In many parts of Eastern and Central Europe and the former Soviet Union, a large number of women and men have been forced out of their homes as a consequence of war and ethnic conflicts. Women refugees are particularly vulnerable as they have specific needs that include reproductive health services and protection from violence.

 Refugee women and girls are persistently and increasingly subject to physical, sexual and psychological violence. This includes hostage taking, rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy, murder, infliction of HIV/AIDS and domestic violence. An emerging trend in the ECE region is trafficking in refugee women from CEE and CIS. Women often carry the heaviest burden of survival for themselves and their families in refugee situations. In venturing out to collect firewood or go to the water and sanitation facilities often located at the edge of the refugee site, women face additional threat of violence. Research suggests that refugee men tend to resort to violence due to their perceived loss of purpose and erosion of traditional role on which their masculine identity is largely based. Men refugees are more likely to be approached, and to represent the refugee population in decision-making and reconstruction efforts, than are women. This results in the lack of integration of women’s interests and concerns, including ensuring equal access to all protection and programme services.

 Women constitute almost half of total population of concern to UNHCR, and 51% of populations in refugee camps, worldwide. Women have a greater chance of being granted refugee status (76%) than men (68%). On the other hand, relatively fewer women request asylum: seven out of ten asylum seekers are men.

 Examples of policies in the region:
Tajikistan: programmes for women-returnees