This study was conducted by a Bangladeshi NGO, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), in partnership with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Bangladesh, in October 2024. The primary objectives of this study were to identify key advocacy messaging and to provide recommendations for enhancing protection programmes and promoting gender equality in access to housing, land and property (HLP) rights to the relevant stakeholders.
A mixed-methods approach was used to collect and analyse data from 12 camps located in Teknaf and Ukhiya. It included 384 respondents for quantitative analysis and 12 KIIs, 12 FGDs, and 7 case studies for qualitative data. The study reveals significant gender and socio-economic disparities in access to HLP rights.
Findings highlight and provide extensive evidence on gender disparities in accessing HLP rights, for women and girls residing in the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The entrenched patriarchal structures, financial dependency, and fear of exploitation, make it difficult for women to assert their rights effectively. Overcrowding, poor infrastructure, and a lack of privacy contribute to numerous challenges faced by women and girls, including inadequate sanitation, gender-based violence, and the absence of safe spaces. Barriers such as cultural norms and the lack of legal identity further exacerbate the conditions and vulnerabilities of women, particularly women-headed households.
