WUNRN
Research Study on the
Challenges of Protection of Internally Displaced Persons in Afghanistan -
Gender
A new report, published by IDMC and NRC presents new evidence highlighting the
worrying conditions faced by the growing number of internally displaced persons
(IDPs) across Afghanistan. More than 166,000 internally displaced Afghans have
been recorded in 2012 alone, bringing the total number of internally displaced
due to conflict to at least 460,000.
Direct Link to Summary &
Recommendations of 2012 Report:
Link to Full 115-Page Full Report:
GENDERED VULNERABILITIES
Women's vulnerabilities increase
further after displacement, particularly for widows who made up l/5 of our
total female respondents. Employed male IDP's earn, on the average, 4.3 times
more than females. When one considers the markedly lower rate of female
economic participation, it is apparent that surveyed IDP males earned between
23 and 47 times more than female IDPs in Afghanistan. Displaced women are more
likely to be socially isolated and to lack traditional protective mechanisms.
Displaced women and girls' increased economic vulnerabilities place them at a
higher risk of prostitution and forced marriages.
Field observations show linkages
between displacement and forced and early marriages. IDPs may rely on dowries
as a source of household income to meet their basic needs. The survey showed
that at least one child had been forced to marry in almost a third of the IDP
households. This is especially the case for female-headed households. Several
women noted they felt their daughters were targeted for low-cost marriage by
outsiders who had heard that poor IDPs would accept low levels of dowry.
Overall, 27% of female children were reportedly forced to marry against their
wills.
Only 18% of Afghan IDP women have a
national ID card, as opposed to 83% of men, a factor contributing to women's
low level of engagement in elections.
