By taking the recognition of persons as rights-holders in the framework of international human rights into account, this study directs its attention to women in protracted refugee situations, restricted to stay in camps also when their human rights are at risk due to various forms of violence. The question in focus is the following: To what extent may there be a risk that women in a refugee camp context, distinguished by a protracted refugee situation, do not become visible as rights-holders and entrusted to act with regard to international human rights and the problem of violence against women, especially domestic violence? The research process has taken the form of a continuous dialogue with the material for the study, a dialogue directing attention to material from an established international human rights system on one hand and material dealing with a local refugee camp context on the other. The study finds its entry-point primarily in the context of the international human rights treaty the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), including the work of the CEDAW Committee as a treaty body, and also the international mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its causes and consequences. Due to the presence of a variety of justice mechanisms in the camps, certain aspects of a local customary law tradition are also addressed. The existence of an unlocked legal door for women to take actions in family law matters, or in cases of gender-based violence is something not to take for granted. The hindrances could lie deep in the legal system practiced. It could be an issue of not being entrusted by the structure of the system to act in person, as woman, with a legal capacity and by own right before the law. The study underlines the importance of sharpened awareness and analysis of the presence of a complex legal context and a variety of customary law traditions in the camps. It appears from the study that for women in a refugee camp to be able to act as rights-holders and claim human rights as laid down in human rights conventions, the issue of visibility is not only a matter of training in presenting facts on the ground in front of local authorities. To be visible in addressing the problem of gender-based violence and gaps in protection of human rights in a refugee camp context is first and foremost an issue for women to be recognized the right to act in legal matters. It is an issue of having the freedom of expression and to be recognized the social and legal status to act in their own capacity in front of the local legal structures, including the local customary law context, and to address international human rights monitoring mechanisms, such as the CEDAW Committee or the Special Rapporteur.

<p>This study attests to the fact that disability is an issue in conflict-affected populations, in particular refugees. Refugees with disabilities living in Mayukwayukwa refugee camp also have poor HRQOL similar to other studies. Education was the only variable significantly correlated to the psychological and social domains of the HRQOL. The study highlighted that environmental and personal variables played a role in the determination of health related quality of life among refugees with disabilities.</p>

<p>This study attests to the fact that disability is an issue in conflict-affected populations, in particular refugees. Refugees with disabilities living in Mayukwayukwa refugee camp also have poor HRQOL similar to other studies. Education was the only variable significantly correlated to the psychological and social domains of the HRQOL. The study highlighted that environmental and personal variables played a role in the determination of health related quality of life among refugees with disabilities.</p>

In this study I have studied the European Unions suggestion about disembarkation of refugees from a human rights perspective - especially the perspective of human value and human dignity. Human dignity is central. It is expressed in the preamble to the UN Human Rights, as well as in its first paragraph; “Everyone has the right to dignity, and it shall not be violated.” I have studied refugees that have previously spent time in large refugee camps outside Europe, in Jordan and in Libya. In my study I use Libya as an example on what refugees can face in camps in third-world countries. The subject caught my attention since the Norwegian ship MS Tampa picked up refugees on international water outside Australia. The Norwegian captain tried to leave them on Australian land but was refused to do so. Australia sent a military boat to pick them up and left them at an island outside Australia. Moreover European politicians have discussed the idea of off-shore, placements of refugees at disembarkation camps as a way of solving the problem of huge number of refugees that are looking for asylum in Europe as well as the many deaths at the Mediterranean Sea. There has also been a discussion on quota refugees chosen by the UNHCR. This made me wonder how the situation would be for the remaining refugees that will stay in these large camps, maybe for years, as well as how their human rights are respected in camps outside Europe where Europe have no control? How does this correspond to the principle of human value? In my qualitative study I started by making a literature study. Thereafter continued with an interview study where I interviewed refugees that have stayed at camps outside Europe. The purpose of the interview and the study was to take part of their narratives and to make their voices heard. I found that the narrative of refugees is not heard, this makes them feel less valued as human, or not even a human. Their dignity is violated, and their human rights are not respected. Their interests have been forced to give way to the interest of the state.

This Master’s level research project investigates how gender shapes the resettlement challenges that liberian refugees have faced in Nova Scotia. The study investigates the impact of the reframing of gender relations during resettlement processes in both material and symbolic domains of life in Halifax. While male Liberian refugees are found to have a comparative advantage over their female counterparts, due in large part to the priority given to educating young men in rural Liberia, they also have higher expectations of education and employment once settled. Women seem to benefit symbolically if not materially from the reframing of gender relations in Canada, as compared to Liberia.

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