“Unheard Cries:” To what extent are Turkey and Egypt aligned with their obligations, under international refugee law, to safeguard the human rights of female Syrian refugees?

Abstract

The Syrian refugee crisis is considered one of the most protracted humanitarian emergencies of the twenty-first century, and has forcibly displaced millions, thus exposing significant gaps in international refugee frameworks. Female Syrian refugees go on to encounter profound challenges such as gender-based violence, social isolation, limited access to healthcare, as well as exploitative labour conditions. This thesis examines the alignment of Turkey and Egypt’s refugee policies to their obligations under international refugee law and emphasises the lived experiences and unique vulnerabilities of displaced women. By viewing this crisis through an Institutionalist lens, the interplay between structural constraints, legal frameworks, and socio-economic conditions is explored, as well as the agency of female refugees in navigating these challenges. Through the use of comparative case studies, it is revealed how both Turkey and Egypt, despite being signatories to key international frameworks such as the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, fall short of implementing comprehensive protections that address the gendered dimensions of displacement. The research within this paper highlights systemic deficiencies such as inadequate gender-sensitive policies, xenophobia, and the prioritisation of national interests over that of humanitarian commitments. This thesis goes beyond identifying the gaps by advocating for transformative solutions, including intersectional and human centred approaches, in order to integrate refugee voices into policy making. By analysing how institutional frameworks can better respond to the complexities of forced displacement, a critical insight is offered into the need to strengthening both global and regional refugee governance. Ultimately, this paper argues for the urgent reimagining of refugee protection systems to ensure that displaced women, as both rights holders and agents of change, are at the centre of both international and national responses to the refugee crisis.