A/HRC/44/41/Add.1
requirements have resulted in children of families perceived as affiliated to ISIL being deprived
of civil documentation and therefore of basic services. Many of these children are
unaccompanied or separated from their families, and they face additional obstacles for family
reunification owing to the associated stigma.
50.
While a number of programmes, including by civil society, currently provide invaluable
education and psychosocial support for groups of children, the scale of the problem requires a
more comprehensive approach across the country. The Special Rapporteur calls for
government policies, including the national child protection policy, to be strengthened to
ensure that displaced children have access to civil documentation, food, shelter, education and
health care, including psychosocial care, and that conditions are in place for their safe,
voluntary and dignified return.
D.
Sexual and gender-based violence
51.
Disturbing reports have been received of sexual and gender-based violence against
internally displaced women and girls, and to a lesser extent, men and boys. Those in camps are
particularly vulnerable because of lack of or limited access to basic services and livelihood
opportunities, and limited possibility for movement. Domestic violence is reportedly
widespread among internally displaced persons, and there have been calls for the enactment of
the anti-domestic violence law, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. 15
Transactional sex to help meet basic needs or to obtain protection (also referred to as “survival
sex”) and cases of forced and child marriage have been reported among the negative coping
mechanisms adopted by some displaced families living in poverty and deprived of livelihood
opportunities. Reports have also been received of cases of women whose families are perceived
to be associated to ISIL, such as widows of alleged ISIL members, being subjected to
harassment and sexual violence. Some of the cases reportedly took place in checkpoints or in
the context of security clearances, or were committed by security actors inside camps. The
Special Rapporteur recalls that no armed personnel should be allowed inside camps, which
must have their civilian and humanitarian character protected. Because of the fear of sexual
and gender-based violence in camps and areas hosting internally displaced persons, women
and girls feel insecure and may avoid going to markets, schools, service delivery points or
crossing checkpoints, compounding their marginalization, economic hardship and consequent
vulnerability.
52.
Cases of sexual and gender-based violence are largely underreported, which is probably
due to the lack of access to judicial or administrative mechanisms, fear of stigmatization or
retaliation, and lack of criminal accountability for perpetrators and protection mechanisms for
survivors. The Ministry of the Interior reported having established mechanisms to receive
complaints of sexual and gender-based violence inside camps, such as mobile units deployed
to camps and the opening of a hotline to report domestic violence. Although these efforts are
most welcome, they must be combined with greater criminal accountability for perpetrators,
protection measures for survivors and awareness-raising efforts to combat stigmatization.
Protection, legal, medical and psychosocial support services should be strengthened, especially
inside camps, for women and girl survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
53.
Some internally displaced or returnee women and girls have already experienced
conflict-related sexual violence and need health-care and psychosocial support. Women and
girls from Yazidi communities and other minorities who survived ISIL captivity and sexual
exploitation and abuse require more dedicated support for trauma, healing and rehabilitation.
The situation of Yazidi women whose children were born out of sexual violence must also be
addressed. Yazidi religious leaders have announced that women and girls survivors of sexual
violence should be received back by their communities without shame and reintegrated, but
not the children born out of rape during sexual enslavement by ISIL. Only a child born of two
Yazidi parents is considered a Yazidi. This poses serious concerns for the situation of these
children, who are at risk of abandonment, and for the prospects of durable solutions for
15
United Nations Iraq, “UN in Iraq raises the alarm: Time to endorse the anti-domestic violence law”, 16
April 2020.
11
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