Refugee women in Uganda often face significant challenges, including Gender Based Violence in various forms such as rape, female genital mutilation, physical, psychological, and emotional abuse, defilement, bride kidnapping, and sexual harassment. These challenges are exacerbated by adverse conditions such as lack of basic needs, unequal power relations, breakdown of social institutions, exposure to group violence, and low capacity of protection agencies, resulting into increased vulnerability and hardship. In conflict and post-conflict situations, girls and young women are less likely to access basic rights and education is often overlooked in favor of male children, leading to increased household responsibilities for girls.

In refugee settlements, women and girls face additional obstacles hindering their empowerment. Women are often overburdened with traditional responsibilities, leaving them little time to engage in decision-making processes. Girls are frequently forced to drop out of school to assist with household chores, and young women face challenges related to traditional gender roles, harmful practices like early or forced marriage, and unequal access to services and resources. Sexual Gender Based Violence and Sexual Reproductive Health factors, including rape and forced impregnation, are also prevalent.

The Association for Refugee Women – Uganda works to support refugee women and host communities in ending violence against women and girls. This is being achieved by: