UNHCR deeply shocked and saddened by the murder of 31-year-old Syrian mother

22 Jan 2020


© UNHCR Cyprus

UNHCR is deeply shocked and saddened by the murder of the 31-year-old Syrian mother after she was stabbed at her place of residence in the presence of her children. While the suspect, her estranged husband, is being sought and her children are placed under state custody, UNHCR calls the competent authorities to effectively address the shortcomings of the state support system for refugee women, and in particular those who are faced with domestic violence or other forms of gender-based violence.  Becoming a refugee is always an ordeal, but for most women being a refugee is a double jeopardy.   It is more than often that domestic violence is precipitated or aggravated by the trauma of displacement.

UNHCR recalls the first encounter it had with the victim during her stay at the Emergency Reception Center at Kokkinotrimithia upon her arrival to Cyprus almost one a half years ago. She had embarked with her five children on a wooden boat from Lebanon, cramped with tens of other Syrian refugees, after fleeing the chaos in Idlib and after multiple attempts to arrive to Cyprus to reunite with her husband. She had already been identified as a potential victim of domestic violence at that point and was subsequently referred to the responsible authorities to ensure her protection. Meanwhile, several local NGOs provided counselling and support to the victim. She had repeatedly reported the abuse to the police. With the assistance of an NGO lawyer she submitted her last complaint after having received written death threats, on Friday 10 January 2020. Despite the grave risk, her husband who had consequently been remanded in custody, was released within 48 hours. Although she was finally offered to be hosted at a shelter for victims of violence, she was concerned about the ability to live there with her five children and was seeking assistance to relocate to another apartment, appropriate for her children and away from the perpetrator.

Several issues have transpired from this tragedy:  It is essential to identify systematically such women immediately upon their arrival, analyse the specific needs they have, and respond immediately and adequately to those needs. There is a need for comprehensive counselling and advice, in a language understood by the victim, which addresses the specific situation faced by refugee women, who lack a social protection network or support. Standard procedures need to be introduced and specific information to be provided with alternative solutions.  Measures to be taken include establishing effective referral systems to ensure that such women have access to relevant service providers; putting in place appropriate systems to prevent and respond to violence, exploitation and abuse; ensuring women have access to information about programmes that concern them. This requires systematic outreach activities to increase awareness and improve knowledge among refugees and asylum-seekers on the prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence. There are several refugee women at such risk who may be discouraged to speak up and report their complaints due to the tragic end of Ghada.

In almost all global forced displacement settings, sexual and gender-based violence is endemic, occurring too often and in every aspect of the lives of displaced women and girls and their families. It can take many forms, from rape and torture during conflict; sexual harassment; exploitation and abuse; domestic violence. Women and girls also suffer from discrimination, racism and ostracism, especially if it is known that they have been raped or sexually assaulted.

The protection of refugee women and girls is a core activity and an organizational priority for UNHCR. UNHCR seeks to closely work with the government to ensure that the specific needs of refugee women are met by building upon their own resilience and strength, and helping them to overcome barriers to education and employment, access opportunities and improve their lives, as well as those of their children and families, by promoting their active participation and empowerment.