Provisional=20
edition
Migrant women: at particular risk from domestic=20
violence
Resolution 1697 (2009)1
1. The=20
Parliamentary Assembly notes that migrant women in =
Europe face=20
twofold discrimination based both on their gender and =
their=20
origin. In addition, in communities marked by a strong =
patriarchal culture, they may be exposed to an =
aggravated risk=20
from domestic violence. Confronted with the language =
barrier=20
and family pressure, they often end up isolated and =
unable to=20
express their views and have only limited access to =
any=20
facilities that exist to protect the victims of =
domestic=20
violence. Migrant women may also have faced violence =
in their=20
home country or in transit or in the host country. =
Irregular=20
migrant women face a further problem in that they risk =
being=20
sent back to their home country if they manifest =
themselves to=20
the authorities.
2. In=20
Europe, one woman in four or five has suffered =
physical=20
violence at least once in her life. The Assembly =
reiterates=20
that any form of violence against women, including =
domestic=20
violence, is unacceptable and constitutes a grave =
violation of=20
human rights. No cultural relativism may be invoked to =
justify=20
practices that infringe the fundamental rights of =
migrant=20
women and women of migrant origin.
3. During=20
its Stop Domestic Violence against Women campaign =
(2006-2008),=20
the Council of Europe highlighted the need to protect =
the=20
victims, prosecute the perpetrators of violence and =
prevent=20
violence against women. The Assembly believes that =
member=20
states must do everything in their power to ensure =
that all=20
women living within their territories have access in =
law and=20
in practice to the relevant victim protection and=20
rehabilitation facilities.
4. The=20
Assembly consequently invites the member states =
to:
4.1. =20
adopt suitable strategies for combating domestic =
violence=20
and ensuring the protection and rehabilitation of =
victims=20
from migrant communities, in particular through:
4.1.1. =20
the granting of individual legal status to migrant =
women=20
who have joined their spouse through family =
reunion, if=20
possible within not more than one year after the =
date of=20
arrival;
4.1.2. =20
the gathering of statistics, broken down by gender =
and=20
community, to provide better insight into the =
nature and=20
magnitude of the phenomenon and enable adequate =
strategies=20
to be adopted;
4.1.3. =20
the provision of suitable assistance, including=20
psychological and rehabilitation assistance, and=20
protection services, including an interpretation =
service=20
for victims;
4.2. =20
adopt dedicated action plans addressing the specific =
needs=20
of migrant women who are victims of violence, =
including=20
domestic violence and trafficking.
5. The=20
Assembly also invites the member states to adopt =
active=20
policies for the prevention of violence against women =
in=20
migrant communities, in particular through:
5.1. =20
the introduction of integrated and co-ordinated =
policies to=20
build migrant women's capacities and promote =
equality=20
between women and men;
5.2. =20
increased support to the non-governmental =
organisations that=20
protect, assist and mentor victims of domestic =
violence,=20
with due regard to gender equality and to the =
furtherance of=20
human rights;
5.3. =20
the promotion of active policies for integrating =
migrants=20
and combating racism and xenophobia;
5.4. =20
men=92s involvement in the strategies to combat =
violence=20
against women in migrant communities;
5.5. =20
reinforced co-operation with migrant women=92s =
countries of=20
origin, aimed at encouraging these states to:
5.5.1. =20
improve the status of women and reinforce their =
position=20
in society;
5.5.2. =20
adopt policies to combat violence against =
women;
5.5.3. =20
ensure the effective use of legal apparatus for =
combating=20
and preventing violence against women;
5.5.4 =20
disseminate information on legislative advances in =
gender=20
equality targeting foreign nationals, particularly =
women,=20
who are resident in the Council of Europe member=20
states.
1 Text adopted by the =
Standing=20
Committee acting on behalf of the Assembly on 20 =
November 2009=20
(see Doc.=20
11991, report of the Committee on Equal =
Opportunities for=20
Women and Men, rapporteur: Mrs Woldseth, and Doc.=20
12054, opinion by the Committee on Migration, =
Refugees and=20
Population, rapporteur: Mrs Acketoft). See also=20
Recommendation 1891 (2009). |