Empowering refugee women: Insights from the Global Refugee Forum

This year’s International Women's Day theme, “Inspire Inclusion”, is celebrating the importance of improving equal opportunities for women. Refugee women and girls face unique challenges, which is why the Global Compact on Refugees calls upon the international community to promote gender equality and ensure gender-sensitive approaches to refugee responses. This call for support for inclusive approaches and policies was reiterated recently at the Global Refugee Forum (GRF). 

Without political will there is no funds, no resources, no experts to help us create any kind of change.

-  Gianina Marquez Olivera, Quinta Ola, Parallel high-level event on Gender Equality and Protection from Gender-Based Violence

During the GRF 2023, important multi-stakeholder pledges on gender were announced. The pledge on gender equality and protection from gender-based violence (GBV), led by Germany, Chile, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Australia, aims to improve access to inclusive and quality GBV prevention and response services. Pledging partners committed to achieve this through strengthening national protection systems and fostering collaboration with women refugee-led organizations aiming to protect survivor,s and those at risk, and provide them with safe access to services.

Enhance and empower the agency of refugee women. Enhance our capacity. We are able to do the work.

- Mary Tal, Founder of Whole World Women Association, Parallel high-level event on Gender Equality and Protection from Gender-Based Violence

This pledge was announced at a parallel high-level event at the GRF on Gender Equality and Protection from GBV. The event was moderated by Gianina Marquez Olivera, co-founderess of Quinta Ola, a feminist grass-roots organization in Peru working for the human rights of displaced women and girls. The speakers overall called for more partnerships with Women-led Organizations, like Quinta Ola, and ensuring meaningful participation of women and girl refugees as equal partners in decision making processes.

France, as a co-convenor of the GRF 2023, has also taken significant steps forward in addressing these issues by spearheading initiatives aimed at supporting women and girls who are refugees or stateless. In her speech on the opening day of the GRF, the then minister for foreign affairs, Catherine Colonna, reiterated France’s commitment to supporting initiatives that prioritize the needs of the 55 million forcibly displaced or stateless people that are women. On this occasion, she announced the launch of the multi-stakeholder pledge “Avec Elles” (ed. with her), led by France, which aims to strengthen the protection and inclusion of women and girls through a range of programmes and interventions designed to address the multifaceted challenges faced by them. These include a focus on accessing education and vocational training, support for maternal and reproductive healthcare services, and efforts to combat gender-based violence within refugee communities.

Additionally, France’s dedication to advancing gender equality within the refugee context extends to its participation in the multi-stakeholder pledge on closing the digital gender gap. This pledge aims to ensure women and girls have equal access to digital technologies, thereby empowering them to participate fully in social, economic, and political life. It recognizes the importance of digital inclusion in accessing education, employment opportunities and essential service. The pledge includes initiatives to ensure women and girls have the necessary skills and resources to utilize digital technologies effectively.

Out of 193 Member States of the United Nations, only 34 women serve as elected Heads of State or Government (17%). At the GRF, women and girls made up 48% of speakers; while this is not exact equality, it is a good start to including voices of women in international fora.

Change starts at home. We need to look at the communities. We need to help men and boys learn how to change their mindset and to share the responsibilities, power, and leadership in a sustainable way.

- Faridah Luanda, Gender and Diversity Coordinator, GRYN and Executive Director of Refugee Youth and Women Group Division in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, Uganda, Parallel high-level event on Gender Equality and Protection from Gender-Based Violence

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let us not forget the millions of refugee women around the world who continue to demonstrate resilience, strength, and determination in the face of adversity. Through concerted efforts and unwavering commitment, we can create a more inclusive and equitable world where all women can thrive and fulfill their potential.