The Impact of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence on Syrian Refugee Women in Lebanon Post Covid-19

Abstract

This thesis looks to explore the different impacts of gender-based violence on Syrian refugee women’s health and wellbeing especially during and post-Covid-19 between 2020 and 2022. It aims to highlight the importance of initiatives and services provided by NGOs across Lebanon for SGBV survivors in not only filling the gaps at the government level, but also in accessing the community of survivors more adequately. It argues that in the presence of such heightened NGO and humanitarian support, the Lebanese government feels less “obligated” and less inclined to expand their own services for survivors – particularly from within the refugee community. It also aims to contribute to conversations on the importance of mental health among refugee survivors. This thesis thus explores how various institutions, including governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), professional associations, and the private sector, play a role in addressing a number of impediments to the advancement of the mental health of refugee survivors, as well as how these entities continue to improve their responses and targeting in such emergencies amid an overall lack of government support.