Migrant women: at particular risk from domestic violence

Committee Opinion | Doc. 12054 | 01 October 2009

Committee

(Former) Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population

Rapporteur :

Ms Tina ACKETOFT, Sweden

Origin

See Doc. 11991 tabled by the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men. 2009 - November Standing Committee

Thesaurus

A Conclusions of the committee

1. The Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population welcomes the report of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men for having highlighted the particular problems faced by migrant women who are at risk of domestic and other forms of violence.

2. The Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population considers it important to highlight that women migrants may have already faced violence, including domestic violence, in their home countries before migrating, and may, during the migration process (for example, in cases of trafficking), also have faced severe forms of violence.

3. Irregular migrant women have to deal not only with twofold discrimination related to their gender and origin, but also face the additional problem posed by their irregular status, which means they have great difficulties in contacting the authorities when they are victims of violence and are reluctant to do so.

4. In the opinion of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population, it is extremely important for member states to provide access to protection and rehabilitation, which also includes psychological support for migrant women who are victims of violence, whether this violence has taken place in the home country, in transit or in the host country.

5. The amendments put forward by the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population which follow are intended to highlight further these points.

B Proposed amendments

Amendment A (to the draft resolution)

In paragraph 1, at the end of the paragraph, add the following sentences:

“Migrant women may already 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.”

Amendment B (to the draft resolution)

In paragraph 4.1. add, after the words “ensuring the protection”, the following:

“and rehabilitation”.

Amendment C (to the draft resolution)

In paragraph 4.1.3. add, after the words “suitable assistance”, the following:

“, including psychological and rehabilitation assistance,”.

Amendment D (to the draft resolution)

At the end of paragraph 4.2. add the following words:

“and trafficking”.

__________

Reporting committee: Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men

Committee for opinion: Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population

Reference to committee: Doc. 11679, Reference 3484 of 29 September 2008

Opinion approved by the committee on 30 September 2009

Secretariat of the committee: Mr Neville, Mrs Odrats, Mr Ekström