Victims of forced migration and sexual and gender-based violence are being failed by the UK immigration system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pictured here are Minister Jane Hutt, Jo Hopkins from Public Health Wales, Jenny Phillimore from Birmingham University and Nancy Lidubwi from Bawso at the launch of the SEREDA report<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New research report launched in Cardiff on 24th May 2022 highlights disturbing evidence on the ways that victims of forced migration, sexual and gender-based violence are systematically let down by the UK immigration system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The SEREDA project undertaken by Professor Jenny Phillimore of University of Birmingham in partnership with Cardiff University interviewed 13 survivors and 13 service providers including victims referred to Bawso.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The SEREDA project aimed at understanding the experiences of refugees who had fled conflict in search for protection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The report notes that whereas some service providers did not have appropriate support systems in place for the victims, in Wales, they tended to refer victims to Bawso for support. This is corroborated by evidence from participating survivors who identified Bawso as the only organisation with the expertise to support survivors of forced migration, sexual and gender-based violence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Research findings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The forced migrants interviewed for the SEREDA project were asked about their experiences of SGBV. Some had experienced one discrete incident, while others experienced repeated incidents that occurred at the hands of different perpetrators over time and place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Researchers have used the term continuum of violence to describe the ongoing violence experienced by women before, during and after conflict. Some respondents experienced both interpersonal violence (IPV) and other forms of SGBV. A LGBTQIA+ respondent explained how their life was at risk in their country of origin because of their sexual identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some forms of violence were structural. Incidents included: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Violence pre-displacement <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Forced marriage (women and men) and child marriage y Violence and SGBV within families <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Imprisonment and control <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Female genital mutilation (FGM) and threat of FGM <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Rape by individuals or groups <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 IPV by husband and his family <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Normalisation of violence and impunity for abusers <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Death threats because of sexual identity<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Modern slavery<\/p>\n\n\n\n Violence in Conflict and Flight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Physical violence and SGBV by multiple perpetrators <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Transactional sex and rape by traffickers <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Being forced to witness sexual assault <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Enslavement and kidnapping<\/p>\n\n\n\n Violence in Wales<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Intensification of IPV and use of immigration status to control <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Discrimination and racist attack <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Modern slavery and sex trafficking <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Aggressive and lengthy asylum interviews <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Relationship between waiting, destitution and psychological disorders <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Harassment in asylum housing of LGBTQIA+ forced migrants <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Children at risk of abduction for FGM <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Detention and criminalisation of victims of modern slavery <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Insufficient specialist services for survivors \u2013 lack of treatment exacerbates conditions<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a detailed report, please use the link below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n