UN arms refugee women with survival skills

Using keys, pens, and mobile phones for self-defence? This isn’t a scene from a Bond or Bourne movie. In this case, 47 refugee women from five countries turned these everyday items into survival tools during a United Nations-led training course in late November.

Gathered at a centre in New Delhi run by BOSCO, an NGO partner of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the refugee women came together with a single goal: to learn how to protect themselves in a world that too often leaves them vulnerable.

One participant, Ruqiya Begum, knows what it means to feel unsafe. Having faced numerous situations where her physical security was at risk, she understands that the threat can come from anywhere — even from within her own home. 

“It’s not necessary that the attacker is from outside; he can be inside our homes as well,” Ms. Begum says. “Nobody will come to save me. I have to save myself.”

Her words reflect a harsh reality: every 10 minutes, partners and family members killed a woman or a girl intentionally in 2023. 

For displaced women like Ms. Begum, the risks are even greater. According to UN Data, reports of conflict-related sexual violence increased by 50% last year compared to the previous year. Women and girls accounted for 95% of verified cases.

Under the guidance of Deepanjali Bakshi, a National Security Officer with the UN’s Department of Safety and Security, the women were trained in far more than just physical defence. It was also about learning to recognize threats, sharpen instincts, and use common objects as weapons, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. 

Participants — who came from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Somalia and Uganda — practised everything from assessing risks in their environments to understanding digital safety and defending themselves physically.
 

“The workshop is about empowerment, not just survival,” explained Ms. Bakshi. “Awareness isn’t just about seeing; it’s about understanding.”

As the world observes the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, this UNHCR training aims to go beyond a personal transformation — it’s about creating a ripple effect. Each woman, equipped with new skills, will be asked to share her knowledge within her community, building a network of strength and protection.