The Women and Girls matrix is based on evidence collected from over 600 refugee women from 10 ethnic communities[1] based in Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia, 2019 – 2021. They are not single case examples. They are common experiences reported from all sites. Recent work done in African Nations, Latin America and the Middle East also support these finding.
The information presented in the Matrices can be used in a number of different ways.
They can provide a basis for Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) focused Pledges which address the different ways in which the issues covered in each Thematic Area affects members of diverse groups.
Alternatively, they can focus on one particular group and demonstrate the intersection between the Thematic Areas. Illustrating the need for a holistic comprehensive approach for each group, rather than services offered in silos, which do not recognise the compounding effects of intersectional barriers and discriminations.
For each Thematic Area and Diverse group, we have presented a list of key issues which could be included in AGD focused Pledges and a sample of language which could be used for pledges. They are presented in different formats to illustrate the ways in which the data can be interpreted and used.
1. Age, Gender and Diversity Focused Pledges for Women and Girls across all Age and Diversity Groups
One essential tool for addressing the experience of diverse groups is through, age, gender and diversity disaggregated data collection and dissemination across all groups and thematic areas. This should be included in all pledges using an Age, Gender and Diversity lens. Additionally, it must be noted that the services required by refugees are sometimes not available to host communities and efforts must be made to ensure that services are equally available to both the refugee women and girls, and women and girls in host communities. Many refugee women and women in host communities already have the skills and capacity to deliver services themselves and all efforts should be taken to include them, in service delivery to both refugee and host communities.
Suggested Age, Gender and Diversity sensitive pledges:
AGD sensitive pledges aim to recognise and address the needs of different groups by considering the intersections of age, gender and diversity issues in each Thematic area. They will also consider the key cross-cutting issues across the Thematic areas including, among others, health, access to livelihoods, and risks of sexual and gender-based (SGBV) violence as well as barriers to meaningful refugee participation.
Drafting AGD Sensitive Pledges:
2. Pledges Focused on a Particular Diverse Group Named in the Matrix
(Please note some of this content is applicable across age and diverse groups, other content is group-specific)
Intersecting issues which must be addressed to provide comprehensive protection for:
[1] From Afghanistan, Myanmar (Chin, Kachin and Rohingya groups), Pakistan, Palestine, Sudan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen