Paper Details

The story of female refugees in South Asia is one of resilience amid profound adversity. In this region, steeped in history and marred by conflict, the struggles of women are magnified by gender-based violence and statelessness. Refugee camps tell tales of unspoken sorrows, of women forced to navigate the perilous terrain of exclusion, with their identities fragmented by legal voids and societal rejection. South Asia’s refusal to embrace the 1951 Refugee Convention’s principles has compounded this rightlessness, leaving countless women without protection or recognition. Statelessness operates as a silent adversary, rendering women invisible to the legal and social systems meant to safeguard them. In Bangladesh, the Rohingya women bear the weight of systemic inequities, divided into registered and unregistered categories—labels that dictate their access to survival essentials like food and healthcare. Across the border in India, the specter of the Foreigners Act of 1946 looms large, stripping refugees of hope and humanity. Meanwhile, in Pakistan, Afghan women’s lives are a grim narrative of surveillance, displacement, and vulnerability, underscored by mass deportations that tear families apart. Myanmar’s policies have systematically targeted Rohingya women, weaponizing rape and displacement to crush their spirit. Refugee women are not merely victims; they are survivors and agents of change. They rise through education, community solidarity, and sheer determination to challenge patriarchal norms and reclaim their identities. This study delves into their journeys, unravelling the complex interplay of gender, statelessness, and identity politics. It chronicles their struggles and seeks to inspire actionable reforms, emphasizing the need for legal recognition, gender-sensitive policies, and regional collaboration to rewrite the narrative of displacement and exclusion in South Asia.

Women, South Asia, Refugees, SAARC, ASEAN, COVID-19, Sexual Violence, Gender-based crimes.