NEPAL/BHUTAN

Trapped by Inequality:
Bhutanese Refugee Women in Nepal

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP 1: Nepal and Bhutan
MAP 2: Location of Bhutanese Refugee Camps in Nepal

GLOSSARY


1. SUMMARY
   
   
2. RECOMMENDATIONS
To the Government of Nepal
To the Government of Bhutan
To the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
To Humanitarian Aid Agencies
To the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
To International Donors


3. BACKGROUND
Crackdown on Ethnic Nepalese in Bhutan
State Persecution of Ethnic Nepalese Women and Girls in Bhutan
A Protracted Refugee Situation
A Flawed Categorization Process
Women’s Limited Participation in the Verification and Categorization Process
Ethnic Nepalese Women’s Status in Bhutan
Women’s Status in Nepal


4. DISCRIMINATION IN REGISTRATION PROCEDURES AND ACCESS TO AID
Discrimination against Women and Children in Refugee Registration
Non-Registration of Ration Cards in Women’s Names


5. GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN REFUGEE CAMPS
Guidelines for Preventing and Responding to Gender-Based Violence
Gender-Based Violence in Nepal’s Refugee Camps
The Government of Nepal and UNHCR: A Case of Negligence


6. EVALUATING REFORM: STRENGTHS AND GAPS IN THE RESPONSE TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
Security
Guidelines for Humanitarian Aid Staff
Women’s Leadership
UNHCR Staffing
Reporting and Referral Systems
Response to Domestic Violence
Response to Other Forms of Gender-Based Violence and Discrimination
Women’s Focal Points
Breaches of Confidentiality
Problems with Administration of Justice


7. INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
Protection from Violence
Gender Discrimination in the Transfer of Citizenship
Participation in the Verification and Categorization Process


8. CONCLUSION
   
   
APPENDICES

Appendix A—UNHCR-Nepal Subagreement Amendment: “Standards of Conduct”
Appendix B—Selected Web Resources on Gender-Based Violence in Refugee Settings


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

September 2003      Volume 15, No. 8 (C)