Understanding the lives of the women, men and children of Al-Hol camp

Since 2016, Al-Hol camp has been a site of prolonged arbitrary detention for tens of thousands of Syrians, Iraqis, and third-country nationals who were detained following the fall of ISIL/Da’esh. At its peak in 2019, an estimated 73,000 people were arbitrarily detained, 91 per cent of whom were women and children. In July 2024, camp management estimated the population at 41,032 individuals. Movement is highly restricted, and humanitarian operations are severely limited and under-resourced. Conditions in the camp are marked by systematic human rights violations.

This publication examines gendered experiences of arbitrary detention in Al-Hol and interrogates core assumptions of women’s alleged links or family ties to ISIL/Da’esh. The study uses an anthropological approach to provide an in-depth analysis of the socioeconomic composition of the camp, as well as the specific ways in which the lives of arbitrarily detained women and girls intersected—or did not intersect—with ISIL/Da’esh.

In line with UN Women’s normative and protection mandate, this publication examines under-researched forms of gendered experiences in Al-Hol, including cases of extreme violence, insecurity, and criminality, alongside prior experiences during the conflict. The study examines exploitation, agency, and human rights, as well as humanitarian and protection risks in Al-Hol, particularly for women and girls.

Furthermore, the analysis addresses the ways in which these experiences have shaped their daily lives, futures, and prospects for leaving the camp. The study generates evidence and provides recommendations in support of a human rights–based, gender-responsive policy and programmatic approach to addressing the situation of indefinite, mass arbitrary detention.