Forever at the End of the Line? The Plight of Refugee Women

Abstract

The majority of the world's adult refugees are women, yet both international law and the bulk of refugee assistance programs have responded inadequately to their needs. This article provides an overview of the special human rights problems of refugee women, including their vulnerability to sexual abuse and the persistence of gender biases in most material assistance programs. Although citizens' associations and nongovernmental organizations are making progress toward gender-sensitizing the international refugee assistance regime, the prospects for enhancing women's protection under international law remain grim.