from resettlement or alternative solutions. Going back to countries of origin will often mean that people will be returned to places with even less access to services that are available in refugee sites. Girls and women with a disability who identify as LBTI are often prevented from finding a community with whom they can identify either deliberately by family, or because lack of mobility and access makes it impossible.

Example pledge to effectively address the needs of women and girls with a disability

Member states and other stakeholders could include all or some of the following Language in pledges to address the need of this group.

We X state, X stakeholder commit to ensuring that adequate services are funded and implemented to ensure full protection of women and girls with a disability. Shelter for people with a disability will be provided close to community facilities. WASH will be disability accessible, and pathways maintained to ensure women and girls with a disability can access all services, training and recreational facilities. Specialist services will be provided for a range of physical and developmental disability groups, and opportunities will be provided to ensure that their capacity for self-reliance is identified and developed. Disability-friendly livelihood spaces will be developed. Support will be made available to parents of children with a disability to ensure that they can provide an adequate quality of life for their children. Community consultations will be undertaken to raise awareness of the needs and capacities of these groups, and to address the notion of “shaming” particular emphasis will be placed on protecting women and children with a disability from sexual abuse.