The Protection of Rights of Refugees in Protracted Situations in Ethiopia: The Case of Women/Girls Refugees in Kebribeyah Camp of Ethiopia
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Date
2011-04
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Addis Ababa
Abstract
The unjilrling display of mass flow of reji/gees from the neighbouring countries including Somalia
desperately requiring protection has been met with all equally legitimate concern of states to tender to
the socio - economic and security concern of the public. The international legal frame work has thus
recognized for the protection of refugees by also allowing states to make reservation in accordance
with their interest on those rights under the convention, where in Ethiopia the reji/gee proclamation
provides for the protection of their rights with the exception on those regardingfreedom of movement,
right to work and self-reliance, and the right to education. In this study, the Kebribeyah camp found
in the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia consists of refugees, where the restriction of such rights have
created a negative impact on the physical, social and economic condition on those living in
protracted situations and particularly on women and girls who are vulnerable groups consisting of
the majority of reji/gees in the camp and who are also bearing the social responsibility to tender to
the day to day living needs of their families, to be victims of various violations.There fore it was crucial to examine, assess and evaluate the positive and negative effects of the
situations of refugees particularly on those women / girls living in protracted situations it the camp,
the nexus between such effects and the policy options, take lessons to similar reji/gee settlements with
the ultimate goal of studying the possible means of enhancing the protection scheme in upholding the
rights of such refugees by reconciling their interests with that of the locals
In order to achieve the objectives, both primary and secondary sources were used Primary sources
include primary international and national legal legislations as well as policy documents. Others
include data obtained from formal and informal survey procedure which includes interview, focus
group discussions, open ended questionnaires etc. Secondary source of the research include literature
review of writings of prominent scholars and data collected from secondary sources.
The lack of in concordance between the current realities of the situation of refugees in protracted
situations and the legal framework both at the international and national level has led slIch reji/gees
particularly that of women to live in situations detrimental to their physical ,social and economic
well being. The findings of the research show that despite the fact that some positive results have been
obtained in providing basic assistance and protection to reji/gees in the areas offood, education and
health services, many of those women and girls have been victimized by the reji/gees them selves andthe locals resulting in the various violations of their moral ,physical and social well being and other
fundamental rights because of their low living standards caused by the cumulative effects of
restrictions on their rights particularly freedom of movement, education, right to self - reliance and
work opportunities. Some of the challenges faced those women / girls refugees include Poverty, Rape,
Domestic violence, SGBV, caused by the refugees who are in distress and also those populations that
prey on their vulnerabihty due to the absence adequate legal protection, variousĀ· violations of their
rights in irregular secondary movements, the limitations in the access to courts and also the negative
impacts in the maintenance of effective education for such reji/gees. This has thus necessitated the
adoption of a more comprehensive legal frame work both at the national and international level that
is directed in the protection of the rights of refugees in protracted situations in the camp as suggested
by this research. The limitations or restrictions should be made to exclude rejilgees living in
protracted reji/gees for more than fived years. Such actions should also be met with a synergetic
framework at the international and national level where the assistance provided to reji/gees by the
international community goes beyond providing basic assistance and goes towards providing
development assistance, legal migration opportunities to reji/gees to third countries. The development
assistance provided to reji/gees should also be made to include the local populations in kind of
providing training, market opportunities tv local products and those activities that are within the
limits and prospects of the country 's programs which will have a tremendous impact in the eventual
removal of legitima:e concern of the state towards refugees regarding their negative. impact in the
socio- economic life of the public. The time legal period of five years also provides for the protection
of refi/gees in protracted situations while at the same time allowing the state to have the appropriate
time and spae in removing threats to national security and order.