Women and Girls in Complex Emergencies
Gaps in Research
- 1.
- Prevention, treatment and services are needed for refugees – including young people, particularly at the end of an armed conflict.
- 2.
- Interventions are needed to increase the income-generating capacity of female refugees in order to counteract the need for survival and/or transactional sex.
- 3.
- Interventions combating rape and sexual violence are urgently needed in refugee, IDP and conflict settings.
1. Prevention, treatment and services are needed for refugees – including young people, particularly at the end of an armed conflict. Studies found low levels of HIV knowledge and condom use among IDPs. End of war may increase HIV transmission.
Gap noted, for example, in Ecuador and Colombia (Guayasamin and Quizhpe, 2008); Sri Lanka (Mohamed, 2008); Angola (Strand et al., 2007).
Guayasamin, S. and E. Quizpe. 2008. “Sexual and Reproductive Health and Vulnerability to HIV Survey among Youth of Host and Displaced Populations Living in Sucumbios Province, Northern Ecuador.” Abstract MOPE0402. XVII International AIDS Conference. Mexico City, Mexico. August 3-8.
2. Interventions are needed to increase the income-generating capacity of female refugees in order to counteract the need for survival and/or transactional sex. Studies found that women would exchange sex for food and fuel.
Gap noted, for example, generally (Hankins et al., 2002, Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children, 2002: 21) and in Liberia (Abdullai et al., 2002 cited in Lawday, 2002: 10) and Sudan (WHO, 1999 cited in Lawday, 2002: 11).
Hankins, C., S. Friedman, T. Zafar and S. Strathdee. 2002. “Transmission and Prevention of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections in War Settings: Implications for Current and Future Armed Conflicts.” AIDS 16 (17): 2245-2252.
3. Interventions combating rape and sexual violence are urgently needed in refugee, IDP and conflict settings. Studies found that women in IDPs suffer from high rates of violence and are at high risk of acquiring HIV.
Gap noted, for example, Democratic Republic of Congo (Kim et al., 2009b, United States Institute for Peace, 2001 cited in Lawday, 2002: 11); Uganda (Anderson et al., 2004); Rwanda (Mujawayo and Blewitt, 1999 cited in Lawday, 2002: 5, RHR Consortium, ND); Tanzania (RHR Consortium, ND).
Kim, A., F. Malele, R. Kaiser, N. Mama, T. Kinkela, J. Manstumba, M. Hynes, S. De Jesus, G. Musema, P. Kayember, K. Reed and T. Diaz. 2009b. “HIV Infection among Internally Displaced Women and Women Residing in River Populations along the Congo River, Democratic Republic of Congo.” AIDS Behavior13(5) 914-20.