The fall of Afghanistan’s government to Taliban rule has further limited the ability of women and girls to exercise their rights, forcing many to flee their homes, seeking safety either elsewhere within the country or in neighbouring countries. This factsheet examines the needs, fears, and barriers encountered by Afghan women and girls who are internally displaced or who have fled abroad. It is the first in a series that will examine the changing situation in Afghanistan as additional data become available. It was produced by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Despite the scope and severity of the problem, GBV in humanitarian contexts is vastly underreported and current programming to prevent and respond to GBV cases is insufficient. Moreover, the role of all humanitarian practitioners, regardless of their expertise in gender and GBV, is increasingly critical in identifying GBV risks and referring the survivors to essential services.

Despite the scope and severity of the problem, GBV in humanitarian contexts is vastly underreported and current programming to prevent and respond to GBV cases is insufficient. Moreover, the role of all humanitarian practitioners, regardless of their expertise in gender and GBV, is increasingly critical in identifying GBV risks and referring the survivors to essential services.

There is growing recognition globally and also in Lao PDR that VAW is a serious public health problem and a violation of women’s human rights. Yet in Lao PDR, VAW is culturally tolerated. According to the Lao Social Indicator Survey (LSIS) 2011-2012, 58% of women and 49% of men reported that VAW was justified if women did not adhere to traditional gender norms, roles and relations. However, this finding only sheds a small amount of light onto the true scale of the problem. Although...

Inclusive Cities. Toward gender equality, youth empowerment, and non-discrimination.