The spread of Covid-19 virus and the precautions taken to limit its effects have generated impacts and consequences that exceed the health aspect to include the social, economic, and psychological fields. It also increased variety, inequality, and discrimination against marginalized groups, and created conditions and factors that exposed women and children to more violence. Its impact on populations living in emergency humanitarian contexts has been much greater, in particular the displaced and refugees women who have left their homes due to conflicts in Iraq and Syria, and women in host communities who already suffer from lack of services and harsh living conditions, as well as the marginalization and inequality they face before the pandemic as a result of their situation.
The current assessment provides an analysis of the reality of gender-based violence among refugee and internally displaced women and women in the host community in Iraq. It sheds light on the social, economic, and psychological impacts the pandemic has left on this segment of the population, which are risk factors that may increase their likelihood of exposure to violence. It also identifies the most important gaps in the response provided. The assessment took place in the frame of the gender regional program “Strengthening access to protection, participation and services for women refugees, IDPs and host communities” funded by the European Union (EU) Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, the EU MADAD Fund.