Survival Strategies and Health Repercussions in Forced Displacement: Findings from a Multi-Country Study on Transactional Sex

Abstract

In recent years, the global community has witnessed a sharp increase in forced displacement, driven by conflicts, persecution, and natural disasters. According to UNHCR, by the end of 2024, over 123.2 million individuals have been uprooted, with 1 in 67 people globally displaced as a result of ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Myanmar, Palestine, Sudan, Syria and Ukraine. Forcibly displaced individuals often undertake dangerous journeys to reach safer destinations. However, they continue to face severe challenges and precarious living conditions.
Forcibly displaced populations, including refugees, asylum seekers, and those in refugee-like situations (hereafter referred to as refugees), face multiple structural vulnerabilities throughout their displacement journey and in host countries. These include overcrowded and precarious housing, inadequate access to essential services, financial insecurity, and stigma and discrimination. Prolonged legal limbo leaves individuals in a state of uncertainty, restricting access to formal employment, mobility, and various rights, significantly impacting their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Gender inequalities are further exacerbated during forced displacement, resulting in considerable and differential impacts on the physical and mental health of affected individuals.
Displaced populations employ various coping mechanisms and survival strategies to navigate the harsh conditions of forced displacement and meet their needs. Transactional sex (TS) has emerged as a survival strategy for refugees navigating conditions of structural vulnerability and advance their journey to a safe destination, or protect themselves against violence and other harm. While the phenomenon is believed to be widespread, data on why, where, and how refugees across the gender and sexuality spectrum engage in TS practices is scarce.