Engaging Men in The Fight
Engaging Men in The Fight
In camp settlements all around the world, women, adolescents and children suffer sexual violences on a daily basis.
As potential perpetrators, men are the first actors of change.
Humanitarian staff must engage male residents in the fight against sexual violences.
The Issue
Whether it is a refugee camp or an IDP camp, whether it is a planned or an unplanned camp, whether the situation is temporary or protracted, the confinement, overcrowdedness and tension induced by the camp's abnormal environment has an immediately dangerous impact on the individual integrity of vulnerable populations.
Sexual Harassment Rape
Sexual Assault Sexual Exploitation
Survival Sex Forced Marriage
Domestic Violence Mutilation
These violences lead to psychological, social, and physical destruction. Their consequences on victims are numerous: contraction of sexually transmitted diseases and infections, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, sleep and/or eating disorders, mental illnesses, social isolation and stigmatization, self-harm, and sometimes, eventually, suicide.
6.6M
displaced
people live
in camps
Source: UNHCR
Women and children represent almost
75%
of camp dwellers
Source: UNHCR
Sexual violences in camp settlements must be considered a priority of humanitarian intervention.
In emergency situations where humanitarian aid is needed, priority is always given to survival: shelter, food, water, health, and sanitation. Unfortunately, material and logistical aid is often not enough to protect populations and ensure individual dignity.
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The logic of encampment itself creates new problems: lack of privacy, loss of bearings, poor design and infrastructure, among others.
Additionally, violences, abuse and exploitation that occurred under “normal” life conditions are triggered and exacerbated by the camp's environment.
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Reported attacks have occurred at night in poorly lit wash areas of camps, or when women go out to collect firewood in the isolated surroundings of the camp.
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It is also a known fact that domestic violence increases in situation of crisis.
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Families who have lost livelihoods resort to marrying their underage daughter in order to protect her and/or alleviate economic hardship.
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In camp settlements, prostitution is fueled by misery, human trafficking networks, and the high demand of single men.
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These violences are not inevitable.
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