“The capacity of women to be agents of change in addressing refugee issues has been largely overlooked in government responses. […] One answer is that women and youth, when given the chance to lead, will provide solutions.”
Bárbara Romero, Co-founder, Global Independent Refugee Women Leaders (GIRWL) Translated Versions: Arabic Farsi Spanish The conference Refugee Women: Unpacking Gender-based Violence 2020 opened an online space — led by the Global Independent Refugee Women Leaders (GIRWL) and co-hosted by the World Refugee
To celebrate International Women’s Day, join GIRWL co-founders on March 10 to talk about one year of refugee women-led achievements.
Equitable vaccine distribution represents one of the most challenging, vexatious political issues facing UN member states in 2021. Governments that can afford large-scale purchases have already contracted the lion’s share of vaccine production for their own use. But they have left the rest of the world, where there is limited capability to manufacture and deliver vaccines, high and dry.
Marking the end of the international campaign 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, this highly interactive virtual conference will bring together women refugees from around the world at a critical moment, leading discussions on topics of gender-based violence
In this feature from Carleton University, WRMC President Fen Hampson discusses the Council’s partnership with GIRWL as well as work to develop secure online communication and engagement platforms for refugees.
Global Independent Refugee Women Leaders (GIRWL) is a group of refugee women-led initiatives, networks, and advocates that works with and for refugee women to:
GIRWL’s vision is to work with and for refugee women globally to increase women’s participation in shaping policies, building refugee women’s capacity to engage locally, nationally, regionally and globally, and to strategically advocate for and promote inclusive human rights approaches to forced displacement.
With gender as the key cross-cutting theme, GIRWL aims to build a global network of refugee women and refugee women-led initiatives to bolster refugee women’s ability to make meaningful contributions to decision-making processes. GIRWL advocates for refugee agency and self-representation, strengthen the collaboration between network members, relevant global initiatives and other stakeholders, and to guarantee positive changes to the global refugee architecture, including the development and humanitarian systems.
The goal of GIRWL is to empower, inspire and equip refugee women to become leaders in their homes and communities.
Support for the World Refugee & Migration Council’s work with GIRWL has been provided by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and through the Council’s partnership with Cuso International.
Interim chair, Global Refugee-led Network/ European Coalition
Lesbian Human Rights Defender
Exec. Director New Women Connectors & Steering Committee Member Global Refugee-led Network
Psychologist. Master in Social Sciences. Consultant & Researcher
Refugee and Gender Advocate, founding member of Global Refugee-Led Network and Asia Pacific Network of Refugees
