GENDER CONSIDERATIONS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDP) CAMPS IN PLATEAU STATE

Abstract

The aged, women and children represent the bulk of the inhabitants in many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Plateau State, Nigeria. Even though women constitute the majority population in these camps, they rarely play any administrative or authoritative roles within the camps. As such, many gender-sensitive issues about women are being overlooked or ignored in the setup and running of these facilities. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, this study sets out to analyze the administration of three IDP camps in Plateau State to investigate the gender considerations in the administrative setup and overall running of these camps as well as how these considerations can be mainstreamed to meet the objectives of the camps. This study was able to establish that women are hardly involved in the running or administration of the IDP camps under investigation. In the few instances where they are, they were mere figureheads with no real power to make decisions and effect change. This negates the planning process and expectations. The patriarchal structure of the traditional society seems to impede the potential that gender considerations could add to the structure, design and efficacy of IDP camps. The study therefore based on empirical evidence highlighted the need to mainstream gender considerations in the administration, structure and design of IDP camps.