Addressing the gendered dynamics of asylum seeker and refugee integration provision in Cyprus: Key findings and recommendations

Gender is a system of relations that shapes all aspects of the migration experience. Women face unequal access to resources, property, education, protection, justice, the labour market, and decision-making in both origin and reception countries. Therefore, the conditions of migration and integration become particularly challenging for refugee women who often deal with a triple disadvantage: immigration status, forced migration and gender. Integration policies are often designed based on an androcentric approach failing to address the specific needs of women, and displaced migrants that do not fit the category of a male heterosexual displaced migrant. As a consequence, a large number of women displaced migrants as well as individuals who do not fit into the traditional binary definition of gender are particularly vulnerable to discrimination and Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV). In Cyprus, the absence of an ongoing action plan on integration has left many displaced migrants in precarious living conditions. Drawing on the results of five research packages on local and national integration policies conducted within the framework of the Glimer project, we argue that (1) integration policies on a national and local level are inconsistent, sporadically implemented, and often project restrictive. (2) integration processes in Cyprus are not gender mainstreamed and therefore the gendered impact of displaced migration is not addressed. (3) As a result, women displaced migrants face multiple challenges including fewer labour market opportunities, weaker social integration, as well as a higher risk of SGBV, labour exploitation and trafficking. These vulnerabilities are compounded by sexist and discriminatory practices, the absence of childcare and other services, and traditional gender roles and stereotypes that pose additional barriers to the integration of women displaced migrants in Cyprus. This policy brief presents our research findings and presents policy recommendations to the Republic of Cyprus to improve responses to and address the gendered impact of displaced migration. Given the forthcoming National Action Plan on Integration and the broad expertise within civil society organisations in on gender and integration, we see this as an opportunity to develop synergies among relevant stakeholders to integrate gender equality in migration and integration policy