Gender, age and diversity in IDP Registration

Gender, age and diversity in IDP Registration

  • In conflict situations, registration is necessary for IDPs to have access to humanitarian support, especially to any kind of distribution. Women, children, elderly and disabled-headed households face more obstacles to be registered.
  • The number of households lacking adult males increase in conflict situations because:
    • Some men and young boys stay longer at home to protect the house, land or any kind of assets. Sometimes they return before the rest of the family and leave the women, girls, elderly, etc. waiting to come back later.
    • Some husbands join fighting groups, die or are injured.
  • Women, children and people with special needs that have been under the protection of men, find themselves without the head of household, in a very confusing, stressful and dangerous situation.
  • These households need special consideration to ensure they are properly registered. We need to ensure the most vulnerable have access to humanitarian support.

Possible gender, age and diversity gaps in IDP registration

Access to official IDs

Women, children, elderly and disabled people face more difficulties to provide an official ID when registering, especially those coming from rural areas. As they don’t need official IDs to attend schools, get married, etc., they don’t spend time and money to get them.

This situation is a major obstacle when they are head of households and all family members depend on their official ID to be entitled to humanitarian aid.

Official IDs are also necessary to identify themselves to use the head of household registration card when he can’t go to the distribution point because he died, he is sick or he has travelled.

Access to information

In Yemen, men and women have different channels to access information about “who”, “how”, “when”, “where” and “what documents are needed” for the registration. Men have more access to the information in public places (ex: mosque, market, etc.) and women in indoors spaces.

Women’s higher level of illiteracy is an obstacle to accessing and understanding the information. They can’t read the brochures and have less access to technology.

Information in the registration cards

In the registration cards, there is no space to specify information about polygamous households, including the information on each wife and her children. Sometimes only one wife is registered.And sometimes, each wife and her children can be displaced in different locations. All members are considered as one household for the distribution of humanitarian aid, even though those households count with a large number of members. They will not receive enough quantity of aid for all the members.

Access to the registration place

Sometimes IDPs have to travel long distances to the registration point. Women, children, elderly and disabled people can face more obstacles:

  • Mobility: in some areas Yemeni women can’t go alone to the registration point, and need to be accompanied by a male relative. Elderly and disabled people can also face more mobility difficulties.
  • Cost of the transport: women, children, elderly and disabled-headed households can have less money to pay their transport. And some of them will have to pay extra for the person coming with them.
  • Security: women, children, elderly or disabled-headed households can face more risks in the way to or in the way back from the registration point. They can be scared to go, and if they go, they can face protection risks.
  • Exploitation or abuse: sometimes a representative of the IDPs can go to the registration point, and register the others. But sometimes they ask money in exchange. If women, children, elderly, disabled-headed households don’t have the money, other favours can be asked, including sexual favours in the case of women.

At the registration place

In peak moments, registration points can be crowded. People are nervous, and sometimes wait hours standing under the sun. Some people can get annoyed if they are not registered because of misunderstandings, lack of documents, or because they are cheating. Violent scenes are common. Women, children, elderly and disabled people have more difficulties to preserve their position in the line and to defend themselves. Sometimes they leave or stay the last in the line.

In some registration points male/female separate latrines are not available and there is no private space for lactating mothers.

In areas where women are fully covered, only female staff can check if the person corresponds to the ID card. This can be a problem if enough female staff are not available.

Gender, age and diversity opportunities in IDP registration

Access to official IDs

Be more flexible with women, children, elderly and disabled-headed households when asking for the official IDs. Establish a system to check if they are displaced by, for example, asking questions about their village of origin or cross-checking information with people they come with. Provide a document with a picture that entitles them to get assistance at the distribution points.

Access to information

Widely spread the information about “who”, “how”, “when”, “where” and “what documents are needed” to register throughtdifferent channels to ensure men and women have access. For example: (1) mosque, through microphone in order that everyone can hear it, (2) female members of the protection community committees, (3) Women Yemen Union, (4) same channels used by health services to inform about vaccination, as they have reached the women, (5) women spaces: social events, weddings, funerals, etc. , (6) radio/tv, (7) sms, Whatsapp.

Ensure messages are simple and clear. Include illustrations adapted to illiterate people in the brochures and posters.

Information in the registration card

Include information regarding polygamous households, including information about each wife and her children.

Evaluate the possibility to provide each wife and her children a registration card, to ensure all members are entitled to humanitarian support in enough quantity even if they are in different places. Or evaluate the possibility that polygamous households are entitled to a greater amount of support.

Access to the registration place

Avoid displacement to the registration point as much as possible and register people where they are by mobile teams including male and female staff. If it’s not possible:

  • One representative of the Executive Unit can go where IDPs are and register them.
  • Ask the local council, the Women Yemen Union or local NGOs to register women, children, elderly and disabled-headed households.
  • If one representative of the IDPs goes to the registration point on the behalf of others, monitor that there is no abuse or exploitation.

At the registration place

Organize separate spaces/lines for women, children and people with special needs. Ensure there are spaces with shadows and provide chairs.
Ensure there are separate latrines in the registration points.
Set up a confidential complaint mechanisms.
Ensure female staff among the registration team.
Ensure the registration place is located in a place close to transport and close to services such as restaurants and small shops.