Refugee women are particularly at risk from HIV/AIDS, but relief organisations often see gender and HIV/AIDS as development issues that are not their responsibility. If they do run HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, they may be secondary to shelter and feeding programmes. The gender inequality fuelling the pandemic remains unchallenged.

A paper from the University of Oxford’s Refugee Studies Centre (UK) reviews studies of refugees in sub-Saharan Africa to urge relief organisations to view the HIV/AIDS pandemic as a socio-economic as well as a medical issue. The humanitarian community should understand how society perceives HIV/AIDS, including the way in which women with the virus are stigmatised and held responsible for its spread.

Refugees are exposed to the increased danger of HIV infection at all stages of their experience: starting with the conflict in their country of origin, forced movement from their homes, settlement elsewhere and during repatriation or resettlement. The risk of HIV infection is intensified for women as social structures break down and threats to their safety increase. Prostitution thrives in and around refugee camps as sex becomes the means by which women pay for their survival. In West Africa displaced young women have been forced to exchange sex for relief supplies and security by local aid workers, peacekeeping soldiers and refugee leaders.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has developed an essential minimum package for the prevention of HIV/AIDS in emergencies. This package includes preventing infection through blood transfusions, provision of condoms, information campaigns and the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.

Despite these measures, the author finds that:

• Information campaigns may be so removed from the reality of a refugee camp that it is unrealistic to expect the information provided to lead to the desired behaviour.
• Distribution of condoms and dissemination of information cannot by themselves enable refugee women to protect themselves from HIV infection.
• Women’s needs are neglected because relief organisations tend to work through male-dominated refugee camp structures.
• Little is being done to challenge the popular and biomedical ideas that focus on women as the transmitters of HIV.

Relief organisations must tackle HIV/AIDS with a human-rights approach, focusing on the participation of neglected groups such as women. The author calls for:

• recognition of the importance of long-term development aims during the initial stages of an emergency response
• a gender-conscious approach to the design of refugee relief programmes: HIV/AIDS prevention programmes must take account of gender-related violence and women’s lack of power within relationships
• measures to prevent infection: ensuring an adequate food supply reduces the need for women and girls to use sex to survive; accessible water and firewood supply can reduce women’s exposure to sexual violence; employment schemes for men in camps can reduce the anger and tension which may lead to abuse
• an end to discrimination against refugees found to be HIV positive.

Ultimately the spread of HIV infection can only be tackled through participatory programmes to allow women to gain control of their bodies, social identities and future lives. HIV/AIDS must be integrated as a social protection issue into all aspects of programming to assist refugees.

Source(s):
‘AIDS, gender and the refugee protection framework’ by Katharine Williamson, Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford, August 2004 Full document.

id21 Research Highlight: 28 April 2005

Further Information:
Katharine Williamson
8 Chaucer Road
Cambridge
CB2 2EB
UK

Tel: +254 733 333687
Contact the contributor: kathwilliamson@another.com

Paul Ryder
Refugee Studies Centre
Queen Elizabeth House
21 St Giles
Oxford OX1 3LA
UK

Tel: + 44 (0)1865 270722
Fax: + 44 (0)1865 270721
Contact the contributor: paul.ryder@qeh.ox.ac.uk

Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford, UK

Other related links:
'Dispelling myths of HIV/AIDS among conflict-affected and displaced populations'

'Is the UNHCR doing its job? Combining refugee relief with local development in Africa'

'The consequences of refugee flows and managing the aftermath'

'Responding to displacement'

HIV/AIDS links from id21