MMC Asia 4Mi Snapshot – March 2022 Protection risks for Rohingya women and children: from departure country to arrival in Malaysia Profiles Despite high risks en route and upon arrival, Rohingya movement to Malaysia continues. This snapshot focuses on the specific risks facing Rohingya women and children1 before Data presented in this snapshot was collected between 4 March 2021 and 25 January leaving Myanmar or Bangladesh, during their journey, and upon arrival in Malaysia. MMC 2022 in Johor Bahru, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Pahang, Pulau Pinang and Asia has been conducting survey with Rohingya in Malaysia since January 2019 in order Selangor in Malaysia. 445 surveys with Rohingya women were conducted over the to better understand their migration experiences. This snapshot contributes to building a phone and 38 surveys were conducted in person. In addition, from 8 August 2021, MMC solid evidence base to inform targeted responses that improve protection for Rohingya Asia added a question on disability and implemented an additional module looking at refugees and inform advocacy efforts related to movements to Malaysia. protection risks facing Rohingya refugees living in Malaysia, making up a subsample of 331 surveys with Rohingya women. Key findings • The average age of Rohingya women surveyed is 22 years old. 16% self-identify as A majority of Rohingya women surveyed left Myanmar or Bangladesh due to violence, having a disability, the majority of which relate to difficulties hearing, seeing, and/or insecurity, and conflict (83%) and a lack of rights and freedom (80%). • moving. Nearly half of the respondents (48%) are seeking asylum in Malaysia, 23% are Detention and physical violence were the two primary risks reported for women en registered as refugees with UNHCR, 29% have not yet sought asylum nor hold any legal route. Younger Rohingya women more often reported risks of sexual violence, death, documents in Malaysia. and kidnapping. • • Due to restricted access to education in Myanmar and Bangladesh, where more than Almost all Rohingya women surveyed were not making any money before departure 920,000 Rohingya refugees are currently living,2 the majority of women surveyed (74%) and upon arrival in Malaysia. Meanwhile, 57% report having accumulated new report that primary school was the highest level of education they had completed, see debts in Malaysia, mostly relating to living expenses (53%), medical costs (42%), Figure 1. 15% report having completed secondary or high school, and 2% had attained a immigration-related fees (7%) and school fees (7%). university degree. Rohingya women face greater marginalization in Malaysia, as many fear leaving their houses or moving around freely due to risks of arrest and detention (27%). • Police (86%) and immigration officials (64%) are cited as the main perpetrators of abuses in Malaysia and were considered among the top three likely perpetrators of abuse en route, underscoring that female Rohingya refugees face threats from state authorities at departure, in transit and upon arrival in Malaysia. 1 2 MMC Asia does not survey children under 18 years old. However, there are questions in the survey that address children and child protection issues. 1 See https://www.orfonline.org/research/children-left-behind-challenges-in-providing-education-to-the-rohingya-children-in-bangladesh/