Refugee Women
" we have been uprooted from our homes and forced into exile. We are not just passive recipients of assistance. We are women with resources, women of strength, women of courage, who will use every opportunity to rebuilt not only our lives but also to transform our societies.
Dimza Pityana (Refugee Magazine 1989:29)
The number of refugees throughout the world is raising inexorably, twenty years ago, the refugee population stood at just under 2.5 million. By 1980 at had risen to 8.2 million, now, the number of refugee failing under within United Nation Hight Commission of Refugee's responsibility is approaching 18.5 Million.(Crisp 1990:5) And even this figure doest not include over the two million palestinians who are assisted by the United Nations Relief and Work Agency. According to the UNHCR annual report (1993) more than 85 per cent of the estimated 18.5 million world refugee, are women and children. Unlike refugee men, refugee women are vulnerable at every stage when they fleeing from civil war and other related disasters.The unique sufferings encountered by refugee women during flight, and difficulties they face in the refugees camps have not been adequately addressed.(Stein 1986:268)
Although refugee women face difficulties while fleeing from disaster effected areas, and while waiting for international help in the refugee camps, they also suffer equal or sometimes more physical and emotional abuse when they are repatriated. Going home after many years in exile is always an emotional experience for refugee women, but it also come with uncertain future. Many refugee women who lost their husbands in the civil war return to their country, those women become a subject of intimidation and abuse since there are no family member to protect them. A 40 years old of Mozambique women, Dona Christian, express how she feels repatriation, as she crying she said " I'm crying because I'm afraid. Before I left Mozambique, soldiers forced me to work for them, carrying their supplies. What awaits me? I don't know!(Nkolo 1993:35)
In the last decade there has been a growing body of literature on refugee covering diverse topics as the major causes of refugees(Zolberg, et al. 1989) Refugee Women (Susan, 1990) refugee settlement and assistance (Rogge, 1987) and others. However, the problem of repatriated refugee women has been relatively neglected. In this paper attempt will be made to discuss the impact of the UNHCR repatriation policy on refugee women. Paper examines wether current repatriation policy of the UNHCR addresses the basic needs of the refugees women. Two countries, Somalia and Myanmar will use an example to illustrate the problems that faces refugee women when they are repatriated.
Throughout the history, women have not been treated as social group. Early Sociologist argued that women could not form the type of group consciousness and distinct value, life styles and self perception that the characteristic of social group (Hazou 1990:5) It has also being argued that women have no strong perception of sharing a common fate as a social group. As a result of lack of distinctiveness as a social groups, women tend to receive limited categorical treatment from the society and the laws reflecting that society. Since refugee women cannot develop group consciousness, they become vulnerable to hardships in various refugee situations.
In 1988 international consultation of refugee women, held in Geneva under auspicious of various non-governmental organizations was discussed the multitude problems that facing refugee women around the world. The conference which was attended 150 participants from 40 countries, representing 100 organizations was intended to analyze the issues effecting refugee women and the developed a concrete strategy to address those issues.(Ferris 1989:29) The issue concerning on refugee women have attracted little attention over years, It often neglected by the international organizations, however, this conference have open a new page the ways in which refugee women's issue are addressed. After reviewing the issue raised in the conference, the deputy UN Hight Commissioner of Refugee declared that the UNHCR will make an effort to address the unique needs of the refugee women. Addressing the conference he said " UNHCR recognizes that refugee women's issue are important and we are committed to ensuring that the needs of refugee women are met." He continue to say " our task now is to make sure that women's issue become an irreversible part of our work."(Ferris 1989:31)
Despite of UNHCR claims that the issue of refugee women have being adequately addressed, it has not developed a cancerate programs that addresses the unique needs of refugee women. Thus the repatriated refugee women tend to have experienced sexual and physical abuse. The refugee women who decided to return to their homeland without adequate social and economic support often become a victim of abuse and discrimination.
Every year millions of people have been forced to abandon their families and friends to flee to other countries in search of protection, while million of others displaced either internally within their own countries or externally in other states where they live as refugee.(Crisp 1989:8) In responding to the refugee problems, the United Nations General Assembly, on Dec 11, 1948 adapted resolution 194(1) which among other things resolved that " the refugee wishing to return to their homes and live at the peace with neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for the lost or damage to property".(Baraket 1973:147)
In its effort to find lasting solution to the refugee problems, UNHCR has developed a system known durable solution. Refugees can benefit from three different durable solutions; voluntary repatriation, resettlement in third country and local integration programs.(Stein 1986:264) The most satisfactory long term solution to the problems of a refugee population is voluntary repatriation. Refugee can choose the solution of voluntary repatriation when there have been fundamental changes in their country of origin, and they feel that it is a save for them to go back there" The United Nations High Commission for Refugees tried to encourage this wherever possible, and use its influences to look refugee and the governments concerned to secure an amnesty and granted of save passage for the returnees. (Kibreab 1983:63)
Although everyone supports the idea of voluntary repatriation, best preferred most desirable solution, there is no agreement on the means of achieving. In many instances, voluntary repatriation took place without considering the condition of the country in which people decided to go back.(Basok 1990:283) In other words, refugee women were sent back without investigating wether changes took place in the political regime that originally caused their departure.
In her article entitled " Repatriation of Nicaraguan refugees form Honduras and Cost Rica " Tanya Basok has pointed out three critical factors that can explain why and when repatriation occurs The first refers to autonomy, refugee whose live are controlled by the camp administration (as happens in the most refugee camps) are more likely to ask repatriation, they do so "if only it offer them the autonomy" that they don't have in the camps. Secondly the level of cohesion among refugees also play a role in repatriation decision, the more refugees organize, the more likely they take a collective decision to go back home. In many camps refugees, particularly refugee women are being abuse by the local security and bandits, this would forced the refugee women collectively to ask repatriation. Thirdly, the level of support and protection refugee expect upon their return may also influences their decision to go back.
Voluntary repatriation is the preferred solution to the problems of refugee since it achieve the ultimate goal of international protection, namely re-establishing of refugees in a community in this case their names. However, not only the donors countries (mainly Western governments) consider voluntary repatriation as a best solution to the refugee problems, but also hosting countries. Most of the refugee are not allow to become permanent settlement in the host country, besides political and cultural factors leading to a decision against permanent acceptance of a refugee groups. Low income host countries may be hesitant about allowing refugee remain due to " a concern that sufficient jobs or arable land are not available even for their own people" (Stein 1986:280) The permanent refugees in the host countries can have a severe impact on the host country's economy at large, as well as the local population in the effected region. The influx refugee also effect country's developmental programs, Refugee population require international as well as local assistance for their accommodations. Thus the host country would be forced to diverted some of its developmental budget for refugee accommodation." Not only refugee effects the developmental sector of the host countries, but it also damage the environment. Massive influx could cause environmental degradation.
BURMESE REPATRIATED REFUGEE WOMEN
Although UNHCR principal of repatriation calls that "refugees have a right to be protected in a manner that they can effectively exercise their rights to return voluntarily to their country."(Jambor 19990:8) The UNHCR staff paid little attention to the security of the repatriated refugee women once they leave from the refugee camps. The UNHCR principal also indicated that at the time of the refugee return to their origin country there should be an adequate grantees of non-discrimination and full respect for their human rights under the same conditions to those of their compatriots, The repatriated refugees often do not receive those rights when they return to their countries. The Burmese refugee women is good example, refugees (mainly women) were encouraged for voluntary repatriation, when the refugees returned to Myanmar, they faced persecution and abuse. Nearly quarter million of burmese refugees have suffer at the hands of the military regime.(Petrasek 1993:38)
During between 1991-1992, more than 270,000 Myanmar Moslems, called Rohingyas, have south temporary refuge in Bangladesh.(Helton 1992:38) Of 80 percent of those were women. refugees fled from Rakhine State in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar (Burma) to escape the brutal excesses of the military government.(Petrasek 1993:12) Hundreds were killed, homes and mosques were destroyed and women were dragged off to army camps and raped. In spite of warning by the Amnesty international and other human rights groups, UNHCR have organized a repatriation programs in which thousands of people were repatriated without adequate assistance upon their arrival.
Myanmar and Bangladesh have signed an agreement for the repartition of the refugees, but it contains inadequate safeguards to ensure that repatriation is voluntary and there no evidence that human rights situation in myanmar has improved. According to United nations survey, The refugee women reported virtual campaign of violence by the military. "Gang rape, forced labour, violence, killing and religious persecution." The report also revealed that refugee women have particularly rape and physically abused. at least one women or girl in about half of the 170 families interviewed had been raped, an almost all families could identify specific women who had been raped.(Helton 1992:40) The report also indicated that on average, a victim was raped on three occasions by 10 different men; at least one women reported being raped by as many as 80 assailants. One repatriated women recounts her ordeal...
[Refugee June 1992:41]
The UNHCR whose mandate is to protect the refugees, and provide adequate safeguards during the repatriation and after repatriation has failed to address the security needs of the repatriated refugee women. In a letter sent in August 1992 to more than 20 governments world wide, Amnesty International argued that it would not be safe to repatriate the refugees unless the United Nations Hight Commissioner for Refugees monitors both the repatriation process and the refugees situation after their return to Myanmar. The presence of the UNHCR in Myanmar can ensure that the refugee women would not be abused by the military. As one refugee women suggested, without international presence, the military regime cannot be trusted. As she expressing her fear of being repatriated she said " ..... since we heard the news of this agreement to take us back to Myanmar, people have begun worrying. They can shoot us but we cannot go back to Myanmar. There is a no justice there. If the country is peaceful, and if UNHCR is allowed to operate in Myanmar, then I will go back" [Refugee June 1992:41)
Although the UNHCR claimed that they pay attention to the needs of the repatriated refugees, it has fail to meet the unique needs of returning refugee women who are high risk group within an already vulnerable population. According to United Nations principal of repatriation, the physical integrity of all females must be safeguarded as well as their rights of equal treatment.(Williams 1990:32) In spite of UNHCR intimate knowledge of the special needs of the repatriated refugee women, the needs of the repatriated women has often neglected by the UNHCR officers in the fields and those policy makers.
The UNHCR has been agonizing voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees from refugee Camps in Kenya. For the last three years UNHCR has set up voluntary repatriation program named Cross border assistance in which Somali refugees are supposedly assisted if they decided to return to Somalia. Although United Nations repatriation principal calls that repatriation should be prompted only it can be accomplished in a manner that ensures safety and dignity upon return, refugees were encourage to cross the border without UNHCR representative inside Somalia to ensure the safety of the returnees. As the UNHCR repot (1993) indicated that majority of the population in refugee camps are women who require protection inside of the camps as well as outside the refugee camps. Yet the UNHCR have not consider the safety and the security of the repatriated refugee women.
Somali refugee women who choose to repatriate are vulnerable to danger when they returns to their homeland, because they have no recourse to protection and assistance which humanitarian agencies can offer to normal returners. In most places in which refugees choose to return, there is no UNHCR representative to welcome, they rather rely on local people or government representative who in the first place responsible for their departure. Nkola Jean Victor of refugee Maganie discussing the problems that faces when the refugees return to their homelands, point out....
In 1993 more than 380.00 Somali refugees lived in the refugee camps in Kenya, of 85% percent of those refugee are women. The large number of refugee women in camps have been raped by bandits and sometimes security forces. In report publish by the UNHCR revealed that large number of the refugee women are victim of rape and physical assault. Majority of women " have been raped by the bandits and security forces while collecting firewood. Report publish, 1993 by the London-based Africa Rights groups revealed the condition of the women in the refugee camps. The report said: " There is an epidemic of rape in the refugee camps. In the five nights spent by (group co-ordinator) Alex de Waal in the three camps, 22 women reported having raped. Most were gang rapes and often the women were severely beaten.(Esipsu 1993)
As a result of consistent fear of rape and physical assault and social condition in the camps, many women have asked voluntary repatriation.Yvette Pierpaoli of Refugee International who visit one of those refugees camps wrote...
[Pierpaoli 1992:11]
In 1993 more than 30.000 Somali refugee, mainly women, have been voluntary repatriated. This number corresponding to an average of 118 refugee returning home per day. The UNHCR has organized repatriation conveys to most areas in Somali with the exception of Mogadishu. (Somalia capital) large number of those people have decided to return to Southern port of Kismayu. Three months food supply is given to all refugees upon departure from Kenya. In addition' returners benefit through the community based UNHCR cross border assistance in Somalia.
Although UNHCR policy of repatriation clear stated that repatriation should not be promoted unless all countries involved in the repatriation effort ensure " protection at and respect for basic human rights of the refugee." (Helton 1992:40) The UNHCR successfully repatriated refugee women to Somalia where there is no functioning government and anarchy roles. According to the Associated Press, in the late 1993, upon their arrival, large number of refugee (mainly women) find themselves in a cross fire in which two clans were fighting over the port of Kismayo. Some the returnees have been rapped and murdered by bandits and guerillas, while other were killed in the fighting. Since there were no UN representative in the region, no one knows how many women and children have being killed in that particular war.
However, the other refugees who decided to go back to the rural areas have become subject of discrimination, particularly those who come with children conceived as a result of rape. They were given no " family support and are forced into a life of isolation with a baby that reminds them of the rape they went through" On the other hand, many women whose husbands die during the war have become more vulnerable than those with their husbands. Some of the widows continues to be a victims of sexual abuse, the same problems that forced them to leave the refugee camps administered by the UNHCR in Kenya.
In summary, The problems that face repatriate refugee women has attracted little attention from the scholars of the refugee studies as well as the refugee policy makers. The unique sufferings encountered by refugee women during flight and difficulties they face in the camps require great deal of attention from international community. The United Nations High Commission of refugee should be involved in a meaningful way from the inception of the repatriation plan an its conclusion. It must be able to ensure the safety and security of the refugee women upon their return.
It is also important that UNHCR developed a particular programs that deals the unique needs of refugee women. The Non-governmental organizations should also be included the decision regarding repatriation of refugee women. As we have discussed above some of the repatriation decision of the refugee women are prompted more by the oppressive conditions in the camps than any genuine desire to repatriate, the UNHCR should study the reasons that contributed to the decision of voluntary repatriation, so that the tragedy of Somali and Myanmar would not be repeated again. The success of a voluntary repatriation programme will very often depend upon adequate assistance being made available to the returnees.
Basok, Tanya 1990 "Repatriation of Nicaraguan refugees From
Honduras and Costa Rica" Journal of refugees Studies. Vol 3. No 4.
Baraket, Halim 1973 "The Palestinian refugees an Uprooted Community Seeking Repatriation". International Migration review7, 2.
Crisp, Jeff 1990 "Cause and Effect"Refugee Magazine March (73)
Esipisu Manoah 1993 Kenya Tolerates Rape of Somalia REUTER report. Sept 27.
Elizabeth, Ferris 1989 "Women of Courage "Refugee Magazine January
Hazou Winnie 1990 The Social and Legal Status of women:A Global Prospective. (News York : Praeger)
Helton, Arthur 1992 "Repatriation or Refoulement "Refugee Magazine July (90)
Jambor, Pierre 1990 " Breaking a Vicious Circle"Refugee Magazine February (72)
Kibreab, Gaim 1983 Reflection on the African Refugee Problems: A critical analysis of some basic assumptions. (Uppsala, Sweden : Motala Grafiska AB)
Larkin, Marry 1991. Repatriation Under Conflict in Central America (Dallas : intertect Institute)
Nkolo, Jean-Victor 1993. "Journey's end "Refugee Magazine. December (94)
Petrasek, David 1993 "Amnesty International: Monitoring human rights around the world"Refugee Magazine April (92)
Williams, Tessa 1990 "Refugee Make Choice "Refugee Magazine June 1990.
Yvette, Pierpaoli 1992 "Kenya: Hunger everywhere "Refugee Magazine July (90)
UNHCR Information Bulletin 1993 Somalia: Cross-border
Refugee Women Victims of Violence: A special project by UNHCR
October 1993.
Dizma Pityana, was one of the participants of the International consultation on refugee women which was held in Geneva from 15-19 November 1988. This quote was coped from an article appeared on the Refugee Magazine, On January 1989.
" UNHCR Information Bulletin October 1993.
" In October 1993, the first group of Mozambique were repatriated from Swaziland. Since October 1992, when the peace treaty putting an end to 16 years of civil war in Mozambique was singed in Rome, almost 350,00 refugee have returned to Mozambique. 80% percent of those returnees were women and children. Refugee, December 1993.
In 1990 The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has proclaimed that 1992 was to be the year of Voluntary repatriation.
For example, in 1993 large number of Somali refugee women have decided to return Somalia knowing they may face persecution, in part because the condition of the camp forced them to ask voluntary repatriation.
Refugees in Central America often choose to return to their homeland even when the political, economic, and social forces that uprooted them have not yet disappeared.