BOOK REVIEW REFUGEE WOMEN: BY SUSAN FORBES MARTIN

Abstract

Refugee Women, authored by Susan Forbes Martin and originally published in 1992 by Zed Books Ltd(London and New Jersey), turned awareness for the first time to the particular issues faced by women driven from their homes as a result of international conflict. The book is the first edition in the series developed by the Joint UN/NGO Group on Women and Development and has made available succinct information, debate and action taken on the condition of refugee women. Dr. Martin has authored numerous articles on immigration and is also a member of the Board of the Women’s Commission for Refugee women and Children. In a constantly changing world political or ethnic strife has resulted overnight in thousands of people fleeing to preserve their basic rights. Out of the millions that have faced the wrath of international conflicts and had to flee their states of origin, women and children remain the most vulnerable of all. This book was published at a time when not much empirical data was available on the condition of refugees in particular women and has successfully assist ed humanitarian assistance practitioners respond to the complex challenges faced in delivering programmes effectively to refugees. It has also been recommended as a required reading for all those who work with or for refugees by various refugee study researchers worldwide.