Exploitation of Women and Children in Conflict

In conflict settings, women and children often bear the brunt of war’s devastating impact. The instability, displacement, and desperation wrought by conflict create a perfect storm for violations of human rights, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women and children. A tragic outcome resulting from conflicts is the increase in instances of child marriages as well as occurrences of human trafficking and child exploitation. These forms of abuse not only showcase the vulnerabilities brought about by war but also contribute to sustaining cycles of impoverishment trauma and exclusion from mainstream society. This article will showcase a few concerns within refugee communities by highlighting the circumstances at the Al Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan where Syrian girls are being forced into marriage a practice that borders on human trafficking and is deeply rooted in the socioeconomic conditions facing these families.

The Vulnerabilities of Women and Children in Conflict Settings

War worsens existing vulnerabilities, and its greater impact is on women and children in particular in conflict zones where economic turmoil and social breakdown occur along with a decline in legal safeguards. The disruption of these systems often results in women and children losing their sense of safety leading to an increased likelihood of being taken advantage of. As per the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) more than half of those displaced are women and children facing dangers of violence and exploitation.

In situations like poverty and lack of education or displacement from their homes could lead families to consider marriage as a means to provide security and stability for their daughters in need of protection and financial assistance or as discussed in literature works as Negative Coping Mechanisms; however, these arrangements frequently lead to further exploitation and abuse, with long-lasting consequences for the physical and mental health of these young girls.

One of the most disturbing manifestations of child exploitation in conflict settings I witnessed myself is found in the Al Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan, which houses tens of thousands of Syrian refugees. Al Zaatari has gained international attention not just for its size, but for the alarming trend of Child marriages involving Syrian girls and men from different countries from the region. These men, often much older, marry young Syrian girls—some as young as 13 or 14—for a few weeks or months, only to abandon them shortly after returning to their home countries.

These short-term unions known as marriages or as "pleasure marriages" share unsettling similarities with human trafficking practices. Families facing hardships might enter into agreements in return for a dowry or financial aid without recognizing or choosing to ignore the exploitative aspects of the deal. After these men depart from these arrangements and relationships end abruptly leaving the girls in situations where they found themselves socially isolated and abandoned with the added burden of being pregnant, it adds insult to the wound that these marriages often lack documentation which can result in a lack of legal support or safeguards, for these girls according to a UNICEF report from 2019.

In conflict areas like Al Zaatari camp and similar settings where poverty's rampant and resources are scarce child marriage is often spurred by the pressing need for stability instead of love or companionship. The families facing circumstances may see marrying off their daughters as a means to alleviate the financial strain or to acquire a dowry that offers temporary relief from hardship. In other words, Negative Coping Mechanism. The challenging conditions faced by displaced families in conflict zones expose them to risks of blurring the boundaries between marriage and human trafficking

Scientific research shows that early marriage has devastating consequences for the health and well-being of girls. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), girls who marry before the age of 18 are more likely to experience complications during pregnancy and childbirth, a leading cause of death for girls aged 15-19 globally (WHO, 2014). Moreover, early and child marriage often cuts short a girl’s education, limiting her future opportunities and reinforcing cycles of poverty and dependence.

The situation in Al Zaatari and other conflict settings reflects broader patterns of human trafficking and exploitation. The United Nations defines human trafficking as "the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, for the purpose of exploitation" (UNODC, 2020). In conflict zones, traffickers often take advantage of the chaos and vulnerability of displaced populations. Women and children are frequently targeted, either through deceptive recruitment or coercive means, such as child marriages that serve as a façade for exploitation.

Although not all marriages that happen early in conflict areas can be classified as trafficking; however, the circumstances surrounding them—characterized by coercion, deception and exploitation—can meet the criteria for wrongdoing. The temporary marriages in Al Zaatari, where affluent men from nations take advantage of families’ dire situations bear a striking resemblance to trafficking. These young girls are bartered for dowries. Then abandoned, bearing lasting repercussions, for a temporary monetary aid that often solely benefits their families.

Poverty significantly influences families to accept these agreements as a means of survival necessity, plays a role in driving families to agree to these exploitative arrangements for families residing in refugee camps where access to fundamental needs is limited and child marriage and exploitation might seem like viable options for addressing immediate financial challenges. The socio-economic desperation in camps such as Al Zaatari provides a breeding ground for individuals who take advantage of vulnerable communities. The socio-economic desperation in camps like Al Zaatari creates a fertile ground for exploiters who prey on vulnerable populations.

Research shows that poverty is a significant driver of early marriage and human trafficking. A report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) highlighted that economic deprivation is often at the root of human trafficking, with traffickers preying on individuals in dire financial situations (ILO, 2017). In refugee camps, where opportunities for economic advancement are limited, families may turn to child marriage as one of the few available options for financial security.

The mistreatment of women and children in areas of conflict like child marriages is a violation of human rights that needs urgent action to address it promptly and effectively. The situation of girls in the Al Zaatari Refugee Camp serves as a prime example of the severe outcomes resulting from poverty caused by conflict and the subsequent exploitation they often face. Instances of marriages that resemble trafficking are not random occurrences but rather indicate larger underlying issues related to poverty levels and displacement problems along with the failure of systems to safeguard vulnerable communities. International organizations, governments, and civil society must prioritize the protection of women and children in conflict settings, ensuring that they are not left to face the dual burdens of war and exploitation.

References

• International Labour Organization. (2017). Global estimates of modern slavery: Forced labour and forced marriage. Retrieved from https://www.ilo.org

• UNHCR. (2018). Global trends: Forced displacement in 2017. Retrieved from https://www.unhcr.org

• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2020). Global report on trafficking in persons 2020. Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org

• UNICEF. (2019). Child marriage in humanitarian settings: Spotlight on the situation in Jordan. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org

• World Health Organization. (2014). Health for the world’s adolescents: A second chance in the second decade. Retrieved from https://www.who.int