Legal Identity and Housing, Land and Property Rights of Syrian Refugees from a Durable Solutions Perspective Challenges and Opportunities In my opinion, the main issues “ that Syrian women refugees might face concerning HLP documentation are inheritance, lack of information concerning the legal procedures, lack of financial means to hire lawyers, and that most of the property deeds are registered under the husband’s name, not the wife’s. If the property deed included my name, it would be much easier to access my rights, since it is clear. Syrian refugee in Lebanon “ The Syrian conflict has exacerbated preexisting discrimination against women in the public and private spheres, creating a landscape of violence that surfaces within women’s own families.124 While the Syrian legal framework provides for women’s HLP rights overall, the biggest challenge is customary norms and practices that undermine women’s inheritance rights. Women refugees reported a fear of retribution from their families if they step forward to protect and claim their HLP rights. Gender-based violence continues to be a significant risk for Syrian women and girls, particularly affecting those without male support, including widows and 124 125 126 127 KII and FGD for joint UNHCR/NRC regional research, 2020. World Bank, 2016, Will forcibly displaced Syrians get their land back? https://blogs.worldbank.org/ arabvoices/will-forcibly-displaced-syrians-get-their-landback Syria Protection Cluster, UNFPA, 2018, Voices from Syria 2018 – Assessment Findings of the Humanitarian Needs Overview. KII and FGD for joint UNHCR/NRC regional research 2020. Cited in United Nations, 9 December 2020, Joint Statement by Muhannad Hadi, Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis and Luay Shabaneh, UNFPA Regional Director on 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www. humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/ final_rhc_joint_statement_16_days_of_activism_-_9_ december_final.pdf divorced/separated girls and women.125 NRC’s research found a correlation between women claiming inheritance and their perceived risk of violence.126 Claiming rights to land and property from male family members can expose women to psychological and physical threats or violence, and can lead to ostracism and rejection by their families. The majority of respondents voiced concerns about exploitation by family members, such as seizure and control of deceased husbands’ property. and girls endure violence “moreWomen than anyone else. The spread of poverty, war and displacement and COVID have made things much worse this year, and women and girls became more subjected to violence by the husband, the father or the brother. “ Box 5: Challenges for women Syrian refugee from Idleb127 While many Syrians have lost access to property documents,128 women face additional obstacles because HLP documents are less likely to include their names in the first place.129 Previous research with Syrian refugees in Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan has been consistent in finding that the vast majority of HLP assets are in the name of male family members.130 128 129 130 UNHCR & NRC, 2019, Uncertain Future – Legal and Civil documentation, Housing, Land and Property (HLP) and Challenges to Return for Syrian Refugees, p. 39; NRC, 2017, Briefing Note: Reflections on Future Challenges to Housing, Land and Property Restitution for Syrian Refugees; KII for joint UNHCR/NRC regional research, 2020. NRC & UNHCR, 2020, Reclaiming Home – HLP rights of Syrian refugees from Dar’a Governorate living in Jordan. NRC & UNHCR, 2020, Reclaiming Home – HLP rights of Syrian refugees from Dar’a Governorate living in Jordan; NRC, 2017, Briefing Note: Reflections on Future Challenges to Housing, Land and Property Restitution for Syrian Refugees; Clutterbuck, M, 2018, Property restitution in post-conflict Syria, Forced Migration Review No. 57, Syrians in Displacement, February 2018. 20