The need for sustainable solutions focusing on the light-shape of African women and girls as forced evacuees
Part 1.
AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security MME, dedicated to refugees, returnees and internally displaced people, in line with the implementation of various programs by the African Union marking 2019. Bineta Diop shares the results of her visit to “Tright of Death.” “Deliberate Actions to Sustainable Solutions,” “She also gives insight into why women and girls are being affected by the worst of the horrifying situations of forced evacuees.
The negative effects of forced displacement are usually more pronounced for women and girls who are not favored even in stable communities..
Unique challenges to confront women and girls who are refugees, returnees, and IDPs
Migration is a more inclusive, tolerant and diverse society structure. Immigration has enriched culture and civilization for many years, and immigration has contributed to the massive advancement of host societies, therefore calling for ease of regional trade, free movement and the introduction of African passports. Forced evacuation is the worst kind of movement of people, as it does not only mean losing a home, but also involves dreams, plans, identity, and movement into unfamiliar territory with despair and fear.
The negative effects of forced displacement are usually more pronounced for women and girls who are not favored even in stable communities. There is a widespread culture of discrimination, and sexual and gender-based violence is a daily reality. These evils destroy the lives of our women and girls, with devastating consequences for society as a whole. As you know, rebuilding a psychologically broken person is not as easy as rebuilding your infrastructure. In many cases, these wounds affect future generations as women are caregivers of young people.
Furthermore, women, children and families of actors in conflict situations tend to become targets and war weapons. Chibok girls are a great example. Often this happens to the whole community of wives and children who are left behind by their husbands and sons.
In July 2017, I was part of the UN-AU AU's high-level solidarity mission to the Republic of Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In both countries, the delegation met the female leader of Glassroot and the Chibok girl who was rescued from Boko Haram. There are large camps for IDPs, such as the Daloli camp in Nigeria and the Muganga IDP camp in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We held focus group discussions with female IDPs, gained further understanding and learned from experience. This is very similar. The woman will eventually trade sex for food or be raped. It's not just sexual violence they face.
During the same mission, we visited an area commonly known as the “triangle of death.” They were calm, built a shed and cared for the children. Earlier that week they went out to get fire and water, and after their return they saw from the ruins of their sheds in the distance. A militia man came and destroyed the entire camp and proceeded. This is not uncommon in camping. Women are double victims and the cycle continues, but it's really tragic.
Geographically, which areas face these challenges and why?
It is important to note that refugees and IDP issues are rarely a national issue and have a negative impact on the entire region.
In Africa, recent data shows that the continent hosts at least 6.2 million refugees and asylum seekers. Furthermore, the number of IDPs continues to increase, with over 16 million people now. These people are distributed throughout Africa, but are primarily located in other unstable places on the continent, such as the Sahel, Central Africa, the Horn of Africa, and Libya. One unfortunate fact is that as conflict progresses, people's tendencies to displace and sexual violence become worse. It is important to note that refugees and IDP issues are rarely a national issue and have a negative impact on the entire region. Currently, the G5 is suffering from violent extremism, with Boko Haram and other violent extremist groups finding breeding grounds and moving terrorist activities to neighbouring countries, thereby destabilizing the region.
Why are African women and girls living outside the continent looking forward to being forced to evacuate and returning home?
Despite the general perception and portrayal of African migrants and refugees primarily migrating to Europe, statistics show that over half of migrants and refugees remain on the continent. On a global scale, Africa hosts a third of the world's refugees and IDPs. This fact must be interrogated considering the fact that host countries are hosting them at a great cost to their vulnerable economy. Furthermore, there appears to be fatigue on the part of partners who do not want to financially support the host government or take on refugees as hosts in third countries. Therefore, it is essential that our solutions look inward.
These movements are motivated by the push coefficient, not necessarily by pull factors. These are primarily unstable conflict, poverty and climate change. The devastating drought led to refugees crossing into neighbouring countries. This understanding helps you prioritize your strategy. Women and children run away for safety and security. Therefore, the best way to secure women and children is to ensure sustainable peace.
It is important to note that other faces of immigrants and refugees are those of young people. Young people, and here I am particularly referring to immigration, leaving my home country in search of better socioeconomic conditions and the possibility of access to education and employment opportunities. Therefore, creating a peaceful environment requires all inclusive cross-cut peace buildings and reconciliation processes, where women, youth and other victims are represented. Such dialogue and reconciliation platforms and infrastructure, as well as youth employment, should be prioritized at all levels, including the AU-UN co-framework.
The second part of this series is MME. Bineta Diop Stock Her insight into the synergy of interventions addresses remaining challenges and ways to avoid the emergence of new crises. The second part will be featured in the July edition of the AU Monthly Newsletter.
