Gender-based Violence against Female Refugees in Eritrean Refugee Camps: In Case of Mai Ayni Refugee Camp, Northern Ethiopia.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2013-02
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
A.A.U
Abstract
Gender-based violence prevents female‟s enjoyment of fundamental human rights and it is also
central social, economic and health problem. Similarly, gender-based violence is viewed as a
significant problem in refugee camps throughout the world. However, in Ethiopia studies on
gender based violence against female refugees are limited. Most researches in this area were
conducted in line with other problems of refugees. Yet, in order to assess comprehensively it
needs specific study. Thus, the main objective of the study was to examine the prevalence, cause
and consequences of gender based violence against female refugees in Mai Ayni refugee camp.
In order to achieve these objectives, qualitative methods of data collection have been employed.
Hence, data were collected from in-depth interview with eighteen female refugees and five male
refugees, focus group discussion with male and female refugees, key informant interviews with
concerned bodies as well as document analysis and personal observation were used. The study
has found that female refugees in the camp were exposed to sexual violence, physical violence
and socio-economic violence including; attempt rape, physical injuries, rape, discrimination and
stigmatization, gang rape, and denial of access to services. The study also disclosed that male
refugees and intimate partners of female refugees were the prime gender based violence
perpetrators of female refugees in Mai Ayni refugee camp. Moreover, the study revealed that
forced idleness, economic dependency, physical insecurity, lack of awareness, collapse of social and family structure as well as poor reporting, coordination and legal enforcement mechanisms
were identified as causes/risk factors for gender based violence against female refugees in Mai
Ayni refugee camp. Moreover, men‟s feeling of „loss of power‟ in the camp, which challenges
male‟s identity as superior to female, led male refugees to anger and makes female refugees
vulnerable to different forms of gender based violence. Consequently, because of gender based
violence, female refugees in the camp have short and long lasting damaging consequence on
their life in terms of health, physical and psycho-social.
Description
Keywords
Gender-Based Violence, Sexual Violence, Physical Violence, Socio-economic Violence, Victims, Perpetrator and Mai Ayni Refugee Camp.