The Protection of SGBV Victims: a Study on Women Refugees Based in Camps in Greece
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MASTER’S DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Dissertation The protection of SGBV victims: A study on women refugees based in camps in Greece Of MOYSIDOU STEFANIA Submitted as required to obtain the master's degree Specialization Diploma in International Public Administration May 2021 1 Moysidou Stefania Dissertation The protection of SGBV victims: A study on women refugees based in camps in Greece Supervisors Ms Chainoglou Kalliopi Assistant Professor Department of International and European Studies Mr Nikolos Zaikos Associate Professor Department of Balkan, Slavic and Eastern Studies 2 Abstract Greece is one of the countries affected the most from the crisis and received sharp criticism in its ability to respond to humanitarian needs of refugees, providing asylum reception facilities of minimum or inhuman standards that could not address SGBV. Aim: the focus of the present study lies mostly on the incidence of SGBV in relation to accommodation conditions, putting the emphasis on the investigation of possible violations of International Law. Methodology: a field case study based on mixed retrospective research was carried out in Northern Greece (Thessaloniki and Veroia). Structured Interview and close-ended questionnaires were used for receiving data. Sample: Respondents included 58 (31.86%) women from a total number of 182 female residents of the two camps, aged between 16 and 59 years, coming from different parts of Asia (Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Palestine). Results: similar data were found in the two camps regarding the incidence of SGBV (high), the place where the reported violence occurred (in the vast majority survivor’s own house), and the alleged perpetrators (principally members of the family). On the other hand, differences were detected solely in terms of the number and types of violence. However, this ratio of differences and similarities was not anticipated, based on the assumption that the camps’ structure and characteristics are considered as risk or protective factors for the incidence of SGBV in refugee population. In terms of possible violations, after juxtaposing the mechanisms and procedures followed in Diavata site with the relevant legislation, no direct violations were found under international, regional or state law. On the contrary, in Agia Varvara site three violations were identified in relation to SGBV, namely the lack of Women Safe Space, separate well-lit bathrooms for women, and guarding and patrolling which could be seen as violations of Law 4531/2018. 3 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 6 2. Methodology and Data Processing.................................................................................. 11 3. Results ............................................................................................................................. 13 3.1. Overall ..................................................................................................................... 13 3.2. Diavata camp ........................................................................................................... 19 3.3. Agia Varvara camp ................................................................................................... 20 3.4. Comparison of results between the two camps ..................................................... 21 3.5. Comparison of results with literature ..................................................................... 21 4. Description of the issue of SGBV cases identified in Greek camps- comparison with other countries facing humanitarian crisis .............................................................................. 24 4.1. Overview .................................................................................................................. 24 4.2. Situation in Greece .................................................................................................. 25 4.3. Situation in Germany ............................................................................................... 29 4.4. Situation in Sweden ................................................................................................. 30 4.5. Situation in Austria .................................................................................................. 32 4.6. Situation in Italy ....................................................................................................... 32 5. Camp characteristics and structure in two camps of Northern Greece (Diavata and Agia Varvara) ................................................................................................................................... 36 5.1. Diavata camp ........................................................................................................... 36 5.2. Agia Varvara camp ................................................................................................... 37 6. Mechanisms and procedures followed for SGBV survivors in the two Greek camps (protective and risk factors) .................................................................................................... 38 6.1. Mechanisms and procedures followed in Diavata camp ........................................ 38 6.2. Mechanisms and procedures followed in Agia Varvara camp ................................ 39 7. I.H.L. regarding SGBV survivors ....................................................................................... 41 7.1. An overview ............................................................................................................. 41 7.2. Universal level ......................................................................................................... 42 7.2.1. Amnesty International ..................................................................................... 43 7.2.2. United Nations ................................................................................................. 45 7.3. Regional level........................................................................................................... 51 7.4. National Level .......................................................................................................... 55 7.4.1. Overview .......................................................................................................... 55 7.4.2. Gender equality ............................................................................................... 56 7.4.3. Violence against women ................................................................................. 58 7.4.4. Migration ......................................................................................................... 59 4 7.5. Protocols for the operation of refugee accommodation sites ................................ 60 7.5.1. Prior to the study ............................................................................................. 61 7.5.2. During the time of the study ........................................................................... 61 7.5.3. Currently .......................................................................................................... 61 8. Investigation for possible violations of I.H.L. regarding SGBV survivors in the two Greek camps ...................................................................................................................................... 63 8.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 63 8.1.1. At the International (UN) level ........................................................................ 63 8.1.2. In the EU level .................................................................................................. 64 8.2. Violations and gaps identified in the two Greek camps (Diavata and Agia Varvara) 65 8.2.1. Diavata Site ...................................................................................................... 65 8.2.2. Agia Varvara Site .............................................................................................. 66 9. Discussion ........................................................................................................................ 68 References ............................................................................................................................... 74 5 1. Introduction Sexual and Gender based violence (SGBV) is one of the most serious threats to the health and safety of women and girls worldwide (Oliveira et al., 2018; Vu et al. 2017, Tappis et al., 2016; Russo and Pirlott, 2006; Keygnaert, Vettenburg and Temmerman, 2012; Clark, Khawaja, Spencer, 2013; Morof et al., 2014; Blay-Tofey and Lee, 2015), while in refugee, asylum seeking and migrant populations the incidence of SGBV is considered to be higher (Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2015; Keygnaert et al., 2015; UNHCR, UNFPA and WRC, 2016; Lee et al., 2016; Dias, Fraga and Barros, 2013; Bonewit and Shreeves, 2016; Blazek, 2014). This threat is more pronounced in contexts, such as warfare, where law and order are absent or troubled and society has lost its connectivity and normality. In such settings, SGBV has been traditionally used as a war tactic (Hossain et al., 2018; Wirtz et al., 2014; Saint Arnault, 2017), constituting a variety of human rights violations (Clark, Khawaja and Spencer, 2013; Vu et al., 2017; Oliveira et al., 2018). Furthermore, it is