WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE GLOBAL COMPACT ON REFUGEES

Brussels, 14 February

On 13 February National Governments started negotiations on the Global Compact on Refugees. The Compact is supposed to have four key elements:

  • Easing pressures on countries that welcome and host refugees;
  • Build self-reliance of refugees;
  • Expand access to resettlement in third countries and other complementary pathways;
  • Foster conditions that enable refugees voluntarily to return to their home countries.

Women and Girls’s needs and voices have been traditionally overlooked in the formulation of policies concerning refugees. Many organisations have voiced their concern over the lack of gender attention given to female refugees, which effectively leave them behind.  ENOMW shares the concerns of many feminists organisations involved in the consultation process on the Compact.  Now that the Compact is taken to the level of inter-governmental negotiations, it is crucial that we inform the states on the obligations they have to fulfil to meet the rights of female refugees. Together with our two members, Melissa Network Greece and Women Refugee Route, and with the support of CARE International UK, CPDE and ECRE we have launched an advocacy action to ensure that women and girls’ voices are not lost in the process.

WE DO NOT EXPECT MIRACLES. WE EXPECT WHAT’S POSSIBLE & RIGHT:

#1 – Leadership for Women
#2 – Gender Mainstreaming in the entire Compact
#3 – Funding for Grassroots Sevice-providers
#4 – End of Male Violence against Women
#5 – Rights for Girl-Child
#6 – Economic Opportunities
#7 – Accountability for Men

On 11-12 December 2017 we took part in the High Commissioner’s Dialogue on Protection Challenges in Geneva. This was accompanies by an event on the situation of Refugee Girl-Children that we organised jointly with CARE, Melissa and Women Refugee Route, hosted by the Swedish Permanent Representation to the EU. We issued draft recommendations addressing the gaps and solutions for women and girls safety, dignity and security.