Unmasking the systemic inequalities undermining refugee sexual and reproductive health and rights, intimacy, and access in Lebanon

Abstract

This paper examines the barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services for refugees in Lebanon, focusing on Syrian, Palestinian, Iraqi, and Sudanese communities. Amidst Lebanon's socioeconomic crisis, the study highlights how legal restrictions, cultural norms, and discrimination limit SRHR access by these marginalised groups. Stringent admission criteria, high residency permit costs, and the cessation of refugee registration severely restrict refugees' mobility and access to essential services. Societal taboos around sex and intimacy further stigmatise and discriminate against refugees, particularly those with intersecting identities like gender, sexuality, race, and disability. We argue that SRHR acts as a key vector for restricting and conditioning the lives of crisis-affected people. The findings emphasise the need for humanitarian organisations to support legal reforms, cultural competency training, inclusive sexuality education, and better coordination of efforts. Addressing these systemic issues can improve SRHR outcomes for Lebanon's most vulnerable populations, promoting dignity and human rights for all.