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The Gender Dimensions of Internal Displacement: Concept Paper and Annotated Bibliography

Authored by: Judy A. Benjamin and Khadija Fancy

Categories: Human Rights, Violent Conflict
Sub-Categories: Migration
Region: No Region
Year: 1998
Citation: Benjamin, Judy A. and Khadija Fancy. The Gender Dimensions of Internal Displacement: Concept Paper and Annotated Bibliography. New York: United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, 1998.

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Executive Summary

This brief concept paper identifies the main issues concerning the rights of displaced women and girls. It aims to sharpen awareness of the gender dimensions to internal displacement and to provide initial guidance to UNICEF and other agencies on the appropriate gender response to the urgent and growing needs of internally displaced women. The subject clearly deserves in-depth analysis and further research, which this concept paper seeks to stimulate. This analysis employs a gender perspective to examine several key questions: What are the major issues of concern to internally displaced women? What steps should agencies take to address and ensure the rights of displaced women? A gender perspective of the appreciation of fundamental differences between men and women’s roles in societies is not difficult to apply if one approaches the issue from the basic principles of human rights determined by a person is gender. The consequences of not applying a gender perspective resonate in overlooked human rights abuses against women and girls. This paper reviews and critiques the current roles of UN agencies and other humanitarian organizations and suggests ways to promote an action plan for international agencies to more effectively respond to the rights of internally displaced women and girls by using a gender-informed approach.