The Prevalence and Contributing Factors of Sexual and Gender-based Violence among Women Somali Refugees in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Case of Ethiopian Orthodox Church Development and Inter Church Aid Commission Refugees and Returnees Affairs Department (EOC-DICAC-RRAD)

Abstract

Sexual and gender-based violence is a violation of human rights. This kind of violence perpetuates the stereotyping of gender roles that denies human dignity of the individual and stymies human development. The overwhelming majority of the victims/survivors of sexual and gender-based violence are women and girls. The root causes and consequences of sexual and gender-based violence must be understood before appropriate programmes to prevent and respond to this violence can be planned. The main purposes of this study are to assess the prevalence and contributing factors for sexual and gender based violence and harmful tradition practices. It also attempts to investigate contributing factors for the prevalence of the problem especially among Somali urban refugees who are residing in Addis Ababa. Methodologically, this study uses both qualitative narrative approach and quantitative method and the results are triangulated. Both primary and secondary data are used to collect relevant data for the study. The primary data are collected with the help of questioners and in-depth interviews with Somali women refugees, urban refugees’ women association members, key informants and social workers working for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Development and Inter Church Aid Commission Refugees and Returnees Affairs Department (EOC-DCIAC-RRAD). The findings of the research indices that there is high prevalence of gender based violence and harmful traditional practices among Somali urban refugees community besides the deep rooted customs and traditions of the Somali community and the values attached to women and girls significantly contributed for the wide prevalence of the problem. The study recommends awareness raising workshops and trainings to Somali women, elders, religious leaders, urban refugees’ representatives. Such trainings need to back up with monitoring to see the impacts. It also recommends that sending girls to school enable them to capacitate with knowledge.