SHE Associates Conducts a Primary Study on Child and Early Forced Marriage in Syrian IDP Camps and Presents it at the Commission of Status of Women
Recognizing a crucial gap, in late 2021 SHE Associates in partnership with Start Point set out to establish baseline evidence in relation to child and early forced marriage (CEFM) in the internally displaced people (IDP) camps of Northern Syria. We sought to identify the key drivers, enablers and consequences of CEFM. We also sought to identify resource needs and gaps for victims of violence in an area barely touched by international organizations and in dire need.
Our objective was to amplify the voices of the women and girls whom we met to accurately inform the international community of their lived realities.
As a part of the study, SHE Associates conducted a roundtable consultation with other aid organizations, and used this discussion to inform the participatory assessment tools.
We used a mixed method approach in this research. All tools were translated into Arabic and were culturally and gender-informed. Our fully female enumerator team travelled through inconceivable conditions to gather data. We held three focus group discussions, surveyed over 80 respondents and interviewed key respondents, such as IDP camp management, mothers, health care workers and even a teacher.
- Our categories of assessment included:
- Knowledge, Awareness and Understanding of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
- Beliefs, Perceptions and Pressures around child marriage
- Grievances and unmet needs contributing to earlier marriages
- Shifting gender roles in the context of displacement
- Influences in decision-making for early marriage
- Consequences of Early Marriage
- Programming Needs and Gaps
