Justice and Protection for Refugees: Building on the UN’s Global Compact

Justice and Protection for Refugees: Building on the UN’s Global Compact

Report for Islamic Relief (July 2018) 

The world is currently witnessing the highest levels of human displacement on record. Over 71 million people have been forced from their homes. At the same time, the rights, dignity and protection needs of refugees around the world are often being undermined both in immediate crises and in protracted refugee situations lasting several years. Drafts of the UN new Global Compact on Refugees have been produced in early 2018 and contain numerous positive policies to ensure that the rights and protection needs of refugees are upheld. This briefing, based on Islamic Relief’s experience of working with refugees in numerous countries, and showing case studies from its work, highlights key policies that world governments must now promote.

 

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‘Back Way to Europe’: How Can The Gambia Better Address Migration and Its Development Challenges?

‘Back Way to Europe’: How Can The Gambia Better Address Migration and Its Development Challenges?

Report for ActionAid (July 2018)

In the four years 2014-17, some 1.7 million people risked their lives by fleeing across the Mediterranean Sea for Europe, a journey in which over 13,000 have died or have gone missing. This report is a contribution to understanding what the proper policy responses to this movement of people should best be. It focuses on young people in one African country, The Gambia, thousands of whom have been seeking a better life in Europe – often called the ‘back way’. This study asks: Why have so many young Gambians become irregular migrants and what can be done to help them and The Gambia manage this exodus and promote national development.

 

 

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Still Invisible: The Plight of Syrian Women in Lebanon and Iraq

Still Invisible: The Plight of Syrian Women in Lebanon and Iraq

Report for Islamic Relief (April 2017)

Six months ago, in September 2016, Islamic Relief released Invisible Lives, a report outlining the plight of Syrian women in Lebanon and the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq. It described the lack of good employment opportunities, the prevalence of gender-based violence in communities and the workplace and extremely limited access to good education for children, including girls. Six months on, ahead of another international conference on Syria, the UN has launched new aid appeals and strategies for Lebanon and Iraq. But what has changed? Is the international community now delivering? Are women refugees receiving more and better support? Are their lives improving?

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Invisible Lives: How the International Community is Failing Syrian Women Refugees

Invisible Lives: How the International Community is Failing Syrian Women Refugees

Report for Islamic Relief (September 2016)

This report focuses on the plight of female Syrian refugees who are trying to survive and make a living in two countries neighbouring Syria – Lebanon and Iraq. Over 1.5 million Syrians are now in Lebanon and over a quarter of a million are in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. A  large proportion are women and girls. Women now find themselves not only as refugees but often as heads of household and bread-winners, away from their traditional sources of support. This report focus on the barriers they face in providing for their families, such as: A lack of good employment opportunities; gender-based violence in communities and in the workplace; and extremely limited access to good education for their children, including girls. At the same time, not only has the international community failed to bring about an end to the war in Syria, but it is also failing to adequately support those who are fleeing it. UN financial appeals for Lebanon and Iraq remain massively under-funded.

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