CAIMUN 2018 Canada International Model United NAtions UNHCR Backgrounder Topic B: Protection of Women s Rights within Refugee Camps
Introduction As Mother Teresa once said, Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being s entitlement by the virtue of his humanity. Despite human rights being universally recognized as important, few actions are being taken to protect the rights of women in zones of conflict. 1 Women and girls around the world require protection from armed conflict. As a particularly vulnerable group in society, women and girls often flee their homes as refugees - putting them in positions that are often equally dangerous. Although refugee camps are meant to be safe havens for fleeing people, many refugee camps have abhorrent issues within them. Notably, human trafficking is often very present within these camps. Recently, reports of human trafficking in refugee camps has increased significantly; human traffickers hide themselves within the camps to capture vulnerable women and girls. 2 Timeline July 30th 1980 Resolution to protect women and children in cases of domestic violence is passed at the Second World Conference of the United Nations Decade of Women. May 1985 A General Assembly Resolution on Domestic Violence (A/RES/30/36) is adopted. November 1994 The crime tribunal of Rwanda is established, and for the first-time, rape is categorized as genocide. The criminal tribunal also established a manual on prosecuting sexual violence within armed conflict. September 1994 The International Conference on Population and Development recognizes female genital mutilation and domestic violence as playing a significant role in reproductive health. October 2006 The UN Secretary General s in-depth study of forms of violence against women is released. July 2008 The UN Secretary General begins a global campaign to end violence against women, calling on governments, civil society, women s organizations, the private sector, the media and the entire UN organization to: 1) Adopt and enforce national laws to address and punish all forms of violence against women and girls; 2) Adopt and implement multi-sectoral national action plans; 3) Strengthen data collection on the prevalence of violence against women and girls; 4) Increase public awareness and social mobilization; and 5) Address sexual violence in conflict by 2015. 1 Research in Conflict Zones and Military Forensics. Human Rights History. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Ibid 1
March 2010 The Human Rights Council adopts Resolution 14/12 on accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women. December 2010 The Security Council adopts Resolution 1960, reaffirming commitments to addressing sexual violence in conflict. March 2013 Member states adopt the agreed-upon conclusion from the 57th Commission on the Status of Women, which calls for preservation and elimination of all forms of violence against women. Historical Analysis The impact of conflict-related violence towards refugees is arguably under-discussed. Refugees, uprooted from their homes, are rightly perceived as vulnerable people; this is especially applicable to refugees who are female. 3 In the worst instances, these perpetrators may even be from the victim s own family. Similar to many forms of torture, sexual violence aims to hurt, control, and humiliate. The physical, psychological and social difficulties faced exclusively by refugee woman only amplify the already difficult situations of refugees. 4 Significant Historical Events It is estimated that between 100,000 and 250,000 women were raped during the three months of the Rwandan Genocide; approximately 60,000 women were raped during the civil war of Sierra Leone, 40,000 in Liberia from 1989 to 2003, 60,000 in the former Yugoslavia from 1992 to 1995, and 200,000 in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1998. 5 For centuries, the sexual abuse of women was considered an accepted practice during war. Armies of both sides in World War II were accused of mass rape; however, the Allied court of war crimes did not prosecute against sexual violence. Widespread instances of sexual assault occurring in the former Yugoslavia finally brought gender-based violence to the UN Security Council s agenda in 1992, through which the massive, organized and systematic detention and rape of women, in particular Muslim women, in Bosnia and Herzegovina 6 became an international crime. Current Situation With recent tensions growing within war-torn countries such as Syria, Iraq, and Somalia, many communities find their safety at risk in situations of armed conflict. Reports show that 90% of those killed in today s conflicts are civilians, the majority of which are women and children. Women are disproportionately affected by the consequences of displacement. Women find 3 Jazeera, Al. RRDP: Women Fear Violence and Rape in Refugee Camps. News Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera, 24 Jan. 2017. Web. 4 Ibid 5 Ibid 6 Tomlinson, Simon. From One War Zone to Another: Thousands of Desperate Yazidis Now Make Brutal Trek in 45 C Heat to Syria in Bid to Escape ISIS. Daily Mail 2
themselves more vulnerable to physical and psychological violence, and are further exposed to dangers of trafficking, torture, and slavery. In many refugee camps, women are viewed as inferior and less productive than men. As a result, women often become dependent on others for food or assistance because work is not available to them. In some recorded instances, exploitative people living within refugee camps demand sexual favors in exchange for access to resources. It is not uncommon to hear of women in refugee camps turning to prostitution for food, water, and shelter. Believe it or not, this is a practice that is encouraged by humanitarian workers and government officials. Often, officials and humanitarian workers take advantage of their positions in society; they demand that refugees grant them sexual access in exchange for provisions or aid. 7 Despite these act of sexual assault, it is extremely difficult for women to truly report any abusers. Generally, there is a lack of documentation and evidence to support the claims of victimized woman, as a result, many instances have gone unnoticed. 8 But beyond the personal pain that is felt from assault, many of these women are further battered through intense scrutiny by their society. In many cultures, women are defined by their sexuality and virginity. When a woman has been raped, this often makes women seem tainted as they are no longer pure. It is not uncommon for a women who is raped to be isolated and/or punished by her family. This is why many women who are assaulted within refugee camps never speak out about their physical and emotional trauma; they do not want to acknowledge the events that have happened to them for fear of being disenfranchised. This is especially problematic because these women are unlikely to ever seek medical attention or help. 9 Beyond this, there is a lack of accountability and monitoring mechanisms to follow-up even in instances when violations in refugee camps occur. The inadequate availability of information and limited capacity to collect data and information remains a challenge. 10 Without such data, the analysis of security situations, including violations of women s human rights, have no choice but to be considered incomplete. Another issue specifically facing women in refugee camps is child marriages. Child marriage is refers to a marriage where one (or both) individual is under the age of 18. In some countries, it is not uncommon for girls as young as 7 or 8 to marry much older men. Parents marry of their daughters for many reasons. In some instances, they wish to increase their economic opportunities. In others, they wish to climb up the social ladder by marrying someone who is of higher rank. Regardless of any possible benefits from child marriage, child marriages unjustifiably expose girls to cultures of dominance and violence, while perpetuating a cycle of poverty and gender inequality. Even when individuals are not pressured into child marriage, forced and arranged marriages remain popular. However, similarly to child marriages, these marriages are controversial. This is the case because women are given little to no information about their future spouse; this creates awkward and entitled interactions between the tradition husband and wife. Within 7 Ibid 8 Ibid 9 SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD DURING DAY-LONG DEBATE ON WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. United Nations. United Nations, n.d. Web. 10 UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL. OHCHR Current Membership of the HRC. N.p., n.d. Web. 3
these marriages, it s not uncommon for a young teenager to marry someone significantly older. Although this is not specifically pertinent to refugee camps, it is a growing issue within them, since early marriage is robbing the opportunity for many of these women to have a future. Corruption also runs rampant, as police officers are often paid off not to investigate certain cases, and sometimes may even be involved in acts of sexual exploitation. 11 As such, perpetrators are able to take advantage of the position of these displaced peoples. Furthermore, refugees affected by the trauma of war may end up becoming perpetrators of sexual violence. Society s attitudes of women are the underlying factor of this problem, as in many cases, women are perceived as an accepted byproduct of war. UN/International Involvement In 2000, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security. 12 This resolution acknowledges that war affects women differently and stresses the need to increase women s role in decision-making related to conflict prevention and resolution. In 2013, more than half of all peace agreements signed included references to women, peace, and security. Other than resolution 1325, the Security Council has also passed many resolutions that have aims to protect women in war zones. An example of one of these resolutions is resolution 1820; this resolution called for an end to acts of sexual violence against women and girls as a tactic of war. The United Nations Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict (UN Action), established in 2007, united 13 different UN entities. UN Action aims to reduce sexual violence in war zones. UN Action has been hugely successful; it has documented the best peacekeeping practices in conflictrelated sexual violence. From initiating firewood patrols in Darfur to establishing market escorts, night patrols and early-warning systems in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UN Action has archived direct and indirect efforts success in combating sexual violence. In 2008, then-secretary-general Ban Ki-moon launched UNiTE to End Violence Against Women. This campaign strived to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls in all parts of the world. Bringing together many UN agencies with civil societies and governments, the campaign focuses on ending violence against women in all forms. This led to the creation of Orange Day ; celebrated on the 25th of every month, this day is for raising awareness and taking action to end violence against women and girls. During the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in 2015, the topic of terror attacks on women in war zones was discussed, where many delegations called upon the international community to take a firm stance on related issues, including the situation of displaced populations and targeted attacks. 11 Research in Conflict Zones and Military Forensics. Human Rights History. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Amnesty International. Female Refugees Face Physical Assault, Exploitation and Sexual Harassment on Their Journey through Europe. N.p., n.d. Web. 4
Potential Solutions There are many factors to consider when addressing how to improve the livelihoods of women in refugee camps. It is essential to note that there are many other potential solutions not listed below. Delegates should be careful to balance the many viewpoints. Education The image above depicts the crisis in Mozambique and how inequality is thriving within the nation. Arguably, women s access to education should be of utmost priority. It is the essential first step towards female empowerment. With female empowerment, such movement helps brings the international community one step closer to creating equality between males and females. Even in refugee camps, its integral that women and girls have access to basic education. This education can include classes that teach women basic arithmetic and literacy. However, education can extend beyond conventional classroom subjects. In an ideal world, education on sexual violence, gender discrimination, and human rights have the potential to empower women - by allowing them to make more informed choices for themselves. Peacekeepers As it stands, there is a shortage and lack of female peacekeepers. For many nations, it is deemed unacceptable for women to associate with male peacekeepers, therefore, male peacekeepers are unable to assist the females. Hence, there is a need for more female peacekeepers. However, in nations where females are seen as inferior to males, it is certainly worth the discussion as to how these female peacekeepers will be treated. Health Care Programs Another solution could be the establishment of more health care centres. But most importantly, those that are established, need to be set up in ways that are accessible and affordable. Currently, many women do not want to reach out for help. With the social stigma surrounding rape in certain 5
nations, many victims may believe that the abuse done to them is punishment from a higher authority for sins they have committed. Thus, healthcare systems need to establish themselves in ways that are informative and specifically catered towards the needs of these women - who have gone through uniquely traumatizing experiences. Bloc Positions Women s rights within refugee camps are in a dire situation. Ideologies and solutions will differ from country to country, depending on varying cultural, social, and economic contexts. North America and Europe Countries from this bloc support the rights for women in refugee camps. Although sexism is certainly present in these nations as well, the extent of gender discrimination is comparatively less in these nations (compared to other nations in Latin America and Africa.) Countries in this bloc will generally support protecting women in war zones. For more costly solutions, the support of these countries will be necessary for funding and supplying resources. South America In South America, widespread gender-based violence is an issue that threatens women and girls. Although violence is notoriously under-reported (due to a lurking fear of further violence and retribution) it is clear that gender based violence exists within nations on this continent. These nations take gender violence very seriously and generally make this a priority. Central and South Africa Gender rights are a major issue within these nations. With human rights violations, especially domestic violence issues, running rampant in many of these nations, it is essential for these nations to bring their internal problems to the committee to share how their nations are progressively handling them. As many of these countries are battling the cycle of poverty, they would not likely be able to contribute mass amounts of resources to other nations in need. The Middle East and North Africa Countries that reside within this region hold the highest amount of refugees. As many human rights violations are transpiring within these camps, it is of utmost importance that these nations seek to resolve differences while holding their nations stance. Many of these nations do not prioritize the rights of women about the right to religion. Asia This group of nations has developed a fondness for traditional value systems. Although they would like to see women s rights improve, the cost of doing so, including task and allocation of resources, would be a major issue. It is essential for these nations to make a valid attempt to solve the issue; however, many of these nations do not see men as equals to women, even though some men are pushing to see right improve which may be a deterrent for their support. 6
Discussion Questions 1. How can females be best educated on their rights? 2. How can women be incentivised to take part in health care systems when there is a culture of shame that often stops them from ever visiting? 3. What conflicts do women have to face in order to get to a refugee camp? 4. What kinds of steps can be taken to ensure the decreasing trend of maternal mortality rates within camps? Bibliography Amnesty International. Female Refugees Face Physical Assault, Exploitation and Sexual Harassment on Their Journey through Europe. N.p., n.d. Web. Dettmer, Jamie. It s About Time: United Nations Plans Refugee Camps for Syrians in Lebanon. The Daily Beast. The Daily Beast Company, 12 June 2013. Web. Jazeera, Al. RRDP: Women Fear Violence and Rape in Refugee Camps. News Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera, 24 Jan. 2017. Web. Kiln.it. Women s Rights Country by Country - Interactive. The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, n.d. Web. N.p., n.d. Web. Research in Conflict Zones and Military Forensics. Human Rights History. N.p., n.d. Web. Research in Conflict Zones and Military Forensics. Human Rights History. N.p., n.d. Web. Syria. Human Rights Watch. N.p., 27 Jan. 2016. Web. Tomlinson, Simon. From One War Zone to Another: Thousands of Desperate Yazidis Now Make Brutal Trek in 45 C Heat to Syria in Bid to Escape ISIS. Daily Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 12 Aug. 2014. Web. Townsend, Mark. Women and Children endure Rape, Beatings and Abuse inside Dunkirk Refugee Camp. The Observer. Guardian News and Media, 11 Feb. 2017. Web. UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL. OHCHR Current Membership of the HRC. N.p., n.d. Web. U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, n.d. Web. WOMEN SUFFER DISPROPORTIONATELY DURING AND AFTER WAR, SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD DURING DAY-LONG DEBATE ON WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. United Nations. United Nations, n.d. Web. 7
WOMEN SUFFER DISPROPORTIONATELY DURING AND AFTER WAR, SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD DURING DAY-LONG DEBATE ON WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. United Nations. United Nations, n.d. Web. 8