1/3/2018 FY 14: Gender-based violence among stateless and national populations in Cote d'Ivoire The aims of the project were to understand the demographics, experiences, and vulnerabilities of GBV and general health status among stateless populations. This study focused on stateless populations, which is defined as populations who currently live in Cote d’Ivoire who are not citizens of another country nor are migrants because the persons do not have birth certificate from any country or their parents do have national certificate from their country of origin. These individuals are legally recognized by UNHCR as stateless populations. Definitions and measures were guided by the 2011 UNHCR guidance document on measuring stateless populations.[18] The definition of gender-based violence followed the definition provided by the UN agencies, as “an umbrella term for any harmful act that is perpetrated against a person’s will, and that is based on socially ascribed (gender) differences between males and females. The nature and extent of specific types of GBV vary across cultures, countries, and regions.”[19] To achieve study aims we utilized a mixed methodology approach, conducted in two phases. The first phase included qualitative research with 23 stateless persons and key informants who serve these populations. Qualitative research enabled us to obtain contextual descriptions of experiences related to documentation, GBV and GBV-related health issues, and access to health care. The second phase was conducted in March 8-May 4, 2017 and included an epidemiologic survey conducted among stateless and national populations (364 women and 221 men), which was informed by qualitative findings. The epidemiologic survey was developed to collect data on a wide array of GBV experiences and GBV-related health indicators as well as to assess availability and access to related GBV services. These two methods were complementary in nature, providing both numeric estimates and contextual support of the topics of interest. This study was conducted by Johns Hopkins University and a local implementing organization, Afrique Secours et Assistance (ASA) and the UNHCR country office in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. Appendix 1 provides the detailed methodology of the qualitative and quantitative phases. The following description provides the results from the in-depth qualitative and quantitative analysis. RESULTS Demographic characteristics A total of 364 women participated, of whom 167 were nationals and 197 were stateless. National and stateless women were approximately the same age distribution, with the median age at 28 years old (IQR: 23-38). Compared to national female participants, stateless females were less likely to have ever attended school (14.1% vs 60.5%, respectively), less likely to have attended secondary school or college (among those who attended school), less likely to have a dual parent household during childhood (69.6% vs. 32.4%), and less likely to have grown up in a dual parent household (55.4% vs. 62.9%). In addition, stateless female participants were more likely to have faced challenges with legally marrying someone due to their lack of birth registration (35.2% vs. 1.0%) and less likely to have enough to meet basic needs for each month. There was no difference in employment in the last month (60.6%) but stateless female participants were also more likely to have seasonal positions (51.7% vs. 33.5%), less likely to be able to legally open a bank account (0.5% vs. 79.9%), and less likely to have health insurance (0.0% vs. 8.5%). In terms of partner characteristics, stateless women’s partners were less likely to be able to open a bank account (52.0% vs 82.0%) and less likely to have health insurance (0.0% vs. 14.4%) relative to the partners of national women. Appendix Table 2 describes demographic characteristics of male and female stateless and national participants. Figure 1: Demographic differences among surveyed women A total of 221 men participated, of whom 104 were nationals and 117 were stateless. National men were older on average, with the median age at 44 years (IQR: 34-56) compared to stateless men at 27 years (IQR: 22-37). Similar to stateless female participants, stateless males were less likely to have ever attended school (30.8 vs. 74.0), less likely to have attended secondary school or college (among those who attended school), less likely to have grown up in a dual parent household (43.6% vs. 77.5%), less likely to be married (27.4% vs. 69.4%), and more likely to have ever faced challenges with legally marrying someone (49.0% vs. 4.5%) when compared to their national counterparts. In addition, stateless men were less likely to be legally able to open a bank account (0.9% vs. 86.0%), and less likely to have health insurance (0.9% vs. 9.0%). Stateless men’s partners were less likely than national men’s partners to be able to open a bank account (36.8 vs. 73.4%). Figure 2: Demographic differences among surveyed men Qualitative interviews provide insights into the livelihood challenges related to lack of documentation. This is particularly pertinent with regards to barriers to employment, property ownership, travel constraints, bank accounts and health insurance. “The papers (national and birth certificates) do everything. If you do not have papers ... none of your problems can be solved. Wherever you go, they ask for papers ... wherever you go, they will ask for papers ... but what if you do not have papers… none of your problems can be solved.” ID3, Female, 28yo “I cannot get employed because I do not have my papers…. Never. If you don’t have Ivorian documents… you will be dismissed..” FGD, Male, 41yo “I don’t have my papers… Even if you put your child in school… [the child] will arrive at a certain level, the child will not have access to a job… due to the fact that you do not have papers and you are not from here. So it causes them to return to the land for many of our children. They return to the land to be farmers, to be planters or tradesmen” Female, 50yo “If you do not have your documents, you cannot own the motorcycle. You can buy the motorcycle but you cannot prove that the motorcycle is yours” Male, 37yo “I worked and got a bit of money. I bought a land to make a cocoa field. But, currently, I don’t know how to do the deed of purchase. I have already bought the land, I have to make the papers ... But I don’t have my documents, I cannot prove that this land is mine. It is a difficulty.” Male, 51yo https://www.state.gov/j/prm/policyissues/prmfund/276832.htm 4/27