Skip to main content
Immigrant Council of Ireland
Get help Donate SearchSearch icon
Search
  • About
  • Get Help
  • Campaigns
  • News
  • Resources
  • Support Us
  • Training

Who We Are

  • Vision & Mission
  • Our stories
  • Meet the team
  • Board of directors
  • Contact us
  • Work with us
  • Sign up for our newsletter

What We’ve Done

  • Impact Statement
  • Stories

How We Work 

  • Our Process
  • Partnerships
  • Independent Law Centre
  • Community Navigators
  • Education & Training

Governance

  • Good Practice & Transparency
  • How we are funded
  • Annual Reports
  • Child Protection Policy

Information Line

  • Call Us
  • Report Racism
  • Information for Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse

Your Rights

  • Know Your Rights
  • Citizenship & Permanency
  • Family Reunification
  • Working in Ireland
  • Domestic Abuse
  • International Students
  • Anti-trafficking
  • Anti-racism

FAQs

  • Top 10 FAQs
  • COVID-19 and immigration FAQs
  • Brexit immigration FAQs
  • Undocumented Regularisation Scheme FAQs

Case Studies

  • Stories
  • Share your story
  • Campaigns
  • Be an Ally Against Racism!
  • Anti-Racism
  • Gender-Based Violence
  • Trafficking of Women and Girls
  • Refugee Crisis
  • Integration
  • Immigration Reform
  • Statelessness
  • Child Migration Matters
  • Show Racism the Red Card
  • EASY. Increasing dialogue, awareness, and victim-centred support for victims of forced marriages
  • Local Migrant Integration Index
  • Immigrant Council training
  • Publications
  • Newsletter
  • Media Resources
  • Useful Links
  • Privacy Statement
  • Donate
  • Fundraise
  • Share your story

 

  • Immigrant Council Training
  • Request more information
  • Intercultural and Anti-racism training
  • Diversity training
  • Immigration process training
  • Migrant political participation training
  • Anti-trafficking training
  • Show Racism the Red Card

 

 

  • About

    Who We Are

    • Vision & Mission
    • Our stories
    • Meet the team
    • Board of directors
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Sign up for our newsletter

    What We’ve Done

    • Impact Statement
    • Stories

    How We Work 

    • Our Process
    • Partnerships
    • Independent Law Centre
    • Community Navigators
    • Education & Training

    Governance

    • Good Practice & Transparency
    • How we are funded
    • Annual Reports
    • Child Protection Policy
  • Get Help

    Information Line

    • Call Us
    • Report Racism
    • Information for Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse

    Your Rights

    • Know Your Rights
    • Citizenship & Permanency
    • Family Reunification
    • Working in Ireland
    • Domestic Abuse
    • International Students
    • Anti-trafficking
    • Anti-racism

    FAQs

    • Top 10 FAQs
    • COVID-19 and immigration FAQs
    • Brexit immigration FAQs
    • Undocumented Regularisation Scheme FAQs

    Case Studies

    • Stories
    • Share your story
  • Campaigns
    • Campaigns
    • Be an Ally Against Racism!
    • Anti-Racism
    • Gender-Based Violence
    • Trafficking of Women and Girls
    • Refugee Crisis
    • Integration
    • Immigration Reform
    • Statelessness
    • Child Migration Matters
    • Show Racism the Red Card
    • EASY. Increasing dialogue, awareness, and victim-centred support for victims of forced marriages
  • News
  • Resources
    • Local Migrant Integration Index
    • Immigrant Council training
    • Publications
    • Newsletter
    • Media Resources
    • Useful Links
    • Privacy Statement
  • Support Us
    • Donate
    • Fundraise
    • Share your story
  • Training

     

    • Immigrant Council Training
    • Request more information
    • Intercultural and Anti-racism training
    • Diversity training
    • Immigration process training
    • Migrant political participation training
    • Anti-trafficking training
    • Show Racism the Red Card

     

     

Get help Donate

Supporting migrant victims of domestic abuse

Cases of domestic violence experienced by migrant women are increasingly complex due to mixed immigration statuses and barriers to accessing mainstream services.

Working to end all forms of gender-based violence remains one of the core priorities of the Immigrant Council of Ireland. We define gender-based violence as any form of abuse or exploitation that is directed at a person because of their gender. Gender based violence predominantly affects women and girls, intersecting with immigration status in areas such as human trafficking and domestic violence.

Each year our legal and information services support dozens of migrant women who find themselves in situations of domestic violence. Our support can range from simple advice and referrals to legal representation to help a victim secure an independent residency status separate from their abusive spouse.

In 2021, thanks to funding from the Lifes2good Foundation, the Immigrant Council was able to begin dedicated outreach activities supporting migrant women victims of domestic abuse in the West of Ireland.

One such client is an Indian woman living in the West of Ireland with her children and husband. The family moved to Ireland based on the husband’s work permit. Due to ongoing abuse by her husband, the woman was referred to us by a local support service for help. 

The Immigrant Council legal team was able to provide assistance to the woman, helping her to draft an application for independent status to the Department of Justice.

Despite a slowdown in Government services as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department reviewed the woman’s application and quickly approved it, granting the woman independent permission to reside and work in Ireland.

Today, she and her children have the opportunity to reclaim their lives without the threat of violence, with the ability to live independently and be secure in their immigration status without any dependence on the perpetrator of abuse.

Success stories like this help illustrate the ongoing need for dedicated support services for migrant victims of domestic abuse across the country. Through funding from the Lifes2good Foundation, the Immigrant Council is helping to deliver these essential services and also working to build the capacities of service providers in the region by providing training and guidance to legal professionals and frontline service providers.

The Immigrant Council of Ireland firmly believes that independent immigration status should be accessible by all people after a certain length of time – regardless of family relationship or incidents of domestic abuse. This is an ongoing issue we continue to raise with the State in reforming the Irish immigration system.

For more information on resources for migrants experiencing domestic abuse, view our Know your rights section, consult our Community Navigators or call the Immigrant Council Helpline (01-674-0200 Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri 10am-1pm) . Frontline service providers and legal professionals interested in training on migrant domestic violence can learn more about training opportunities here.
 

Back to Stories
Immigrant Council of Ireland logo
Donate Take Action
Follow Us Twitter logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Facebook logo
Contact Immigrant Council of Ireland Contact Immigrant Council of Ireland Contact
Newsletter

About

Who We Are

  • Vision & Mission
  • Meet the Team
  • Board of Directors
  • Work With Us

What We've Done

  • Impact Statement
  • Our Stories

How We Work

  • Our Process
  • Working in Partnership
  • Independent Law Centre
  • Training

Governance

  • Good Practice & Transparency
  • Annual Reports

Get Help

  • Immigration Helpline
  • Call Us
  • Report Racism

Your rights

  • Know Your Rights
  • Citizenship and Permanency
  • Family Reunification
  • Working in Ireland
  • Domestic Abuse
  • International Students
  • Anti-trafficking
  • Anti-racism

FAQs

  • Top 10 FAQs

 

Case Studies 

  • Stories
  • Share your story

Campaigns

  • Campaigns

News

  • Latest news

Resources

  • Publications
  • Media Resources
  • Useful Links

Support Us

  • Donate
  • Fundraise
  • Working in Partnership
Made by Piquant
Copyright © 2023 - Immigrant Council of Ireland - Registered Charity Number 20061982 - Privacy statement