No Safe Haven : Understanding Sexual Violence Against Refugees in Conflict-Induced Humanitarian Settings

Sammanfattning: This study seeks to explore what conditions contribute to sexual violence against refugees in conflict-induced humanitarian settings by focusing particularly on whether the physical and social insecurity in refugee camps may affect the reported levels of sexual violence. This study uses the method of structured focused comparison to study and compare the two Jordanian refugee camps Zaatari and Azraq during the period of 2014–2019. In particular, this thesis argues that high physical and social insecurity in conflict-induced humanitarian settings will lead to higher levels of sexual violence against refugees. By borrowing from the literature on conflict-related sexual violence, this study seeks to contribute to the scarce literature on sexual violence in humanitarian settings and explore the possible links between the occurrence of and explanations for this violence. Albeit modestly, the main findings suggest that the hypothesis is supported as the levels of physical and social insecurity seem to correspond with the expected variation in levels of reported sexual violence. Nevertheless, data limitations and other challenges call for caution and future research is needed to establish a more profound basis for this phenomenon.