Rohingya Refugee Response Gender Analysis: Recognizing and responding to gender inequalities
Open accessAbstract
Since August 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees have fled Myanmar for camps in the Cox's Bazar district of Bangladesh. The research for this report was conducted to identify the needs, vulnerabilities, risks and concerns of Rohingya refugee and host community women, girls, men and boys in Cox's Bazar, as well as the skills and opportunities on which they can build. The analysis shows various gaps in the humanitarian response for both communities, especially in terms of accountability, communication with affected communities and disaster preparedness, but also in equitable access to services, in particular for women and girls, and especially for the Rohingya community. The report presents a range of recommendations for agencies responding to the crisis, including on water, sanitation and hygiene; menstrual hygiene management; food security and nutrition; livelihoods; gender-based violence; community and household power structures; women's and girls' leadership; unpaid care work; coping strategies; and community cohesion, among others. The research was led by Oxfam in partnership with Action Against Hunger and Save the Children, and produced with analysis, comments and recommendations from CARE, UNHCR, the Inter Sector Coordination Group and UN Women.
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Rohingya women report limited decision-making power and generally will not seek health care without being accompanied by a male relative or husband.
“Rohingya women report limited decision-making power and generally will not seek health care without being accompanied by a male relative or husband.”
From Mortality in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh: historical, social, and political context (2019) · cites this paper as [49]
Section 3.6.1 (page unavailable) reports that men had the final say in decisions, supporting the limited decision-making claim. Section 3.10 (page unavailable) says a Nayapara participant reported that women could not go to hospital alone and that refugee women generally needed a man's permission to visit a health centre. It does not establish that Rohingya women generally seek health care only when accompanied by a husband or male relative; permission and accompaniment are distinct. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAccording to the Intersectoral Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group, some older Rohingya women consider it "cowardly" to deliver under the care of allopathic health care providers in a hospital.
“According to the Intersectoral Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group, some older Rohingya women consider it “cowardly” to deliver under the care of allopathic health care providers in a hospital.50”
From Mortality in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh: historical, social, and political context (2019) · cites this paper as [50]
Section 3.10 (page not provided) reports that women in a Rohingya refugee focus group said pregnant women preferred home deliveries. It does not say that older women considered hospital delivery with allopathic providers “cowardly,” so the specific attitude attributed to the source is unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredPrevious studies have found Majis to be complicit in rape, trafficking, protecting perpetrators of intimate partner violence and other abuses of power, making these leaders inappropriate partners in reproductive health initiatives.
“Previous studies have found Majis to be complicit in rape, trafficking, protecting perpetrators of intimate partner violence and other abuses of power, making these leaders inappropriate partners in reproductive health initiatives.7,49,51”
From Mortality in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh: historical, social, and political context (2019) · cites this paper as [49]
Section 3.5.1 (page unavailable) reports that majhis demanded money or, in one account, sex in exchange for help, and that some charged to resolve disputes. The paper also describes majhis’ exploitation of children and adolescents in its safety discussion, but the passages do not link majhis to rape, trafficking, or protecting perpetrators of intimate partner violence. Its recommendations do not say that majhis are inappropriate partners in reproductive health initiatives. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredHusbands and mothers-in-law primarily decide when women may use contraceptives or access reproductive services, including facility-based delivery.
“Husbands and mothers-in-law primarily decide when women may use contraceptives or access reproductive services, including facility-based delivery.24,48,49”
From Mortality in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh: historical, social, and political context (2019) · cites this paper as [49]
Section 3.10 (page unavailable) says refugee women generally require a man's permission to visit a health centre and infers that men likely control access to family-planning services. It does not identify mothers-in-law as decision-makers or say who decides on contraceptive use or facility-based delivery. Section 3.6.1 also reports that decisions about having another child were usually shared, so the claim is more specific and certain than this source supports. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredCurrently, almost all health messaging occurs in collaboration with the Majis (or Majhis), who are male, government-appointed community leaders in Rohingya refugee camps.
“Currently, almost all health messaging occurs in collaboration with the Majis (or Majhis), who are male, government-appointed community leaders in Rohingya refugee camps.49”
From Mortality in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh: historical, social, and political context (2019) · cites this paper as [49]
Section 1.3 says majhis are the most common source of information and that almost all majhis are men. The References identify them as camp and block leaders appointed by the Camp in Charge. Neither passage establishes that almost all health messaging occurs in collaboration with them; the paper discusses information generally, not that specific proportion or practice. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
One of the most crucial challenges is strict gender norms and veiling practices of women in the community, leading to a strong choice for home deliveries.
“One of the most crucial challenges is the strict gender norms and veiling practices of women in the community, leading to a strong choice for home deliveries [28].”
From Community-based referral transportation system for accessing emergency obstetric services in the Rohingya refugee camp during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: facilitators and barriers through beneficiaries’ and providers’ lens using a mixed-method design (2022) · cites this paper as [28]
Section 3.10 (page unavailable) reports that women in a Balukhali focus group said pregnant women preferred home deliveries. Sections 3.3 and 3.10 describe purdah and restrictions on women’s mobility and healthcare access, but the paper does not establish that these norms caused the reported preference for home deliveries. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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- BIBLIOGRAPHY ACAPS Briefing Note. Rohingya Crisis: Situation Analysis. 22 November 2017. https://www.acaps.org/sites/acaps/files/slides/files/20171122_acaps_rohingya_crisis_0.pdf ACAPS/NPM Analysis Hub. Rohingya Crisis: Host Communities Review. Thematic Report, January 2018. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/20180130_acaps_thematic_report_rohingya_ crisis_host_communities_review.pdf Action Against Hunger (2017). Integrated SMART Nutrition and Health Survey in Host Communities of Ukhiya and Teknaf Upazila, Cox's Bazar, January-February 2017.
- CARE. Rapid Gender Analysis. September 2017. http://gender.care2share.wikispaces.net/file/view/Rapid+Gender+Analysis+of+Myanmar+Refugee+Cris is_18102017+v3_R.pdf Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). Real-Time Response Review of the DEC Emergency Appeal for People Fleeing Myanmar. Responding to the Needs of Refugees and Host Communities: Review of the DEC Phase 1 Responses March 2018. https://www.dec.org.uk/article/real-time-response-review-of-the- dec-appeal-for-people-fleeing-myanmar GBV Policy and Advocacy Task Team. Inter-agency Briefing Paper. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Policy%20and%20Advocacy%20TT%20Rohing ya%20Bangladesh%20Briefing.pdf
- United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Rohingya Refugee Crisis. https://www.unocha.org/rohingya-refugee-crisis Strategic Executive Group and partners. JRP for Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis, March-December 2018. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/JRP%20for%20Rohingya%20Humanitarian%20Cri sis%20-%20FOR%20DISTRIBUTION.PDF Ibid. Ibid.; and Oxfam. Rapid Protection, Food Security and Market Assessment, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, 19 November 2017. https://reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/rapid-protection-food-security-and-market- assessment-coxs-bazar-bangladesh ACAPS/NPM Analysis Hub. Rohingya Crisis: Host Communities Review. Thematic Report, January 2018. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/20180130_acaps_thematic_report_rohingya_cri sis_host_communities_review.pdf Ibid. Strategic Executive Group and partners. JRP for Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis, op. cit. ACAPS/NPM Analysis Hub. Rohingya Crisis: Host Communities Review, op. cit. UNDP and UN Women. Social Impact Assessment of the Rohingya Refugee Crisis into Bangladesh. Key Findings and Recommendations (6th December 2017). https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/assessments/1712 07_social_impact_assessment_and_rapid_host_community_impact_assessment_summary.pdf
- Oxfam. Rapid Protection, Food Security and Market Assessment, op. cit. ACAPS/NPM Analysis Hub. Rohingya Crisis: Host Communities Review, op. cit. Ibid. Ibid.; and GBV Policy and Advocacy Task Team. Inter-Agency Briefing Paper, op. cit. ACAPS/NPM Analysis Hub. Rohingya Crisis: Host Communities Review, op. cit.
- S. Ripoll (2017). Social and cultural factors shaping health and nutrition, wellbeing and protection of Rohingya people within a humanitarian context, op. cit. IOM Bangladesh Needs and Population Monitoring (NPM). Site Assessment: Round 8, op. cit. ACAPS/NPM Analysis Hub. Rohingya Crisis: Host Communities Review, op. cit.
- Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) (2015). Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action. https://gbvguidelines.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015- IASC-Gender-based-Violence-Guidelines_lo-res.pdf Action Against Hunger (2017). Integrated SMART Nutrition and Health Survey in Host Communities of Ukhiya and Teknaf Upazila, Cox's Bazar, January-February 2017. ACAPS/NPM Analysis Hub. Rohingya Crisis: Host Communities Review, op. cit. Rohingya Refugee Response Gender Analysis: Recognizing and responding to gender inequalities Again, it is possible that the concept of safety might have been understood differently by the community, compared with the way the word is used in humanitarian terminology.
- Oxfam (2018). Rapid Care Analysis in a Rapid-Onset Emergency, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, op. cit. Oxfam internal document. Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). Real-Time Response Review of the DEC Emergency Appeal for People Fleeing Myanmar. Responding to the Needs of Refugees and Host Communities: Review of the DEC Phase 1 Responses March 2018. https://www.dec.org.uk/article/real-time-response-review-of-the-dec-appeal- for-people-fleeing-myanmar
- Authors
- Toma, I., Chowdhury, M., Laiju, M., Gora, N., & Padamada, N.
- ORCID
- Toma, Iulia
- Published
- 2018-08-01
- OpenAlex
- W2887650151
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1
- Type
- report
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Issue Lab (Candid) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Action Contre La Faim
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Asian Geopolitics and Ethnography
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender, Security, and Conflict
- Social Sciences › Health › Migration, Racism, and Human Rights
- Keywords
- Rohingya refugees, gender inequality, humanitarian response, Cox's Bazar refugee camps, women and girls, gender-based violence, menstrual hygiene management, water, sanitation and hygiene, food and nutrition security, livelihoods, unpaid care work, women in leadership, community cohesion, disaster preparedness, equitable access to services, host communities
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