Security Predicament of Syrian Refugees Through Gender Lens in Line with EU–Turkey Joint Action Plan 2015
| Published date | 01 April 2023 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/00208817231158405 |
| Author | Rippy Das,Kabindra Sharma |
| Date | 01 April 2023 |
https://doi.org/10.1177/00208817231158405
International Studies
60(2) 209 –230, 2023
© 2023 Jawaharlal Nehru University
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DOI: 10.1177/00208817231158405
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Research Article
Security Predicament of
Syrian Refugees Through
Gender Lens in Line
with EU–Turkey Joint
Action Plan 2015
Rippy Das1 and Kabindra Sharma2
Abstract
War has numerous repercussions for each gender. In the instances of war-
induced displacement, both genders are usually subject to intensive risks in their
journey as refugees, from reaching destined countries through dangerous routes
to gender differences and inequalities they face in the host countries. The tales
of agony and calamity shed light on the fact that the refugee crisis is very much a
crisis for both genders not limited to one gender. Since the Second World War,
the Middle East has been regarded as the world’s most conflict-prone region.
Continuous Wars and civil wars have always raised questions about human
threats and Syria is not exceptional. As a consequence of the Syrian civil war
which was started in 2011, 13.5 million Syrians substituting for more than half
of Syria’s population are deracinated, destitute or confined in difficult to access
areas. Tens of thousands of Syrians have fled their nation in search of safety and
access to essential amenities. Many Syrians choose to reach Europe other than
Middle East countries as their destination to get asylum where they risk their
lives by making the dangerous journey through the Mediterranean Sea route
and both men and women face different refugee predicaments throughout their
journey. At the same time, the European Union (EU) is playing a significant role
in managing the Syrian Crisis, although it has been facing a remarkable advent
of refugees and migrants. In 2015, the EU and Turkey officially followed a joint
‘Action Plan’, which mainly aimed to deter the gargantuan influx of outcasts and
transients into the EU. However, the plan has faced a lot of criticism which argued
that although the EU presented as a humanitarian actor in dealing refugee crisis,
it is trying to push its responsibilities towards Turkey. Against this backdrop, this
article has examined the crisis faced by the Syrian refugees after the adoption of
2Sikkim University, Gangtok, Sikkim, India
1Banaras Hindu University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Corresponding author:
Rippy Das, Banaras Hindu University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India.
E-mail: rippydas.udl@gmail.com
210 International Studies 60(2)
the joint action plan. Further, it has analysed, if the said joint action plan has made
their refugee journey more complicated in the EU by adding new challenges for
both Syrian men and women differently.
Keywords
Security, gender, Syrian refugees, the EU -Turkey agreement, European Union
Introduction
As the world entered into the new millennium, globalization has taken over the
world which in turn has resulted into ethnic conflicts (Ishiyama, 2004), violence,
civil wars, terrorism (Lutz & Lutz, 2015), migration and refugee crisis (Chimni,
2000; Richmond, 2005) in different components of the planet bypassing the
normal notion of the global economy (Troeller, 2003). Though the idea of
prioritizing individual security gained prominence after the publication of the UN
report on human development in 1994, the crisis of individual security existed
before that. In the context of conflict-related displacement, both men and women
confront significant risks in their journey as refugees, from reaching their
destination nations via dangerous routes to gender differences and inequality in
the host nations. Refugees usually move by leaving their loved ones and ancestral
property behind as they are forced to flee their countries due to insecurity in their
lives. The security issues continue with their refugee journey in host countries as
well. The safety of displaced people is assured legally under the 1951 Refugee
Convention and 1967 Protocol (UNHCR, 2020a). As of now, 149 nations have
ratified the convention and are obligated by law to protect refugees while
upholding the rights of the host nations (UNHCR, 2021a). The convention of
1951 with regard to the refugees states ‘a refugee is someone who, owing to a
well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality,
membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country
of his nationality or habitual residence, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is
unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country’ (UNHCR, 2008).
People from a particular place when crossing their internationally identified
outskirt intending to save themselves from conflicts or affliction are known as
refugees (Betts & Gil, 2011).
In the 21st century, humanitarian actors are floundering with different crises.
More than 100 million people were forcefully displaced globally by May 2022 as
a result of oppression, conflict, terror, violation of human rights or events that
substantially disrupted public order (UNHCR, 2022b). The Syrian Arab Republic
conflict, which completed its fifth year in 2015, drew widespread international
attention due to the enormous refugee flows and humanitarian needs it caused.
Millions of people were dislocated due to the conflict which became more violent,
maximum number of Syrians escaped due to the horror of agonizing carnage of
innocent non-combatants by ISIS in Syria. Other ongoing crises and conflicts, as
well as new ones that developed throughout the year, also contributed to the
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