Challenges faced by female refugees

Source: The post challenges faced by female refugees has been created, based on the article “Refugee rights, the gendered nature of displacement” published in “The Hindu” on 10th August 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Internal security

Context: The article discusses the challenges faced by female refugees, particularly regarding mental health issues. It highlights the lack of adequate support and legal protections in India for these women, despite international conventions and India’s laws on disability rights.

For detailed information on Present Refugee Situation in India read this article here

What is the Present Situation of Displacement Worldwide?

1. As of 2023, 11.73 crore people have been forcibly displaced globally due to conflict, persecution, and violence. Among these, 3.76 crore are refugees.
2. Ongoing conflicts, like the Israel-Hamas war and Ukraine-Russia war, continue to increase displacement.
3. Refugees face severe challenges, particularly women who comprise 46% of refugees in India.
4. Women experience heightened risks of mental health issues, such as PTSD and depression.

For example, 72% of displaced women in Darfur, Sudan, reported mental health problems due to traumatic events and harsh camp conditions.

What are the Legal Protections for Refugee Women with Disabilities?

1. The UNCRPD recognizes long-term mental impairments as ‘psychosocial disabilities’ and mandates equal rights for affected women.
2. India’s Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, guarantees rights to those with mental illness. However, refugee women with psychosocial disabilities in India are often excluded from these protections.
3. This exclusion violates their right to life under Article 21, as affirmed by the Supreme Court of India.

What are the challenges faced by female refugees?

1. Sole Responsibility: Female refugees often bear sole responsibility for children and elderly family members, adding to their stress.
2. Increased Risk of Abuse: They are highly vulnerable to gender-based violence, including sexual abuse and exploitation, especially in displacement camps.
3. Mental Health Issues: Women refugees are more likely to suffer from mental health problems like PTSD and depression. For example, 72% of displaced women in Darfur, Sudan, reported PTSD and distress.
4. Limited Healthcare Access: Refugee women in India have restricted access to healthcare, especially mental health services. They are mostly dependent on government hospitals, which are overcrowded and under-resourced.
5. Legal Exclusion: Although India has laws protecting persons with disabilities, refugee women with psychosocial disabilities are often excluded from these protections.
6. Social Stigma: They face social stigma and isolation, especially in patriarchal societies, making it difficult to access necessary services and support.

What Needs to Be Done to Improve the Situation?

1. India should create a uniform legal framework for refugees, addressing their specific needs.
2. This framework must integrate the provisions of international commitments, such as the UNCRPD, to protect the rights of refugees with psychosocial disabilities.
3. Refugee women, who make up 46% of India’s refugee population, must be included in mental health policies.
4. Disaggregated data on refugees’ health conditions is essential for effective policy-making and service delivery.
5. The current exclusion of refugee women with psychosocial disabilities from India’s legal and healthcare systems needs urgent attention.
6. Enhanced identification and registration processes for refugees with disabilities are necessary to ensure they receive appropriate support.

Question for practice:

Examine the challenges faced by female refugees in India, particularly those with psychosocial disabilities.