Women and Girls in Complex Emergencies
Gaps in Research
- 1.
- Prevention and treatment information and services are needed for women and young people in crises-affected settings, particularly at the end of an armed conflict.
- 2.
- Interventions are needed to secure the livelihoods of women affected by crises in order to counteract the need for survival and/or transactional sex.
- 3.
- Interventions combating rape and sexual violence are urgently needed in crises-affected settings.
- 4.
- Provision of treatment and other support services for people living with HIV in crises-affected settings should be in line with national guidelines and accomplished while respecting the confidentiality of those living with HIV.
1. Prevention and treatment information and services are needed for women and young people in crises-affected settings, particularly at the end of an armed conflict. Studies found low levels of HIV knowledge and condom use among IDPs. End of war may increase HIV transmission. Issues concerning HIV should be included in resettlement plans.
Gap noted, for example, in Kenya (Mann et al., 2012); Uganda (Ojikutu, 2011); Angola (Strand et al., 2007).
2. Interventions are needed to secure the livelihoods of women affected by crises in order to counteract the need for survival and/or transactional sex. Studies found that women would exchange sex for food and fuel.
Gap noted, for example, generally (Hankins et al., 2002; Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children, 2002: 21) and in Liberia (Abdullai et al., 2002 cited in Lawday, 2002: 10) and Sudan (WHO, 1999 cited in Lawday, 2002: 11).
3. Interventions combating rape and sexual violence are urgently needed in crises-affected settings. Studies found that women IDPs suffer from high rates of violence and are at high risk of acquiring HIV.
Gap noted, for example, Democratic Republic of Congo (Kim et al., 2009b; United States Institute for Peace, 2001 cited in Lawday, 2002: 11); Uganda (Anderson et al., 2004); Rwanda (Mujawayo and Blewitt, 1999 cited in Lawday, 2002: 5; RHR Consortium, ND); Tanzania (RHR Consortium, ND).
4. Provision of treatment and other support services for people living with HIV in crises-affected settings should be in line with national guidelines and accomplished while respecting the confidentiality of those living with HIV. A study found that distribution of treatment and support for those living with HIV in IDPs did not confer confidentiality of their HIV-positive serostatus.
Gap noted, for example, Uganda (Nattabi et al., 2011).