Civil Society Contribution to the Integration of Refugee Women

The session was funded by Set Them Free and Journalist and Writers Foundation (www.jwf.org)

The panel consisted of:

Ann Graham – Attorney, Texas

Youstina Youssef – Gardner Public Services Fellow, International Refugee Assistant Project, USA

Esra Aydin – NY Representative Communication Director, Set Them Free

Yalda Atif – Employment Specialist, HIAS, New York

Cemre Ulker – UN representative Journalist and Writers Foundation, moderator

(The talk started with a moment of silence due to last night’s horrible terrorist attack on the mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand…).

Yalda Atif informed about HIAS which provides legal services and assistance in social and economic integration in local communities. The main challenges for displaced women refugees are language barriers, lack of former work experience, and lack of child care services in the new community. She underlined that economic empowerment is important for social integration.

Esra Aydin informed about Set Them Free and their work on rising awareness of violations of women’s rights in prison and how they lack access to health and legal services. Set Them Free works with the organization Sisters Without Borders in Greece, where they assist displaced Turkish women and children with language classes, psychological support and basic social skills which are required for a successful integration in their new country.

Youstina Youssef informed about International Refugee Assistant Project’s work with women refugees. They work with law students and law firms and offer legal advice to refugees all over the world. Although they don’t work directly with reintegration, they cooperate with other reintegration agencies like HIAS.

Ann Graham highlighted her work with women refugees on the Texas/ Mexico border. Defining who the women refugees are is a complex question due to the US laws.

She strongly urged us to make refugee women feel welcome, and that this is something everyone can do. In Texas both Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities have come together in order to help the refugees. She ended her talk with the words:

“See the people, see their need, choose humanity”.