Millions of displaced women currently remain without access to safe and adequate shelter. This critical lack of housing exposes vulnerable girls to heightened risks of violence, exploitation, and exclusion from essential services, warns the International Organization for Migration. t has called on global governments to scale up investment in gender-responsive shelter solutions for these individuals.
These specific solutions must protect the fundamental rights, safety, and dignity of every displaced woman and young girl. IOM Director General Amy Pope stated that safety and dignity cannot be taken for granted for those in crisis. Inadequate living conditions increase exposure to violence and limit the ability of families to rebuild their lives effectively. These risks must be addressed through sustained investment and stronger protection systems designed with the local communities themselves.
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The Human Cost of Inadequate Living Conditions
The consequences of inadequate shelter are both immediate and long-term for women and girls affected by various global crises. In many crisis settings, women and girls face significantly heightened risks of violence, exploitation, and systemic physical abuse.
Women account for nearly half of the world’s displaced population, yet millions still lack access to dignified housing. Safe shelter is one of the most urgent needs in emergencies, yet it remains tragically underfunded and overlooked. Without access to a secure home, the process of recovery becomes significantly more difficult for those fleeing from conflict. Many women and girls continue to live in overcrowded, unsafe, or makeshift conditions across various displacement settings. These poor environments expose them to harm while undermining their overall health, education, and general psychological wellbeing.
Systemic Barriers and the Documentation Crisis
The absence of identity documentation leaves many displaced women unable to access essential services or reclaim their own property. Without legal papers, securing long-term housing solutions becomes nearly impossible, further deepening the vulnerability of these displaced groups. These challenges often persist long after the initial displacement occurs, hindering the ability of women to return home safely.
Women returning home frequently encounter significant barriers to reclaiming property or securing the necessary legal documentation for themselves. Such limitations prevent them from rebuilding their livelihoods and participating fully in the life of their local communities. Globally, women account for less than twenty per cent of landholders, reflecting persistent discrimination in property rights. Without secure tenure, women remain at high risk of eviction, secondary displacement, and exclusion from vital assistance.
IOM’s Strategy for Gender-Responsive Housing
In response to these crises, the IOM works with women and community leaders to design safer shelter interventions. These interventions are intended to be safe, dignified, and responsive to the unique realities of the local population. By linking emergency shelter assistance with longer-term housing support, the IOM aims to strengthen the resilience of communities. This approach helps to reduce future risks while ensuring that displaced families have a stable place to call home.
However, the IOM emphasizes that sustained and predictable funding is essential to achieve these long-term humanitarian goals. Current funding gaps continue to limit the reach of shelter and protection programming for women and girls. Many vulnerable individuals are left without adequate housing or security because of these ongoing financial shortfalls.
Strengthening Rights through Policy Reform
The IOM calls for humanitarian and development action that supports legal and policy reforms for women and girls. These reforms should strengthen access to housing, land, and tenure rights to ensure lasting safety and individual dignity. Advancing gender equality requires practical measures that ensure every woman on the move has a secure place to live.
Rights in principle are not enough if women do not have a secure place from which to exercise them. As the IOM assumes co-leadership of the Global Shelter, Land and Site Coordination Cluster, it reaffirms its commitment. The organization will place safe shelter at the very centre of all protection and recovery efforts moving forward. Ensuring every girl has a secure home is fundamental to building a more equal and just global society.
The Gap Between Policy and Reality
A critical analysis of the IOM’s report highlights a stark disconnect between international human rights and physical reality. While women represent half of the displaced population, they hold less than twenty per cent of the world’s land. This systemic inequality ensures that even after a conflict ends, women remain vulnerable to secondary displacement and eviction. Furthermore, the reliance on “sustained and predictable funding” reveals the fragility of current humanitarian protection systems.
Without legal reforms and identity documentation, shelter remains a temporary band-aid rather than a permanent solution for recovery. The IOM’s focus on “community-designed” solutions is a necessary step, but it faces the hurdle of entrenched discrimination. Ultimately, safe shelter is the foundation of all other rights, including health, education, and safety from violence.
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Q&A: Addressing the Shelter Crisis
Q: Why is safe shelter considered a prerequisite for exercising other human rights?
A: Without a secure home, women lack the stability needed to access health services, education, or participate in communities.
Q: What percentage of landholders worldwide are women according to the IOM’s recent findings?
A: Women account for less than twenty per cent of landholders globally, reflecting a history of persistent property discrimination.
Q: How does the lack of identity documentation affect a woman’s ability to recover from displacement?
A: Lack of documentation prevents women from reclaiming property, securing housing, and accessing essential support services needed for rebuilding.
Q: What is the primary risk for women and girls living in overcrowded or makeshift conditions?
A: These conditions significantly increase their exposure to violence, exploitation, and abuse while undermining their overall health and wellbeing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the IOM calling for in its latest warning?
The IOM is calling for increased investment in gender-responsive shelter solutions that protect the rights and safety of women.
How much of the world’s displaced population is made up of women and girls?
Women and girls account for nearly half of the global population of displaced people currently seeking safety and assistance.
What role has Amy Pope played in this announcement?
As Director General, Amy Pope emphasized that safety and dignity cannot be taken for granted for those in crisis.
What is the “Global Shelter, Land and Site Coordination Cluster”?
It is an organization that the IOM now co-leads to place safe shelter at the center of recovery efforts.
How does the IOM intend to reduce future risks for displaced women?
By linking emergency shelter assistance with longer-term housing and tenure support, they aim to build stronger community resilience.
Why are current funding gaps a problem for migrant women?
Funding gaps limit the available protection programming, leaving many women without adequate housing or necessary security in crisis settings.
Securing the Foundation of Human Rights
The IOM’s message is clear: safe shelter is not a luxury but a fundamental necessity for survival and recovery. As millions of women and girls face displacement, the global community must prioritize their safety and legal rights. Investing in gender-responsive housing is a critical step toward ending the cycle of exploitation and systemic exclusion. We must move beyond providing temporary tents and start building legal systems that recognize women’s property and tenure rights. Only then can we ensure that every woman on the move has a dignified place to rebuild her life. The future of global recovery depends on our collective ability to provide a secure foundation for every displaced person
