The refugee experience is marked by extreme vulnerability, exposing individuals to numerous dangers, including homelessness and exploitation. However, sexual violence stands out as a particularly devastating form of harm, occurring in environments where legal protections and societal norms have broken down. This type of violence is both deeply personal and publicly visible, highlighting a systematic failure to protect those in transit.

As people seek refuge, gender-based violence intensifies the existing hierarchies of power, reinforcing a social order characterized by oppression. This violence creates a clear divide between the oppressed and their oppressors, distinguishing between those who are victimized and those who exert authority. In this context, sexual violence becomes a tool of dominance, reflecting broader societal issues of control and inequality.