Forced migration in the Horn of Africa continues to disproportionately affect women and girls, subject-ing them to specific vulnerabilities such as gender-based violence, economic marginalization, and re-stricted access to health, education, and legal services. Despite increased humanitarian attention, there remains overwhelming evidence of the systemic neglect of gender-specific needs within national and in-ternational migration policies and responses. Existing frameworks often adopt gender-neutral ap-proaches that overlook the structural inequalities exacerbating the suffering of displaced women and girls. This study employs a desktop research methodology to examine the gendered dimensions of forced displacement in Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and Eritrea. Through a critical analysis of academic literature, policy documents, and regional reports, the study identifies key patterns of exclusion and risk faced by women throughout the migration cycle. Findings reveal that displaced women are disproportionately ex-posed to sexual and gender-based violence, experience limited access to reproductive healthcare, and are frequently excluded from decision-making processes within refugee camps and host communities. These challenges are compounded by entrenched patriarchal norms and weak legal protections that undermine women’s agency and resilience. In response, the study recommends a comprehensive, multi-sectoral ap-proach that prioritizes gender-sensitive migration governance. This includes mainstreaming gender in humanitarian programming, increasing targeted funding for women-led initiatives, and enacting legal reforms to strengthen protection mechanisms for displaced women. Furthermore, community-based edu-cation and protection systems should be enhanced to promote safer, more inclusive environments for women and girls. Ensuring the meaningful participation of displaced women in policy design and imple-mentation is essential for achieving equitable and sustainable migration responses in the region.
Nyathi et al. (Tue,) studied this question.