The UN Refugee Agency has been implementing a number of programmes that focus especially on the issues affecting women refugees, ranging from their precarious security and the threat of sexual and gender violence, to the difficulties for them in achieving sustainable livelihoods.
Women Leading for Livelihoods is a UNHCR initiative aimed at promoting economic independence and empowerment of refugee and displaced women and girls around the world. The programme recognizes the powerful role women play as agents of change and development, as well as their central responsibilities for the health and future of their families.
In Croatia, communities directly affected by the recent conflict still suffer post-war consequences: polarization based on nationality, religion, political ideas, cultural differences, and war experiences. War trauma, in most cases, remains suppressed, while unemployment and economic issues get more attention.
Unfortunately, women often find themselves caught up in the post-war aftermath, facing barriers such as legal restrictions, physical and psychological trauma, lack of financial resources, child care issues, the wrong skills for their environment, and much more.
Therefore, UNHCR has closely cooperated with several women's initiatives from war affected areas in Croatia and has supported these NGOs through various projects aiming at improving socio-economic opportunities and promoting peaceful coexistence among war affected population of different ethnicities in the areas where they operate.
With the help of Dutch and Belgium donations, UNHCR supported a project aimed at building sustainable communities in the area of return called ‘Bridging Gaps'. The project was implemented through the Association ‘MI',.
Within 'Brigding Gaps' a project called 'Motives of Baranja' focused on economic empowerment of women. Women from Croat, Serb and Hungarian communities gathered to produce traditional souvenirs from Baranja area. The women learned form each other the specifics of different handcrafts and benefited form a special education in producing the traditional "golden embroidery", for which this region is known.
Refugee women often find themselves with few resources when they are forced to flee their communities. Given the opportunity they will build livelihoods, support their families and provide the foundation for thriving communities. It is cruatioal to realize the potential of these women and girls to provide stability within their families as well as act as catalysts for change in their own countries upon return.