Needs of migrant women must be central to the response to gender-based violence, says Immigrant Council
Monday, 13th March 2023
Needs of migrant women must be central to the response to gender-based violence, says Immigrant Council
The needs of migrant women in Ireland must be central to the conversations and solutions to gender-based violence. That’s according to the Immigrant Council of Ireland, who are holding a conference on support for migrant victims of gender-based violence in Galway today (13.03.23).
Commenting today, Brian Killoran, Chief Executive of the Immigrant Council of Ireland said: “Women from a migrant background form part of all of our communities across Ireland, however, to date, migrant women and migrant specific issues have been largely left out of conversations and national discourse about gender-based violence. The Immigrant Council has been working for many years on bridging the gap between marginalised migrant women and the support they need. Our focus has been in directly supporting women who are victims of domestic violence or human trafficking, and in building the capacity of frontline services to respond to them. The women we work with can often face language and cultural barriers that complicate access to support services leading to uncertainty about their rights and entitlements. Women living rurally, such as in the west of Ireland, can also face practical obstacles such as a lack of transport options, potentially leading to deeper isolation. Hosting this event in Galway today is important so that we continually recognise the need to incorporate migrant women in local responses, and in our national strategies and approaches.
“As part of the Government’s Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, we welcomed the inclusion of issues concerning migrant women, and its reflection that their specific needs require tailored responses. The devil, as always, will be in the detail of how this strategy is implemented. The establishment of a specific agency, as proposed in the strategy, will go a long way in helping to meet these needs.”
Dr Jennifer Okeke, Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator with the Immigrant Council added: “We recognise that significant progress is being made in this regard and urge the Government to continue this process of reform. It is imperative that the issues facing migrants in gender-based violence situations are not forgotten and that they have a voice in developing the best responses. In addition, frontline services all across Ireland must be resourced, trained and equipped to respond and bring migrant women in from the margins.”
The conference theme focused on support for migrant victims of gender-based violence and heard from a range of speakers and panels, including:
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A keynote address from CEO, Women’s Aid, Sarah Benson on, ‘A survivor-centred perspective on navigating domestic, sexual and gender-based violence systems and structures’.
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A panel discussion on ‘Experiences of migrants in addressing gender-based violence’, which will feature the expertise of migrant women who are providing support to others in situations of gender-based violence.
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An overview on current national policy and legal context by Ben Ryan, Head of Criminal Justice Policy, Department of Justice.
At the event, the Immigrant Council also launched a toolkit for service providers working with migrant victims of gender-based violence. The toolkit is a practical resource which aims to give service providers an improved understanding of the residence permission options and supports available to migrant victims of gender-based violence. The toolkit is available to download here.
This event marks the culmination of a two-year capacity building and service provision project to support migrant women in situations of gender-based violence in the west of Ireland. The project was made possible with the philanthropic financial support of the Lifes2Good Foundation.
ENDS
Contact: Sorcha MacMahon / Áine Kenny, Alice Public Relations, Tel: 087-7585337 / 086-3920452 Email: media@alicepr.com
About the Immigrant Council
The Immigrant Council of Ireland is the leading national human rights organisation working to defend migrant rights in Ireland. It provides free immigration advice and legal support through its helpline and law centre, as well as campaigning for immigration reform. The Council also provides support to victims of racism and human trafficking, and provides opportunities for migrants to connect with each other and their communities. Visit www.immigrantcouncil.ie for more information.
The Immigrant Council’s Anti-Racism Support service is available online at www.immigrantcouncil.ie/reportracism .
Follow the Council on social media:
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/immigrationIRL