Safety and Security of Sexual-reproductive Health and Gender-based Violence among Rohingya Refugee Women in Bangladesh

Rabeya Yousuf,Shaima Akter,Md Mushtahid Salam,Abdus Salam

doi:10.31344/ijhhs.v5i2.254

Abstract

Rohingya refugee women and girls are from a vulnerable society taking shelter in Bangladesh for humanitarian assistance following the serious human rights violations in Myanmar. They are facing a number of challenges such as insecurity, violence, very limited freedom of movement or ability to speak up and influence decisions in their communities. They are most vulnerable to exploitation due to inadequate basic living facilities in the camp causing them to be physically or sexually abused, forced prostitution and human trafficking. Gender-based violence, abandonment by their husbands in the camps, early marriage, teenage pregnancies including lack of safer pregnancy and childbirth are all important issues and challenges faced by them. Access to basic amenities and educational opportunities with special attention about sexual and reproductive health including issues such as gender equality, relationships and conflict management and adequate community health care can help the Rohingya women to overcome the situation. Actually, the word “Rohingya” derived from the people who exist in from the British rule of the medieval period in the current “Rakhine” state, formerly known as “Roshang” later turned into “Rohang” due to colloquial usage. Although officially Myanmar is not using the term “Rohingya” as this might potentially endorse their indigenous origin, an international involvement is obligatory to find a solution for sustainable return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 05 No. 02 April’21 Page: 163-170

Highlights

Rohingya are the Muslim community living in Rakhine state of Western Myanmar who are officially stateless and disowned by the Myanmar government as the 1982 Citizenship Law took away their Myanmar citizenship and forced them to face severe humanitarian crisis
In Bangladesh, this forced migration of the Rohingya population took place as early as 1978, and again in 1991-1992 due to the torture by Myanmar security forces including rape, arrests, and executions. This forced migration causes total displacement of almost 250,000 people during these two occasions[4]. Those who left in Myanmar, faced anti-Muslim riots in 2001 and later violence
Rohingya women and girls enters a vicious cycle of social disease of gender-based violence (GBV) and leading a life without any access to the fundamental rights due to the consequences of lack of education, low income generation, lack of access to adequate healthcare, increased vulnerability to trafficking and forced prostitution, early marriage, teenage pregnancies and poor quality of living[34]

Summary

Introduction

Rohingya are the Muslim community living in Rakhine state of Western Myanmar who are officially stateless and disowned by the Myanmar government as the 1982 Citizenship Law took away their Myanmar citizenship and forced them to face severe humanitarian crisis. Rohingya women and girls enters a vicious cycle of social disease of GBV and leading a life without any access to the fundamental rights due to the consequences of lack of education, low income generation, lack of access to adequate healthcare, increased vulnerability to trafficking and forced prostitution, early marriage, teenage pregnancies and poor quality of living[34] Abandonment by their husbands in the camps is a new emerging issue for the Rohingya women. UNFPA is a leading organization works through the United Nations, international and local nongovernmental organizations, and government agencies to provide sexual, reproductive and maternal health care services and work for GBV They had established 18 women friendly spaces in the refugee camps and two in the host community which are called as “shanti khana” or homes of peace by the Rohingya refugees. An international involvement and a long-term plan for their future rehabilitation and establishment in their own country is very much needed

Conclusions

Findings

Girls Critically Underserved in the Rohingya