This research is ongoing. The final reports will be posted upon completion.

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that at least 3.5 million people are currently stateless, meaning that they are not recognized as citizens of any country. Because few governments identify or register stateless persons, UNHCR estimates the global stateless population may be as high as 10 million. These individuals are often vulnerable to exploitation and other threats because they lack access to health care, education, livelihoods, and legal status. In an effort to better understand the relationship between statelessness and vulnerability to gender-based violence (GBV), PRM is funding Johns Hopkins University to conduct research that can inform humanitarian diplomacy and programming that could reduce the vulnerability of stateless individuals to GBV.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

• Conduct qualitative research to describe experiences of GBV, vulnerabilities, GBV-related health outcomes and barriers in access to care among stateless populations in Cote d’Ivoire and the Dominican Republic;
• Conduct population-based research to quantitatively estimate the prevalence of GBV experiences, GBV-related health outcomes, mental illness, and access to healthcare;
• Analyze risk factors for GBV, GBV perpetration, and health outcomes. Compare GBV estimates and health indicators from stateless populations to host citizen populations. Develop evidence-based recommendations to address GBV and GBV-related health issues and gaps.

The research project is scheduled to finish in summer 2015.