Engendering Compensation: Making Refugee Women Count!

Prepared for the Expert and Advisory Services Fund International Development Research Centre

by Nahla Abdo

March 2000 - Ottawa

4. Contextualizing Compensation
This section of the paper does not intend to re-invent the wheel, so to speak. It does not intend to re-examine the different aspects and modalities of compensation. The complexity of the issue is beyond the defined purpose of this paper. The current contextualization of compensation is concerned with one major issue, namely the recognition of compensation as just one part of a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian refugee problem and the way in which gender is relevant and necessary in such a contextualization. Compensation in this paper will be viewed as complementary to and not in lieu of other solutions to the refugee problem such as repatriation and the right of return. That such a linkage between all aspects of the Palestinian refugee situation must be recognized has been emphasized by authors such as Barakat, Al-Husseini, Abu-Sitta and Zureik. These experts also underscore the connection between the solution of the refugee problem and all relevant United Nations and other international laws, particularly the right of return as stipulated by the UNGA Resolution 194. Zureik expands on this point as he demonstrates the relationship between General Assembly Resolution 194 and the two resolutions passed by the Security Council following the 1967 and 1973 wars, Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.

Zureik, however, cautions against a one-sided perspective on compensation:

Compensation must not be considered as either the only or even the most compelling solution to the refugee problem. Compensation must be considered in the context of giving Palestinian refugees the right to return to their homes. Both, those wishing to return and those not wishing to return, should be compensated accordingly.

Indeed, the right of return remains top on the agenda of camp refugees as recent interviews in two camps in Jordan and a recent poll among refugees in Lebanon have demonstrated.

Compensation becomes a two-fold process that entails, on the one hand, an understanding and deconstruction of the structure of injustices, violence and inequalities caused during conflict, and on the other, the construction of structures of justice and equality, through material and other forms of redress. It also enables a more comprehensive approach to dealing with refugee issues and opens up the space for gender considerations.

Compensation becomes a two-fold process that entails, on the one hand, an understanding and deconstruction of the structure of injustices, violence and inequalities caused during conflict, and on the other, the reconstruction of structures of justice and equality, through material and other forms of redress. It also enables a more comprehensive approach to dealing with refugee issues and opens up the space for gender considerations.