Women Refugees and Their Unrecognised Plights in International Refugee Law Regime: A Critical Analysis

This article analyzes the key issue of women refugees being subject to increased gender-based violence in addition to the general trauma and torment that they face in their plight. Women refugees face a double disadvantage because of their weaker position in cases of exploitation, and many increase their exposure to sexual abuse while fleeing from persecution. In response to this on-going issue, the authors suggest recognizing the gender centric violence within the ambit of persecution. Thus, the authors call for including “sex” as one of the five enumerated grounds of persecution in the 1951 Refugee Convention. Further, the authors advocate for promoting the financial, education, and health needs of women refugees and girls.