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Sudanese Refugee Women's Sense of Security in Kakuma

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Sudanese Refugee Women's Sense of Security in Kakuma Sudanese and South Sudanese refugee women’s sense of security in Kakuma refugee camp By: Helena Nilsson Theological Department Supervisor: Lisbeth Larsson Lidén NOHA Masters Program Uppsala University, June 2013 Master’s thesis 30 ECT Abstract This thesis aims to find out how Sudanese and South Sudanese refugee women experience their security and safety in Kakuma refugee camp, which is situated in north- western part of Kenya. Sudan and South Sudan has had two civil wars since its independence from the British colonialism. The civil wars in Sudan and South Sudan have mainly been concerning the differences between northern and southern Sudan, with the northern part predominantly Muslim and the southern is predominantly Christian. The Sudanese and South Sudanese society, culture and traditions are based on a very strong patriarchal structure, with limited freedom and rights for women. This thesis therefore aims to find out whether these social structures exist in Kakuma refugee camp and what impact they have on the Sudanese and South Sudanese refugee women‟s sense of security. The main research question in this thesis is: How do Sudanese and South Sudanese refugee women perceive their security and support within their community in Kakuma refugee camp? The theoretical framework is based on the customary and Islamic law applied in Sudan and South Sudan, as well as on the proscribed gender roles of the Sudanese and South Sudanese society. The data collection for this thesis was based on key interviews and Focus Group Discussions conducted in Kakuma refugee camp by the researcher from February 25th until the 1st of March. They were conducted with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency‟s (SIDA) Minor Field Study (MFS) Scholarship, Refugee Consortium of Kenya (which were the contact organization on sight in Kenya and Kakuma refugee camp), as well as with the supervision of Lisbeth Larsson Lidén in Sweden. Three Focus Group Discussions and eleven key interviews were conducted with women originating from tribes in Darfur, Equatoria and Dinka in Sudan and South Sudan. Front page photo taken by Helena Nilsson on 1/3/2013 from the registration centre in Kakuma, zone three. Acronyms CPA – Comprehensive Peace Agreement DRA – Department of Refugee Affairs FGD – Focus Group Discussion GBV – Gender Based Violence IDP – Internally Displaced people IL – International Law IPV – Intimate Partner Violence JEM – Justice and Equality Movement MFS – Minor Field Study NGO – Non- Governmental Organization NIF – National Islamic Front OAU – Organization of African Union RCK – Refugee Consortium of Kenya RSD – Refugee Status Determination SAF – Sudanese Armed Forces SGBV – Sexual Gender Based Violence SIDA – Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency SLM/A – Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army SPLM/A – Sudan People‟s Movement/Army SSLM – Southern Sudan Liberation Movement UNHCR – United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees WFP – World Food Program 3 Table of contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Acronyms............................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Table of contents ............................................................................................................................................................. 4 Preface ................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 7 1.1. Background ......................................................................................................................................................... 8 1.1.1. The conflict in Sudan and South Sudan .............................................................................................. 8 1.1.2. Sudanese and South Sudanese culture ............................................................................................ 13 1.1.3. Women in refugee camps ...................................................................................................................... 15 1.1.4. Kakuma refugee camp ............................................................................................................................ 17 1.2. Aim and research question ........................................................................................................................ 19 1.3. Thesis outline .................................................................................................................................................. 20 1.4. Limitations ....................................................................................................................................................... 20 1.5. The research field .......................................................................................................................................... 21 1.5.1. Refugee Consortium of Kenya and the research situation .............................................................. 21 1.5.2. Previous research ..................................................................................................................................... 22 1.6. Relevance to the Humanitarian Action field ....................................................................................... 24 2. Theory and Methods ......................................................................................................................................... 25 2.1. Theory ...................................................................................................................................................................... 25 2.1.1. Definitions ........................................................................................................................................................... 25 2.1.2. International Law ............................................................................................................................................ 26 2.1.3. The Kenyan government’s commitment to the protection of refugees ..................................... 28 2.2. Theoretical framework ..................................................................................................................................... 28 2.2.1. Customary law and Islamic law in Sudan and South Sudan ........................................................... 29 2.2.2. Gender roles in Sudanese and South Sudanese society ................................................................... 32 2.3. Methodology .......................................................................................................................................................... 34 2.3.1. The interviews .................................................................................................................................................. 34 2.3.2. The interview guide ........................................................................................................................................ 36 2.3.3. The role of the researcher ..................................................................................................................... 36 2.3.4. The ethical considerations ........................................................................................................................... 37 2.3.5. Generalization, validity and reliability .................................................................................................... 38 2.3.6. Coding and analysis......................................................................................................................................... 39 2.3.7. Restrictions and difficulties experienced ............................................................................................... 39 3. Data Description ................................................................................................................................................. 41 3.1. Community support...................................................................................................................................... 41 4 3.2. Community security ..................................................................................................................................... 44 3.3. Threats within the community ................................................................................................................ 46 3.4. Threats in and around Kakuma refugee camp .................................................................................. 49 3.5. Humanitarian workers approach - is it enough? .............................................................................. 53 3.6. Other actors in Kakuma refugee camp ................................................................................................. 55 3.7. The view on Sudan and South Sudan .................................................................................................... 57 4. Analysis..................................................................................................................................................................
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