Female Asylum Seekers Research Articles

Peer‐provided problem management plus (PM+) and case management for Arabic‐speaking and Farsi‐speaking refugees and asylum seekers in Greece

AbstractAn increasingly common response to the lack of specialist mental health services for refugees and asylum seekers in European host countries is peer‐supported services. This study examined the association between a peer‐provided psychosocial intervention and psychological symptom reduction among refugees and asylum seekers in Greece. The intervention consisted of Problem Management Plus (PM+) and peer case management sessions delivered by a team of Community Psychosocial Workers (trained refugees). The sample consisted of 173 participants, comprising Arabic and Farsi speakers, male and female participants, recognized refugees and asylum seekers. Anxiety, depression, and psychological distress were measured before and after the intervention using the Patient Health Questionnaire‐9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder‐7, and Psychological Outcome Profiles scales, respectively. Repeated measures analysis of variance was adopted to evaluate the difference in the degree of change across patient characteristics over the follow‐up period. The level of statistical significance was set at p < .05, and analyses were conducted using SPSS statistical software (version 26.0). Significant decreases were found in all postintervention scores, indicating significant decreases in anxiety and depression symptoms as well as in psychological distress following the peer‐provided psychosocial intervention, which included emotional support and social care. Large effect sizes were found at all scales. The findings support the notion that there is an association between the implemented intervention and symptom reduction in refugees. For future research, a randomized controlled trial is proposed as a study protocol.

Bad Deals and Tragic Pacts: The impact of the EU's management of migration through the externalisation of its borders on 'Women on the Move'.

In recent years the EU has become increasingly restrictive in its regulation of irregular migration flows despite its outward sustained discourse of safeguarding human lives and the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms. As part of this restrictive strategy, the EU has invested heavily in the securitisation and the management of migration through the externalisation of its borders. The EU-Turkey Deal struck in 2016 paved the way for further agreements with third countries with poor gender equality and human rights records, such as Libya and Tunisia. This externalisation of migration constitutes an important feature of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum adopted in 2023 with the aim of establishing a common asylum process at EU level. Asylum seekers, particularly girls and women are placed at added risk from these restrictive policies and policies of externalisation, as apart from dangers faced by all asylum seekers, they are at increased risk of human trafficking, sexual abuse and exploitation, and others forms of gender-based violence. Despite offering a short-sighted measure to a complex problem and the adverse humanitarian repercussions and gross human rights violations, particularly on female refugees and asylum seekers, such deals and pacts constitute an integral aspect of the EU's strategic agenda of managing migration through the externalisation of its borders. The article proposes a number of alternative solution-oriented measures which safeguard fundamental human rights and freedoms, in particular the right to asylum for refugee women and girls.

Women’s health and digitalization in forced migration: Review of existing digital tools, challenges and opportunities

Forced migration is a significant global challenge affecting millions of people worldwide. Women and girls, in particular, face unique health risks during forced migration, including sexual and gender-based violence, pregnancy complications and limited access to healthcare services. This article examines the role of digital technologies in promoting health equity among female refugees and asylum seekers. It shows the potential of digitalization to address the unique health needs of women in forced migration contexts. Digitalization, including mobile health (mHealth) technologies and online platforms, can potentially improve women’s health outcomes in forced migration contexts. The article draws on extant literature, and digitalization was shown to improve health literacy among women forced to migrate; and also make access to health information and services easier. From the literature, themes, which include access to health information and inclusive design methodologies, were discussed in the context of the digitalization of women’s health in forced migration. Recommendations for interventions in this area were also proffered.

Gender in European Union Asylum Law: The Istanbul Convention as a Game Changer?

Abstract The European Union (EU) has historically been a proactive player in advancing equality between women and men, and fighting gender-based discrimination. The past two decades have also seen the EU becoming a major actor in asylum law, with several EU secondary law instruments and a large amount of case law in EU Member States relating to the application of the 1951 Refugee Convention. Yet, these two areas of EU legislation – gender equality and asylum – have yet to become consistently connected. Similarly, judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union addressing gender-related elements of asylum cases are scarce. Could the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) help bridge the gap? The Istanbul Convention identifies gender-based violence as an extreme form of discrimination and contains a whole chapter dedicated to women in the context of migration. This article sheds light on the yet-to-be-realized potential of the Istanbul Convention to amplify the protective power of the Refugee Convention in the EU. While at present neither the Common European Asylum System, nor its new iteration in the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, fully meets the standards of the Istanbul Convention, it may be expected that the EU’s accession to the treaty will further encourage a gender-sensitive approach in EU asylum law. The Istanbul Convention may well be a game changer for the protection of female asylum seekers, and possibly also for asylum seekers with other gender identities.

Incidence of sexual violence among recently arrived asylum-seeking women in France: a retrospective cohort study.

The prevention of sexual violence (SV) occurring shortly after arrival in host countries towards female asylum seekers requires knowledge about its incidence. We aimed to determine the incidence of SV and its associated factors during the past year of living in France among asylum-seeking females who had arrived more than one year earlier but less than two years. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a life-event survey of asylum-seeking females who had been registered in southern France by the Office for Immigration for more than one year but less than two. The primary outcome was the occurrence of SV during the past year, weighted by the deviation in age and geographical origin of our sample from all females registered. The nature of SV was noted, and associated factors were explored by a logistic regression model. Between October 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, 273 females were included. Eighty-four females experienced SV during the past year of living in France (26.3% weighted [95% CI, 24-28.8]), 17 of whom were raped (4.8% weighted [95% CI, 3.7-6.1]). Being a victim of SV prior to arrival in France (202, 75.7%) was associated with the occurrence of SV after arrival (OR=4.6 [95% CI, 1.8-11.3]). Lack of support for accommodation was associated with se.xual assault (OR=2.6 [95% CI, 1.3-5.1]). The months following arrival in a European host country among asylum-seeking females appear to be a period of high incidence of SV; even higher for those who previously experienced SV prior to arrival. Reception conditions without support for accommodation seem to increase exposure to sexual assault. DGOS-GIRCI.

Female genital mutilation/cutting as a ground for asylum in France

AbstractThis study examines how France's national asylum legislation has changed politically and ideologically from following a gender‐blind policy to recognizing gender‐based violence as a ground for asylum. Among European countries, France receives the largest number of female asylum seekers (FAS) from sub‐Saharan African (SSA) countries, where female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is practiced. Although France was one of the first countries to recognize FGM/C as a reason for granting asylum, it was reluctant to accept FAS as a “particular social group (PSG).” This article analyzes the increase in asylum claims based on FGM/C in the 2000s and examines the political discourses on changing asylum legislation up to the 2010s. Data from official reports of government organizations were examined to investigate the decisions on asylum applications involving FGM/C. France changed its policies in the 2000s to include gender equality in its republican identity due to ultra‐right party and social campaigns criticizing male members of minority groups for violence and discrimination against women. The then conservative government exploited these circumstances and enacted restrictive immigration laws that addressed FGM/C grievances partially; the succeeding socialist government recognized FGM/C as a ground for asylum. This study concludes by arguing that the 2011 European directive was a turning point for French asylum legislation to include gender‐sensitive interpretation of the grounds under the Convention on the Status of Refugees, in line with European policy. However, the status of SSA women and girls remains uncertain while they are subjected to medical examination and the application range of PSG could be reconsidered.

Female Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Detention: An Exploratory Review of Research

Female Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Detention: An Exploratory Review of Research

Prevalence, consequences of female genital mutilation among asylum seekers in Ile-de-France and socio-demographic characteristics

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is an intervention on the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. In France, asylum is possible for girls at risk of FGM in their country of origin. The procedure includes a forensic examination of the child. To describe the prevalence of FGM and the sociodemographic characteristics of girls and their mothers examined at the Department of Forensic Medicine of Paris. Between 2018 and 2021, 2422 family interviews were conducted. The mothers were mainly from Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, and Guinea Conakry. A FGM was found in 84.4% of the 1838 women examined, mostly of type IIb. The mothers reported immediate complications (21.2%: hemorrhage, pain) and long-term complications (31.8%: sexual disorders, obstetrical complications) due to these FGM. The families often included several children, and 3307 girls were examined. They were mostly born in France (72.0%). An FGM was identified in 61 of these girls (1.8%, mostly type IIb); it was already known by the family in half of the cases. Three of these girls were born in Europe. FGM is a public health problem on a global scale, but also in France due to migratory pathways. This descriptive study carried out an initial medical assessment of FSM in female asylum seekers examined at the Department of Forensic Medicine of Paris, and difficulties in the diagnosis of FSM. Other studies are useful to corroborate and compare our results.

Experience with the midwifery- led continuity care model among female migrant, refugees and asylum seekers in the context of the ORAMMA project

IntroductionInadequate understanding of medical terminology, poor communication and lack of information affect women's ability to receive adequate care and to establish a relationship with the care provider.MethodsThe sample consists of five immigrants and refugees who lived in a shelter and participated in the ORAMMA program during their pregnancy, in March 2018. In-person interviews were conducted with the participation of an intercultural mediator with an open-ended exploratory questionnaire.ResultsThe women who received care under the ORAMMA program were very satisfied with the provision of prenatal care, they felt very comfortable with the providers talking, communicating, and building a relationship, asking clarifying questions and understanding the reason for their care. Women also felt intimacy, respect, friendship, empathy and confidence to share problems and feelings. Finally, empowering them to familiarize themselves with the health care system has proven to be useful enough for women to be able to care for themselves.ConclusionsThe provision of prenatal and perinatal care to refugee and migrant women offers significant benefits to pregnancy. Therefore, the provision of the ORAMMA program to migrant and refugee women is vital.

Health and safety concerns of female asylum seekers living in an informal migrant camp in Matamoros, Mexico.

Whilst increased numbers of people worldwide exercise their human right to seek asylum, the US has greatly reduced the number of asylum seekers able to enter its southern border, resulting in informal encampments. Women and children are uniquely vulnerable to violence and other health risks. To describe the health and safety concerns of female asylum seekers living in an informal migrant camp, with a particular focus on the risks of violence against women and children. For this qualitative descriptive study, female asylum seekers were purposively recruited in an informal tent encampment in Matamoros, Mexico (n=43). Semi-structured interviews were conducted in January and February 2020. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. The themes identified were constant vigilance, the effects of constant vigilance, lack of resources, and uncertainty. Women's unrelenting fears about their own safety and that of their children impacted their ability to access the camp's meagre resources and exacerbated negative effects on women and children. Applying established guidelines and best practices for health and safety in humanitarian settings could mitigate threats to women and children. Additionally, camp conditions represent human rights violations. Nurses have an ethical duty to advocate for an end to the US policies creating and maintaining this humanitarian crisis. As a result of changes to the United States immigration policy, individuals seeking asylum at the Southern border of the US have been largely prevented from entering the US since early 2018. Asylum seekers living in an informal encampment on the border awaiting entry describe a public health, humanitarian and human rights crisis. Women in this already vulnerable group lacked necessities, such as housing, food security, potable water, protection against gender violence and other forms of physical threats to themselves and their children. This created a heightened sense of vigilance and fear, with implications for their mental health and well-being and that of their children. These findings highlight the need for governmental and international organizations to implement the best health and safety practices for humanitarian settings to ensure equity in relation to the social determinants of health. Nurses have an ethical obligation to be strong human rights advocates. One member of the research team has extensive experience as an advocate for recently immigrated women experiencing intimate partner violence. The study procedures were reviewed with advocates providing direct services to migrant women and children.

Gender and asylum seekers- The case of Greece

The present paper focuses on the living conditions in temporary accommodation centers during the period of 22/11/2011 till 20/03/2012 and on the nature of the existing social relationship structures, being shaped at such centers, with special emphasis placed on the dimension of gender (single women or mothers).The existence of gender differences among asylum seekers’ groups cannot be clearly verified due to great social and economic problems, rendering them indistinguishable, while significant contradictions led to different conclusions in the past. Because of the lack of comparative data this research may contribute to the: a) provision of a clear cut picture of the gender dimension within the asylum seekers context, b) identification of the female asylum seekers population needs and the detection of the problems they encounter, c) the evaluation of the effectiveness of services and structures supporting asylum seekers and d) exploitation of results and findings for policy design.

COVID-19 and Mental Health Among People Who Are Forcibly Displaced: The Role of Socioeconomic Insecurity.

Forcibly displaced persons may be at elevated risk for poor mental health outcomes because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study sought to examine associations between COVID-19-related socioeconomic insecurity and mental health outcomes among asylum seekers. The authors evaluated the association between the degree of food, housing, and income insecurity related to the pandemic and mental health outcomes among East African asylum seekers in a high-risk, postdisplacement setting in the Middle East (i.e., Israel). Anxiety symptom severity (p=0.03) as well as the rate of suicidal ideation among women (odds ratio [OR]=2.81, p=0.016) were significantly elevated in a community sample of asylum seekers during the COVID-19 pandemic (N=66) relative to a similar sample (N=158) from the same community and context assessed before the pandemic. No differences between the two groups were observed for severity or rate of probable depression or posttraumatic stress disorders. In addition, among the sample assessed during the pandemic, socioeconomic insecurity due to the pandemic was strongly associated with elevated symptom severity and probable anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorders as well as suicidal ideation (R2 range=0.19-0.35; OR range=4.54-5.46). Findings are consistent with growing evidence of a mental health crisis among asylum seekers that is linked to COVID-19 control policies and residential status policies. The results highlight the risk for suicidal ideation linked to intersectional marginalization among female asylum seekers. These findings may inform postdisplacement policy making, social justice advocacy, humanitarian aid, and clinical science and practice to mitigate poor mental health outcomes associated with COVID-19 among forcibly displaced persons.

Description of a Culture-Sensitive, Low-Threshold Psychoeducation Intervention for Asylum Seekers (Tea Garden).

Asylum seekers often suffer from high levels of mental distress. However, as a result of a lack of knowledge about mental health and health care, as well as cultural and language barriers, the utilization of mental health care in Western host countries is often difficult for these individuals. Reducing these barriers may thus be a crucial first step towards appropriate mental health care. Previous research showed that psychoeducation may be helpful in this regard. The current manuscript describes a short, low-threshold and transdiagnostic intervention named 'Tea Garden (TG)'. The TG aims to increase specific knowledge about mental health problems and available treatments, and may improve psychological resilience and self-care. In this manuscript, we specifically focus on culturally sensitive facets, following the framework proposed by Heim and colleagues (2021, https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.6351), and lessons learned from three independent pilot evaluations (Ns = 31; 61; 20). The TG was found to be feasible and quantitative results showed that it was helpful for male and female asylum seekers from different countries of origin (e.g., Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, Iraq) and with different educational levels. Interestingly, even asylum seekers who had already been in Germany or Austria for three or more years benefited from the TG. The TG specifically aims to be culture-sensitive rather than culture-specific, to be transdiagnostic rather than focused on specific mental disorders, and to be suitable for asylum seekers who are still in the insecure process of applying for asylum. It may also be helpful for distressed asylum seekers who do not fulfill the criteria for a mental disorder, and for healthy asylum seekers who could use the knowledge gained in the TG to help others.

Transnational Gendered (Im)mobility in Border Cinema: Iraqi Refugee Women in Australia

Hope by Steve Thomas is a feature documentary that tells the story of the SIEV-X tragedy during which around 400 Iraqi women, men and children drowned as they were trying to reach Australia by boat. This article focuses on Hope’s representation of Amal Basry, a Muslim veiled female asylum seeker who survived this tragedy. Through its discussion of Amal Basry, this paper reveals the intersectional forces that face female asylum seekers. This article adopts a transnational feminist approach to question the neo-Orientalist reduction of Muslim women’s problems to their religion. Hence, it seeks to shift the focus to the state crimes committed against refugees and to the impact of Australia’s harsh immigration policy on them and their families. Exploring Australia’s violation of the non-refoulement principle, and its disregard for its international obligations towards refugees, unveils the often-unstated spatial oppression that torments Muslim female asylum seekers due to Australia’s cruel refugee policy. My main argument is that Hope complicates the flat category of the “Muslim woman” through its focus on Iraqi veiled women’s agency, the struggle against the racialized border militarization and the criminalization of their movement.

Sexual health knowledge in female asylum seekers living in New York City: a single-center, cross-sectional study over one year

Background Female asylum seekers remain vulnerable even after resettling in high-income countries. Few studies address sexual health knowledge in this population. This study aims to determine whether female asylum seekers possess less sexual health knowledge than the general female population in New York City (NYC). Methods A survey evaluating sexual health knowledge was administered to ten female asylum seekers in NYC and to a general population sample of fifty women in NYC. Two-tailed Student’s t-tests were employed to evaluate the statistical significance of the differences in knowledge scores between the two groups, and Fisher’s exact tests were used to examine associations between categorical variables. Results On average, female asylum seekers scored 18.8% lower (95% confidence interval, CI=7.3-30.4, P=0.002) on sexual and reproductive health questions, 14.0% lower (95% CI=2.8-25.2, P=0.016) on contraception questions, 14.3% lower (95% CI=3.5-25.1, P=0.011) on questions about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and 15.1% lower (95% CI=6.4-23.9, P<0.001) overall compared to the control group. Female asylum seekers were, on average, aware of 1.2 fewer (95% CI= 0.1-2.4, P=0.040) of the 11 listed contraception methods and of 1.1 fewer (95% CI=0.3-1.8, P = 0.006) of the five listed STDs. Conclusions Female asylum seekers were found to be less knowledgeable about sexual health than a general population of women in NYC. We additionally highlight a feasible strategy for recruiting participants from a population that is traditionally difficult to access.

Strategies of denial: women’s experiences of culture of disbelief and discreditation in the treatment of asylum claims on the grounds of female genital cutting (FGC)

ABSTRACT Drawing from qualitative research with female asylum seekers in Scotland who had claimed asylum to protect their daughters from female genital cutting (FGC), this article examines the workings of the culture of disbelief during asylum interviews. In this article I illustrate how the treatment of FGC-related asylum claims is informed by the convergence of hostile environment, gender and refugee stereotypes and the dominant representations of FGC. I argue that at the collision of anti-immigration and anti-FGC discourses, asylum seeking women are confronted with conflicting expectations whereby they are simultaneously expected to reinforce the constructions of themselves as victims of ‘backward’ cultural practices, and to narrate their vulnerability beyond cultural terms in order to meet the criteria for asylum outlined in the Refugee Convention. This paper illuminates the multiple strategies asylum interviewers employ to undermine women’s lived experiences of persecution, revealing the contradictions in how interviewers simultaneously question the threat of FGC, women’s inability to resist these practices and women’s own experiences of being subject to FGC. Through this, I problematise the assumptions that FGC as an ‘extreme’ form of gender-based violence would offer an exception to refugee women’s persistent struggles in being recognised as victims of persecution.

From struggle to hope: A gender-sensitive investigation on Nigerian male and female asylum seekers’ experiences

The study presents a qualitative and culturally-sensitive investigation of the lived experiences of the forced migration of six Nigerian asylum seekers, three men and three women, hosted in Italy. Through a focus on gender identity issues, the study aimed to explore possible gender differences between participants and define their specific needs, requirements and characteristics. Overall, the gender-focused perspective through which we explored participants’ subjective experiences has enriched our understanding of their unique life stories, shedding light on the psychic dimensions as well as on the social and cultural inscriptions of their gender identity and providing insights on the different ways in which Nigerian women and men made sense of their experiences of displacement, migration, violence and trauma.

Clinical agreement with self-report of physical violence and torture in women seeking asylum in France

Women are a particularly vulnerable group among persons seeking asylum but are still required to provide clinical evidence of acts of violence inflicted against them. In this study the authors describe patient histories, dermatological lesions and other injuries arising from physical violence and torture in female asylum-seekers attending a specialist outpatient service in France. Twenty-seven women were assessed during 2016-2018. Clinical corroboration of lesions with patients' self-reports was affirmative in >90% (25/27) of cases. Health care services in recipient countries must be configured and resourced to support women seeking asylum, and health care professionals must be receptive and sensitive to women's self-reported histories.

COVID-19 and its Effects on the Lives and Livelihoods of Congolese Female Asylum Seekers and Refugees in the City of Cape Town

This paper explores the socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives and livelihoods of Congolese female asylum seekers and refugees living in Cape Town. It is framed around the assumption that this group of women exist at the intersection of multiple forms of vulnerability by virtue of their migrant status, gender, race, and social class. The study adopted a qualitative approach to data collection and analysis. One-onone in-depth interviews were conducted with seven female asylum seekers and refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, using a semi-structured interview guide. Drawing on a feminist intersectional framework, the findings revealed that containment measures imposed by the South African government to curb the spread of COVID-19 significantly increased asylum-seeking and refugee women's care roles in homes, while rendering paid work more precarious. We argue that resilience strategies adopted by these women during the pandemic varied, depending on their demographic and socioeconomic status, educational level, nature of employment or entrepreneurial activity and their residency status in South Africa. This article concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified existing inequalities experienced by female Congolese asylum seekers and refugees and created new ones, with long-term implications for their lives and livelihoods.

Unmet family planning needs among female refugees and asylum seekers in Germany \u2013 is free access to family planning services enough? Results of a cross-sectional study

BackgroundAfter the 1968 United Nations International Conference on Human Rights, access to family planning services became a human right. Such a service is of central importance to women’s empowerment and is empirically needed to provide adequate healthcare. For registered refugees and asylum seekers in Germany complementary family planning services, including all forms of contraception, are free of charge. Yet, the success of these services remains unclear. The aim of this study is to describe the current reproductive health status of female refugees and to provide an initial overview of their existing unmet family planning and contraception needs.MethodsOver the course of 2 years, from December 2015 to December 2017, a set of 50 female-only discussion groups were conducted in community shelters for registered refugees in Berlin. A total of 410 women between the ages of 14 and 74 participated. A convenience sampling strategy was then applied and a total of 307 semi-structured questionnaires covering 41 items related to demographic data and women’s health were distributed to volunteering female participants over the age of 17. The statistical analysis of the questionnaires was performed using SPSS (IBM, PASW, Version 24). P-values less than or equal to 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsOf the 307 participants, the majority were from Syria and Afghanistan (30% respectively). The mean age was 33 years (range: 18–63). On average, each woman had 2.5 births (range: 0–10). Twenty-four women (8%) were pregnant and fifty-four of the women (18%) were trying to become pregnant. The majority of women were classified as “requiring contraception” (n = 195; 63%) of which 183 gave further information on if and how they used family planning methods. The calculated unmet need for family planning in this group was 47%. Of the remaining 53% of the women who used contraception, many utilised “traditional” methods (34% withdrawal method; 8% calendar method) which have a pearl index of 4–18 and can therefore be classified as rather insufficient birth control methods. Intrauterine contraceptive devices were used by 30%.ConclusionOur study revealed that despite the provision of complementary family planning services, there remains unmet family planning and education needs in the female refugee community in Berlin. This study indicates that there is a major access gap to these services. Further research needs to be carried out to evaluate the access gap and clearly identify and implement action plans to address possible causes such as language barriers, lack of childcare and traumatic experiences.