5. ACCESS TO BASIC RIGHTS
5.8 V ULNERABLE GROUPS
Various sources pointed to single IDP women and female headed households as being particularly vulnerable.208 According to IOM, the most vulnerable IDPs are those without financial resources, IDPs living in various kinds of informal settlement like unfinished buildings, the sick and disabled, female headed households and those without family or network, especially single women.
5.8.1 Single women inside camps
Two sources referred to single women living in IDP camps being vulnerable to harassment.209 Two sources mentioned incidents of women and girls being harassed by young men in the camps on their way to toilets, water points and when it is dark.210 The management of Harsham camp said that older women have their non-food and food items or their vouchers stolen from them.
Two sources stated that it is most likely that single women and girls find a family to live with.211 The western diplomat, however, also said that some young girls are living together in small informal groups inside the IDP camps. The management of Harsham camp in Erbil stated that single women, with and without children, are living in the camp. IRC said that as regards divorced women with children, it would be easier for them to live by themselves in the sense that it would socially be more acceptable.
ERC stated that inside the IDP camps, the conditions for single women are very controlled, but outside the camps, the conditions for single women are uncertain. According to ERC, in IDP camps in Erbil, various implementing partners are dealing with vulnerable individuals, including single women, and the management in the IDP camps always keeps five to ten caravans available for vulnerable cases, for example single headed households. ERC said that if there are vulnerable cases inside the camps, they are dealt with.
5.8.2 Single women outside camps
According to three sources, the scenario of an unmarried single woman living alone in KRI is hypothetical; there is always some kind of extended family that can take care of a girl or a woman until she is married.212 IRC said that, even though, single women are rarely able to live by
themselves, they will, in some cases, be able to work outside the house. As regards single women
207 IOM, ERC, INTERSOS, IRC
208 IRC, an international NGO, ERC, UNHCR, a western diplomat, management of Baharka and Harsham camp
209 Management of Harsham camp, IRC
210 IRC, management of Baharka camp
211 IRC, a western diplomat
212 An international NGO, IOM, ERC
62 travelling by themselves, IRC said that it would be more acceptable if they travelled for work purposes than for leisure.
5.8.3 Children
ERC informed that they are dealing with vulnerable individuals based on the rule of law. As an example given, ERC is fighting child marriages because it is forbidden by law and cases of child marriage are therefore reported to the police. UNHCR also referred to the legal age of marriage in KRI being eighteen years but said that child marriages are prevalent KRI; girls as young as nine years of age are married.213 UNHCR added that while there also are cases of child marriage in the KRI host community, IDP families may become financially more vulnerable and therefore engage in negative coping mechanisms such as child marriage.
Two sources informed that female genital mutilation (FGM) is widespread in KRI.214 Human Rights Watch, however, said that female genital mutilation (FGM) was outlawed in 2011 and that the number has gone down in some areas from eighty to fifty percent. According to Human Rights Watch, female genital mutilation (FGM) is particularly found in the part of KRI bordering Iran but is practiced across KRI.
5.8.4 Gender based violence
Three sources said that problems of domestic violence and self-immolation exist in KRI.215 Human Rights Watch said that cases of so-called honour crimes continue in KRI, despite legal changes. In terms of domestic violence, one report cited 92 cases of burning of women resulting in 54 deaths in the first quarter of 2015, with one third of overall cases self-immolation. The reasons behind the actions included domestic violence. According to statistics forwarded by UNHCR, during the period of January to November 2014, the Directorate for Combating Violence against Women (DCVAW) has registered 33 cases where women have been killed, 37 cases of suicide, 186 cases where women have been burned, 85 cases of self-immolation and 127 cases of sexual violence. The western diplomat said that an increase in cases of honour crimes against Yazidi girls has been reported which has led to an increase of suicides among Yazidi girls by self-immolation.216 5.8.5 IDPs from Anbar
ERC said that many IDPs have come from Anbar and are considered particularly vulnerable. The IDPs from Anbar are mostly farmers and from rural areas, hence, in the majority of cases, they come from very traditional livelihoods, where illiteracy is high. Often they require more assistance
213 For further details on child marriages, please refer to meeting note from meeting with UNHCR, Appendix 2.
214 Journalist Osama Al Habahbeh and Human Rights Watch. For further information on FGM in Iraq, Journalist Osama Al Habahbeh made reference to the website nirij.org.
215 Human Rights Watch, a western diplomat, UNHCR
216As regards initiatives to meet challenges with honour related disputes and crimes, please refer to section 4.3 Protection of women in cases of honour crimes.
63 at all levels than most other IDPs. There are cases of child marriages and polygamy among the Anbar IDPs, and NGOs generally find it more difficult to deal with them.
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Consulted sources
An independent researcher
An international humanitarian organisation An international NGO
A lawyer working for an international NGO A scholar specialized in Kurdish issues A western diplomat
Erbil Refugee Council (ERC)
Head of the General Security Directorate, Asayish, Esmat Argushi Human Rights Watch
International Organization for Migration (IOM) International Rescue Committee (IRC)
INTERSOS
Journalist Osama al Habahbeh Journalist Shalaw Mohammed
Management of Baharka/Harsham camp Ministry of the Interior, Karim Sinjari Professor Bassel al-Hassan
Public Aid Organization (PAO) and Kurdish Human Rights Watch (KHRW) Qandil
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) Visiting Scholar Renad Mansour
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