Displaced women and girls at risk: risk factors, protection solutions and resource tools

This paper aims to clarify risks leading to displacement, risk factors during displacement and risks that inhibit safe and sustainable return. The authors look at protection solutions in the context of displacement and in situations of return.

Tools are presented for assessing risks and for identifying good field practices that reduce the risks displaced and returnee women and girls confront.

The following areas are considered:

• factors leading to displacement
• risk factors during displacement
• enhancing the security and well-being of women and girls at risk
• protection and risk factors in the context of local integration

The authors note that many of the protection risks displaced women and girls face are the same or similar during the pre-flight, flight, displacement, return and reintegration phases that women and girls go through during the life cycle of displacement. It is only through individual assessments and individualised responses that it is possible to adequately address the unique protection concerns facing women and girls. At present this is not being done well enough.