Contemplating Greece’s Responses Towards Refugees and Gender Equality Issues: The Role of Non-Governmental Organisations in Female Refugee Protection

Abstract

Gender considerations play a crucial role in the reasons behind refugee migrations, yet they also pose obstacles to the seamless assimilation and integration of female refugees into their host countries. However, as emphasized by intersectionality theory, the gender dimension is frequently overlooked in studies of refugee rights. Despite enduring persistent hardships before and during their journey, female refugees’ pursuit of an improved life does not conclude upon reaching the European continent. Upon their arrival in Greece, a prominent host nation, refugees continue to experience distinct gender-based issues and challenges. 
Greece faced a significant migration-related shift over the past decade. The country emerged as the focal point of the Eurozone crisis after the global financial upheaval of 2008, and it also served as the primary entry point for the European Union (EU) during the refugee crisis of 2015–2016. The recent Greek asylum law, which came into effect on 1 January 2020, has substantially reduced the safeguards provided to individuals seeking asylum. The law, along with its revisions, heightens the vulnerabilities of asylum seekers while also restricting their ability to exercise their fundamental right to seek asylum and obtain protection from significant risks. It created more difficulties for the refugees especially women who are alone in their refugee journey. Even after obtaining refugee status, female refugees encounter numerous challenges in Greece and are left without support, compelling them to depart from the country. In recent times, the government has ceased implementing gender-based policies and initiatives for female refugees which is an integral part of any refugee policies. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) could be seen as actively involved in assisting refugees in Greece due 
to a combination of factors. Additionally, the Greek government’s limited resources and shifting policies have created gaps in refugee assistance, prompting NGOs to fill these voids. 
Within this framework, the subsequent analysis aims to underscore the hurdles encountered by refugee women before, during, and after their displacement, using Greece as a pivotal example. Following that, the study analyses Greece’s response mechanism in dealing with the issues of female refugees involving both government and non-governmental organisations. The study also examines the policies currently in place for female refugees.
The study draws its data primarily from recently collected field research conducted in Greece from March to April, supplemented by information gathered from secondary sources such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), European Commission, etc.  The approach used to address the questions is grounded in qualitative research methodology. To gather qualitative data from primary sources, the study primarily relied on in-depth interviews conducted with thirty various experts, members of the non-governmental organisation (NGOs) as well refugees. The study aims to understand if, in Greece, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play a more proactive role in aiding refugees and addressing gender-related concerns compared to the government. Understanding the situation is essential for devising more effective approaches by both the government and NGOs together in addressing the distinct needs and challenges faced by female refugees in the nation. It will help policymakers to learn valuable lessons and make informed decisions on how to handle female issues more effectively.