The female face of refugees

Beatrix Bücher-Aniyamuzaala, Co-Author of the CARE Research Study „Women, Work & War. Syrian women and the struggle to survive five years of conflict, Austria
Roula El-Masri, Gender Technical Advisor, ABAAD – Resource Center for Gender Equality, Lebanon
Melissa Fleming, Head, Communications and Public Information Service Spokesperson for the High Commissioner
Female refugees living in Austria

Moderation:
Viola Raheb, University of Vienna

Worldwide more than 42 million people are fleeing war and persecution. According to UNHCR “Women and girls comprise about half of any refugee, internally displaced or stateless population”. According to UNHCR data, women account for approximately 50.3% of Syrian refugees today. Among the refugees, arriving to Europe recently, especially through the Balkan route, the number of women on among refugees is increasing. According to the UNESCO the figures from Macedonia reflect this development; the percentage of women and children among the refugees passing through Macedonia during September 2015 was 36%, and increased in October to reach 44%. Hence, the reasons for flight of women are diverse. Patriarchal structures on various levels have immediate consequences on both reasons and experiences of flight of women. Often, women are also faced with an additional gender-based violence both in the context of political upheaval, on the road as well as often also in the shelters.

In cooperation with Bruno Kreisky Forum and Stadt Wien