Introduction
Syria Crisis
Overview of gender-based violence affecting Syrians in the six countries affected by the Syrian crisis (Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt)
This prolonged crisis in Syria has exacerbated and escalated the vulnerabilities of Syrian women and girls, creating increased and diverse risks for men, women, girls, and boys. Many families have been torn apart and communities destroyed. Schools and hospitals have been wrecked with weakened protection, security, and justice systems.
Gender-based violence crimes have devastating immediate and long-term effects on the lives of survivors, their families, and the communities in which they live, altering the development and future of the region.
In times of conflict everyone is affected by violence; however, women and girls in particular are more at risk, especially of gender-based violence, due to the lack of social protection and lack of safe accessto services. There is wide recognition that gender-based violence against women and girls increasesduring conflict, including domestic violence, sexual violence and exploitation, and child marriage. Men and boys also experience sexual violence, especially in the context of detention and torture.
As of December 2015, an estimated 13.5 million Syrians are in need of humanitarian aid, of which 6.6 million are displaced and 4.2 million are in hard to reach areas.The total number of people who have fled the country has reached 4.6 million and continues to rise. There are 5 million women of reproductive age, 430,000 of whom are pregnant.
Some of the main issues affecting women and girls identified by assessments and studies include insecurity, overcrowding, inadequate access to basic services, rising rent and food prices, and competition for the limited work opportunities. These factors all contribute to the increased rates of gender-based violence and the urgent need for humanitarian agencies to scale up a tailored response.
“More than Numbers” presents an overview of the situation of Syrian women and girls. It provides an introduction to gender-based violence during emergencies, the forms of gender-based violence in Syria and neighbouring countries, the contributing factors and the impact it is having on individuals, families and communities. It includes a list of recommendations and challenges that may help in designing strategies and programmes to better address gender-based violence and influence changes of cultural norms.