Last year 65.3 million people were forced to leave their homes due to conflict or persecution, a sharp rise from 42.5 million people in 2011. During this crisis, which sees millions of refugees flee humanitarian disasters such as war in Syria or terrorism in Nigeria, girls and women in particular are at risk of sexual and gender-based violence.
But viewing girls and women as passive victims limits the potential for changing the situation. “Women and girls affected by conflict must be regarded as more than victims of brutality; they are agents of change who, if given the opportunity, can transform their societies,” says Melanne Verveer in International Rescue Committee’s report Are we Listening?.
So what can be done to improve safety for female refugees? What practical steps, such as separate well-lit wash facilities, will help prevent harassment and violence? And how can these women and girls be supported to provide solutions to the challenges themselves?
Join an expert panel on Thursday 21 July, 2-3.30pm BST, to discuss these questions and more.
The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). Get in touch via globaldevpros@theguardian.com or@GuardianGDP on Twitter to recommend someone for our expert panel. Follow the discussion using the hashtag #globaldevlive.
