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Salt in the Wound: Justice Outcomes and SGBV Cases in the Karen Refugee Camps

Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) is a problem all over the world. It is also a problem in the seven Karen-majority refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border. Many international and local groups, including the Karen Women’s Organisation (KWO), have been working hard for many years to respond to and prevent SGBV in these camps.
In many countries in the world, one way of reducing SGBV that has been effective is for the community to show that SGBV is unacceptable. The justice system is one of the most important mechanisms a community can use to do that. KWO decided to conduct a study to measure how well the justice system available to victims of SGBV in the refugee camps is working and how effective it might be, or not be, in reducing SGBV.
The study aimed to provide a comprehensive picture of SGBV outcomes in all the camps, not only in one section or in one camp. Now we want to share what we found, so that we can all approach our fight against SGBV, against all violence in the refugee camps, in new, more effective ways.

The study aimed to provide a comprehensive picture of SGBV outcomes in all the camps, not only in one section or in one camp. Now we want to share what we found, so that we can all approach our fight against SGBV, against all violence in the refugee camps, in new, more effective ways.

This study shows that the justice system accessible to refugee victims of SGBV is failing to provide adequate responses that stop or reduce violence. There is not enough guidance, not enough support, not enough resources, and not enough training for the community leaders who have power in the justice system to adequately respond to cases of violence in the camps. Too often, victims of SGBV are failed by the justice system. The perpetrators of SGBV frequently do not receive punishment that is commensurate with their crimes. In most cases, the community leaders are not sure what to do or how to do it.

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Uploaded on: Jul 24, 2016
Last Updated: Jul 25, 2016
Year Published: 2011, 2012, 2013


Resource Tags

Resource Type: Practitioner Resources Issues: Community Paralegals, Gender-based violence, Legal Aid & Public Interest Law, Refugees & Migrant Rights, Women's Rights Tool Type: Reports / Research Method: Promoting Citizens' Participation in Governance, Research Languages: English Regions: Myanmar, Thailand