Covid-19 has shaken our economies, politics, and societies, without distinction. However, some groups, such as refugee women and girls, have been more affected than others. At the end of November 2020, the United Nations (UN) agency dedicated to protecting refugees − the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) − warned about the risk of the second wave of Covid-19 driving further violence against women and girls. 

A WORSENING CRISIS

There is nothing new about violence against refugee women and girls. Long before the pandemic, women and girls were already suffering from physical abuse, trafficking, and psychological violence, among others, enabled by a culture of impunity due to a general lack of preventive and law enforcement measures specifically aimed at this vulnerable group. Countries with the highest rates of gender-based violence before were the ones hit by conflicts and disasters, ergo the ones with the highest number of refugees. 

The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the scourge of gender-based violence around the world. The confinement measures adopted in most countries since March 2020 and the socioeconomic conditions of most refugee women have contributed to the rise of all cases of gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence, sexual exploitation, and child marriages. The closure of international borders also contributed to displaced women being at a higher risk of human trafficking. In order to find safety, refugees often seek dangerous, inhumane, and expensive travel alternatives, mainly through smugglers. This intensifies the chances of being trafficked. For example, many Venezuelan refugee women have been trapped in sexual exploitation, with the neighbouring country of Colombia accounting for an increase of 20% in trafficking cases. 

The global pandemic has also affected the reporting of abuse all over the world. According to the humanitarian aid organisation, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), over 70% of displaced and refugee women reported a spike in domestic violence in Africa. However, in some cases, such as the case of the Rohingya women in a refugee camp in Bangladesh, reporting dropped by 50% since March. In a place where crimes were already under-reported, the restrictions on movement and lockdowns have further limited opportunities for women to seek necessary help and support. Many have no other choice but to stay at home with their abusers. 

MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE

Confronting violence against women has always been a challenge for the international community, and especially when addressing the rights of refugee women and girls. In April 2020, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, called for a ceasefire to focus on the fight of Covid-19 and the problems the pandemic caused, including the growing violence against women. Although many nations responded to the Secretary-General’s call for action, in reality, only 25 governments enforced measures to tackle gender-related violence and other gender-based efforts, with refugee-specific measures varying from country to country. 

The recent upsurge of violence against women, and the failed attempts to adequately address it, highlight the importance of implementing strategies where refugee women and girls are included and protected.  Governments, international organisations, and NGOs should cooperate in presenting effective and efficient response plans which account for the socioeconomic realities of refugee women and girls. These plans must include providing specific resources to respond to the different forms of gender-based violence, increasing funding for existing support and prevention programmes, and ensuring women have access to legal pathways to seek justice. 

Raquel holds a Bachelor´s in International Relations and is currently studying a Masters in Political Communication in Spain. She is a trained Climate Reality Leader and has experience working for human rights organizations. She is interested in political advocacy, environmental justice, women´s rights, and the promotion of international cooperation.

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