In this special about gender and displacement Simon Turner explores how UNHCR and others attempt to empower women in refugee camps are reintepreted and given new meaning by the refugees themselves. Cathrine Brun examines the importance of understanding the part of young men in the processes of displacement and resettlement and suggests that agencies need to take greater account of the role and position of young displaced men when formulating gender-sensitive policy and practice. Srilakshmi Gururaja focuses on how gender awareness is essential for addressing the protection and participation rights of displaced women and girls, with a discussion of the role and results of the Beijing conferences. Heaven Crawley questions how approaches in highlighing the specificity of women's experiences, have adequately reflected upon the role of gender, as opposed to sex, in shaping those experiences and the problems experienced in the determination process. Nathalia Berkowitz goes into the gender guidelines for the United Kingdom. Peter Mwangi Kagwanja examines the ethnically discriminatory nature of Kenya’s refugee policy, its influence on the administration and practice of refugee affairs, especially by relief agencies, and its role in encouraging sexual violence against women refugees. Monica Trujilo writes about ural farming systems, plant genetic resources and disasters