This document presents a joint research report on Shifting Sands Changing gender roles among refugees in Lebanon. The conflict in Syria has created a humanitarian crisis, with almost two million people having fled to neighboring countries in the hope of escaping the violence. Thousands of Syrian refugees continue to enter Lebanon each week, putting increasing pressure on the ability of host communities and aid agencies to provide them with support. The situation has created intense levels of stress for refugees, as in many cases they are forced to take on new responsibilities at odds with their traditional gendered social roles. In order to understand these changing roles, Oxfam and the ABAAD – Resource Centre for Gender Equality conducted a gender situation and vulnerability assessment among Syrian refugees and Palestinian refugees from Syria now living in Lebanon. The findings are presented in this report, which aims to contribute to an improved understanding of the gendered impact of the Syrian conflict and subsequent displacement on refugees now in Lebanon. The report concludes with detailed recommendations for development and humanitarian practitioners and donor agencies, to help them design and implement gender- sensitive programming that addresses these shifting gender roles and helps to minimize stress and tensions among refugee populations (at individual, household and community levels) and between refugee and host communities.
This study was undertaken by the Center for Women (ECW) at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in the context of a regional programme to review progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action in the Arab region. The study was authored by Ms. Stephanie Jung, Social Affairs Officer at ESCWA. Chapter three, section A of the study (‘Women and girls’ access to health care’) benefitted from a research brief prepared by Ms. Julianne Deitch, Associate Social Affairs Officer at ESCWA. Chapter four (‘Women’s access to formal work’) draws in part from a background paper prepared by Ms. Nadereh Chamlou, independent consultant, and also reflects substantive inputs from Ms. Lamia Bulbul, independent consultant. Ms. Jade Lansing, Research Assistant, provided research inputs. Mr. Jesse Rester reviewed and edited the manuscript. The study has also benefited from the substantive contributions and comments from other ECW and ESCWA staff members
This publication was completed at the Centre for Women (ECW) of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in the context of a joint project with the Arab States Regional Office (ASRO) of the United Nations Fund for Population (UNFPA). The project, consisting of this study, two policy briefs, and an expert group meeting, reflects common strategic priorities of both UNFPA and UN-ESCWA on advancing the principles of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Declaration and its Platform for Action, for the promotion of the rights of women and girls in the Arab region. The implementation of the project was a cooperative process involving close consultation on all substantive, conceptual, and programmatic issues between The UN-ESCWA team, and the UNFPA team.
