Displaced Latin American women are at high risk of gender-based violence, warns UNHCR

The humanitarian crises and forced displacement population in Latin America and the Caribbean significantly increase the risk of suffering gender violence, especially in the case of women and girls, who suffer it disproportionately, warns a new study of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Refugees and forcibly displaced women often left their homes, communities or countries fleeing sexual violence, exploitation and abuse.

Unfortunately, in their search for security, the threat of gender violence is always present, both in their countries of origin, as well as in those of transit and destinationsays the research, carried out in seven countries in the region: Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil.

unprecedented displacement

The UNHCR regional director for the Americas, Diego Samaniego, pointed out that the continent is facing an unprecedented situation of displacement, “which disproportionately affects millions of women and girls victims of violence, abuse and exploitation”

“It’s fundamental prevent and eradicate all forms of gender violence strengthening the institutional response and empowering the communities”, emphasized Samaniego.

UNHCR data indicates that in Latin America and the Caribbean there are more than 19.9 million people displaced20% of the world total. Of these, 37% are women, 38% men, 12% girls and 12% boys.

UNHCR stresses that although the documented rates of gender violence in Latin America are usually low, it is known that most cases go unreported, generally due to fear or lack of information from the victims. Among the countries with the greatest uprooting are Venezuela, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Haiti and Guatemala.

dangerous journey

The study states that during their journey, the lack of documentation and resources, and the restriction to regularly cross borders force women to use increasingly dangerous routes with the presence of criminal groups and little institutional response.

According to the 1,008 women surveyed by UNHCR, 76% of those who arrived in the country of destination in the second half of 2021 felt unsafe during the tripa number that exceeds the 42% reported in a similar survey five years ago.

Problems in the country of destination

When they arrive in the new country, many displaced women face extreme poverty, lack of support networks, xenophobia, impact of uprooting on mental health and barriers to access the asylum system or other regularization procedures. These factors, along with the hypersexualization and objectification of their bodies, increase their exposure to sexual violence.

The lack of security and support services is exacerbated among the most vulnerable groups, such as indigenous women, who often lack access to housing and health care, justice and protection.

The investigation – prepared in conjunction with the humanitarian organization HIAS – found that one in three women surveyed does not feel safe in the host countryand that three out of five feel that COVID-19 has increased the risk of suffering gender-based violence.

In addition, it found that those who have suffered such abuse rarely approach service providers due to the lack of confidence and fear of being revictimizedsuffer retaliation from the perpetrator, or be detained or deported.

recommendations

The study presents several recommendations to authorities in host countries, United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations and civil society actors to strengthen GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response to displaced women.

Among those recommendations are:

• support to achieve economic self-sufficiency
• information about rights and services available
• Access to asylum and regularization pathways from a gender, age and diversity approach
• Strengthening and support to national protection systems for survivors of gender violence
• Training and awareness of service providers specialists and non-specialists in gender violence.
• Access to mental health services for refugee women who have suffered gender violence