Gender-Based Violence in a Migration and Refugee Context: Forms, Impacts, Barriers and Responses

This presentation is based on research conducted by a Canadian research team as part of the multi-country, interdisciplinary project, “Violence against Women Migrants and Refugees: Analysing Causes and Effective Policy Response.” The Canadian team was led by academic co-investigators from Saint Mary’s University, University of Guelph, University of Manitoba and University of New Brunswick who supervised postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students. The research benefited from consultations with an Expert Advisory Group.

To better understand Canadian migrant and refugee women’s (MRW) experiences of gender-based violence (GBV), interviews were conducted with policy makers, advocates and service providers (N=43) as well as with MRW survivors of GBV (N=48). We will present our analyses of the two datasets with a focus on GBV forms, impacts and barriers and MRW responses and resilience, amplified by the structural vulnerabilities of the immigration/settlement and anti-violence sectors when it comes to supporting MRW GBV survivors. We draw upon theoretical approaches such as the continuum of violence, intersectionality, social determinants of health, vulnerability, and the social ecology of resilience. We conclude with recommendations for changes to policy and practice.