Syrian women and girls: fleeing death, facing ongoing threats and humiliation. A gender-based violence rapid assessment

At the time this assessment was written, estimates suggested that up to 90,000 Syrian refugees had crossed the border into Lebanon. The International Rescue Committee conducted a rapid assessment on the situation faced by Syrian women and girl refugees in Lebanon, and came up with a number of key findings related to violence. Rape and sexual violence was often reported, with many stories of women and girls being tortured and raped, in their homes and in prison, often in front of family members. Linked to this is an increase in early marriage, as a way to “protect” girls from rape and violence. Intimate partner violence was reported as increasing since the conflict, due to men’s stress and feelings of powerlessness. Survival sex was also noted, with women and girls being forced to sell sex in exchange for food, accommodation or services. Many women reported that they were not accessing services in Lebanon for fear of violence and mistreatment by service providers. There were also concerns about women’s safety when travelling to locations where help is offered, and in the accommodation where they have settled. In addition, women survivors of sexual violence faced an extra level of danger; they feared their families would reject or kill them, or that they would be married to family members for reasons of “honour”. The assessment has four recommendations:

1. Syrian refugee women and girls need access to health and emotional support services
2. Local health providers need technical assistance to increase access to services for survivors of gender based violence
3. Women and girls need material goods and economic support to increase their social and economic capital and mitigate the risks they face
4. GBV coordination structures should be developed or adapted

The report concludes by noting that many of the Syrian refugee women and girls in Lebanon have experienced multiple forms of gender based violence, but it is evident that many are not disclosing this or seeking help due to stigma, exposure to more violence, and barriers to accessing services.