The Women's Refugee Commission is an expert resource and advocacy organization that monitors the care and protection of refugee women and children. The Women's Refugee Commission advocates for laws, policies and programs to improve the lives and protect the rights of refugee and internally displaced women, children and young people, including those seeking asylum—bringing about lasting, measurable change. They also provide opportunities for refugee women and youth to speak for themselves through briefings, testimony, participation in field assessments and international conferences.
 
How They Work

The Women's Refugee Commission serves as a watchdog and an expert resource, offering solutions and providing technical assistance.

Staff and board members carry out an active program of advocacy, making recommendations on how to improve assistance to refugee women and children to policy makers in the United States government and UN agencies, and to NGOs.

Professional staff--experts in health care, anthropology, gender, children and refugee law--travel to refugee camps, detention centers and other areas where there are thousands of displaced families to conduct field research, technical training and convene meetings.

In addition, the Women's Refugee Commission sends fact-finding delegations of professionals to meet with refugee women and children around the world and learn firsthand of their needs and conditions. Recent delegations have traveled to Jordan, southern Sudan, Colombia, Liberia and Thailand.

Their vision is a world in which refugee and internally displaced women, children and youth:

-are safe, healthy and self-reliant;
-have their human rights respected and protected; and
-inform and drive their own solutions and development.

Why They Do It

There are currently almost 60 million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) worldwide who have been displaced by conflict.

Areas of Work

-Adolescent Girls
-Children and Youth
-Disabilities
-Fuel & Firewood
-Gender-based Violence
-Livelihoods
-Migrant Rights and Justice
-Sexual & Reproductive Health
-Statelessness
-Women, Peace & Security