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Migrant women: at particular risk from domestic
violence

Resolution 1697 (2009)1

1.       The
Parliamentary Assembly notes that migrant women in Europe face
twofold discrimination based both on their gender and their
origin. In addition, in communities marked by a strong
patriarchal culture, they may be exposed to an aggravated risk
from domestic violence. Confronted with the language barrier
and family pressure, they often end up isolated and unable to
express their views and have only limited access to any
facilities that exist to protect the victims of domestic
violence. Migrant women may also have faced violence in their
home country or in transit or in the host country. Irregular
migrant women face a further problem in that they risk being
sent back to their home country if they manifest themselves to
the authorities.

2.       In
Europe, one woman in four or five has suffered physical
violence at least once in her life. The Assembly reiterates
that any form of violence against women, including domestic
violence, is unacceptable and constitutes a grave violation of
human rights. No cultural relativism may be invoked to justify
practices that infringe the fundamental rights of migrant
women and women of migrant origin.

3.       During
its Stop Domestic Violence against Women campaign (2006-2008),
the Council of Europe highlighted the need to protect the
victims, prosecute the perpetrators of violence and prevent
violence against women. The Assembly believes that member
states must do everything in their power to ensure that all
women living within their territories have access in law and
in practice to the relevant victim protection and
rehabilitation facilities.

4.       The
Assembly consequently invites the member states to:

4.1.
adopt suitable strategies for combating domestic violence
and ensuring the protection and rehabilitation of victims
from migrant communities, in particular through:

4.1.1.
the granting of individual legal status to migrant women
who have joined their spouse through family reunion, if
possible within not more than one year after the date of
arrival;

4.1.2.
the gathering of statistics, broken down by gender and
community, to provide better insight into the nature and
magnitude of the phenomenon and enable adequate strategies
to be adopted;

4.1.3.
the provision of suitable assistance, including
psychological and rehabilitation assistance, and
protection services, including an interpretation service
for victims;

4.2.
adopt dedicated action plans addressing the specific needs
of migrant women who are victims of violence, including
domestic violence and trafficking.

5.       The
Assembly also invites the member states to adopt active
policies for the prevention of violence against women in
migrant communities, in particular through:

5.1.
the introduction of integrated and co-ordinated policies to
build migrant women's capacities and promote equality
between women and men;

5.2.
increased support to the non-governmental organisations that
protect, assist and mentor victims of domestic violence,
with due regard to gender equality and to the furtherance of
human rights;

5.3.
the promotion of active policies for integrating migrants
and combating racism and xenophobia;

5.4.
men’s involvement in the strategies to combat violence
against women in migrant communities;

5.5.
reinforced co-operation with migrant women’s countries of
origin, aimed at encouraging these states to:

5.5.1.
improve the status of women and reinforce their position
in society;

5.5.2.
adopt policies to combat violence against women;

5.5.3.
ensure the effective use of legal apparatus for combating
and preventing violence against women;

5.5.4
disseminate information on legislative advances in gender
equality targeting foreign nationals, particularly women,
who are resident in the Council of Europe member
states.

1 Text adopted by the Standing
Committee acting on behalf of the Assembly on 20 November 2009
(see Doc.
11991, report of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for
Women and Men, rapporteur: Mrs Woldseth, and Doc.
12054, opinion by the Committee on Migration, Refugees and
Population, rapporteur: Mrs Acketoft).
See also
Recommendation 1891 (2009).

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