Subject and Thesis
The status of refugees in South Sudan is the urgent social problem of this state, and the role of certain segments of the population is often considered in academic literature from different standpoints. The subject of this work is the study of women’s empowerment in the country in question in order to ensure the greater rights and freedoms of this group. Based on the research by Andresen et al., women face a range of social problems in South Sudan, including elevated healthcare risks (701).
Additional interest in this topic is caused by the article by Elsheikh and Elamin, who argue that women empowerment is “crucial in achieving economic growth and the eradication of poverty” (194). The possibility of researching this topic may allow me to learn how to solve such a severe social problem as pressure on refugees. Improving the national self-awareness of the country and its development as a modern legal state is an urgent task. Accordingly, the participation of international organizations and official authorities is important in addressing the issue of refugee women’s equal rights in South Sudan, and this thesis is the background of the study.
Significance of the Topic
The importance of this topic is due to not only contradictory consequences that are caused by the inaction of local authorities but also an unacceptable example for the entire global legal community. Trenchard remarks that refugee women are under increased pressure from the indigenous population, although the official status of equality is to be provided by law. Living in separate camps that are similar to reservations imposes restrictions on the members of these communities and narrows their rights and opportunities significantly.
Children born in such conditions also have limited prospects for social development, which, in turn, may affect their health. Involving interested boards can be one of the potentially effective methods since both non-profit organizations and international agencies work to protect the freedoms and rights of the affected population. Thus, studying this topic and finding the ways of solving the problem in question may contribute to eliminating a number of challenges and helping citizens in need.
Value of the Sources Used
The sources used for this work may be taken from both academic literature and the media database. In authoritative journals, relevant interviews and reviews of this topic are given. For example, Akumu notes that refugee women in South Sudan are constantly undermined and want to be treated with understanding. Zambakari mentions ongoing social reforms in this state and focuses on ethnic issues, arguing that violence is an acute problem here (89).
Geleta considers those strategies that may help improve the situation in the region and notes microfinance as one of the steps (3). Nakash et al. support this position and add that solving economic issues can improve the current social situation in the state (1280). Finally, Hruby argues that the role of women in refugee camps deserves close attention since numerous cases of human rights violations take place there. Thus, all the considered sources may be utilized as a reasonable basis for research.
Quantitative Information
As quantitative data, it is required to provide statistical reports representing the current situation. The findings by Nakash et al. need to be used since the authors emphasize that 45% of refugee women in South Sudan were subjected to violence (1280). Also, it is essential to mention the country’s economic indicators in order to receive a comprehensive picture of the problem. As Elsheikh and Elamin state, “46.5 percent of the population is below the poverty line” (194). All these data are relevant when studying the topic and finding the ways out of the crisis.
Works Cited
Akumu, Patience. “Inside the World’s Largest Refugee Camp: ‘We Just Want to Go Home’.” The Guardian, 2018. Web.
Andresen, Ellen, et al. “Notes from the Field: Malnutrition and Elevated Mortality Among Refugees from South Sudan – Ethiopia, June–July 2014.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 63, no. 32, 2014, pp. 700-701.
Elsheikh, Samia, and Selma E. Elamin. “Women’s Economic Empowerment and Poverty: Lessons from Urban Sudan.” The Business & Management Review, vol. 7, no. 3, 2016, pp. 194-199.
Geleta, Esayas Bekele. The Microfinance Mirage: The Politics of Poverty, Social Capital and Women’s Empowerment in Ethiopia. Routledge, 2016.
Hruby, Denise. “These Mothers Are Building Homes in Refugee Camps.” National Geographic, 2018. Web.
Nakash, Ora, et al. “Exposure to Traumatic Experiences Among Asylum Seekers from Eritrea and Sudan During Migration to Israel.” Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, vol. 17, no. 4, 2014, pp. 1280-1286.
Trenchard, Tommy. “In Uganda’s Refugee Camps, South Sudanese Children Seek the Families They’ve Lost.” The New York Times. 2018. Web.
Zambakari, Christopher. “South Sudan and the Nation-Building Project: Lessons and Challenges.” National Democratic Reforms in Africa: Changes and Challenges, edited by Said Adejumobi, Springer, 2015, pp. 89-128.