Over 80 million people, one percent of the globe’s population, have been forcibly displaced, the highest level on record (UNHCR 2020a). Displaced women fare worse on multiple fronts, as shown by the Women, Peace and Security Index, including employment access, cell phone access, financial inclusion and intimate partner violence (IPV) (GIWPS and PRIO 2021). The World Bank’s Gender Dimensions of Forced Displacement (GDFD) research program has drawn on survey data using innovative approaches to deepen the understanding of how forced displacement and gender inequality intersect, with a focus on IPV. Conflict and displacement affect every aspect of a woman’s life and, as this research highlights, increases her risk of abuse. This brief has documented how high levels of violence clearly prevent the realization of the Sustainable Development Goal of eliminating violence against women, while also posing a serious threat to individuals’ and communities’ ability to face and recover from any crisis. Our findings point to the urgency of financing, prioritizing, and programming to prevent, respond to, and mitigate risks of IPV throughout the conflict and displacement cycle.
Forced Displacement and Violence Against Women : A Policy Brief (World Bank)
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