This document provides information about a training program on gender sensitivity in the asylum process run by IARS, an international think tank. The training focuses on the impact of gender-based violence on refugee and asylum-seeking women. It aims to increase gender sensitivity when dealing with such women. The document defines key terms, outlines principles of good practice, and lists services that can provide support to women who have experienced gender-based violence.

1. Abused No More: The Voices of Refugee and
Asylum-seeking Women
Training on Gender Sensitivity
in the Asylum Process

2. About IARS
• IARS is a leading, international think-tank with a charitable mission to give
everyone a chance to forge a safer, fairer and more inclusive society.
We achieve our charitable aims by producing evidence-based solutions to
current social problems, sharing best practice and by supporting young
people and the community to shape decision making. IARS is an
international expert in criminal justice, restorative justice, human rights
and inclusion, citizenship and user-led research.
• We are known for our robust, independent, evidence-based approach to
solving current social problems, and we are considered a pioneer in user-
involvement and the application of user-led research methods.
• IARS is also an independent publisher of high quality research in the areas
of youth policy, criminal justice law reform, restorative justice, public legal
education, equality, human rights and social sciences.
• To find out more, please visit www.iars.org.uk
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3. • Three-year Comic Relief and Matrix Chambers funded project which is a
user-led skills development and research programme forming an
evidence-based awareness raising training for professionals and service
providers focusing on the impact of gender-related violence on refugee and
asylum-seeking women (RASW). The project aims to generate institutional
change and increased gender sensitivity in the treatment of refugee and
asylum-seeking women, both by harnessing existing research and by
allowing the women themselves to identify the problems they currently face
through community-led action research.
• Prof Margaret Greenfields „Action Research With Refugee Women: Good
Practice and Solutions to Community Participation‟
• Holly Challenger „Abused No More: The Voices of Refugee and Asylum-
seeking Women‟
• We are also working in partnership with the Evelyn Oldfield Unit
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Abused No More: The Voices of Refugee
and Asylum-seeking Women project

4. Definition of gender-based violence
• Gender-based violence (GBV) is violence that is directed against a
person on the basis of gender. It constitutes a breach of the fundamental
right to life, liberty, security, dignity, equality between women and men, non-
discrimination and physical and mental integrity. Gender-based violence
and violence against women are often used interchangeably as most
gender-based violence is inflicted by men on women and girls.
• Gender-based violence includes:
• Domestic violence, sexual harassment, rape, sexual violence during conflict
and harmful customary or traditional practices such as female genital
mutilation, forced marriages and honour crimes;
• Trafficking in women, forced prostitution and violations of human rights in
armed conflict (in particular murder, systematic rape, sexual slavery and
forced pregnancy);
• Forced sterilisation, forced abortion, coercive use of contraceptives, female
infanticide and prenatal sex selection.
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5. Refugee protection
Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951 defines
refugee as a person who:
• “Owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race,
religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or
political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and unable or,
owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that
country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his
habitual residence… is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return
to it”.
• The Convention does not include gender as one of the grounds on which
it is possible to be recognised as a refugee. In order to encourage a gender-
sensitive interpretation of the 1951 Refugee Convention the United Nations
High Commission for Refugees produced guidelines in 1991 and 2002 to
assist nations in considering claims relating to gender.
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6. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and its impact on
the ability to recall past traumatic experiences
• Damaged self-integrity – not being able to answer the question „what
happened to you‟, and not being able to present the traumatic experience in
its continuity
• Helplessness – being unable to talk about experiences involving
helplessness
• Re-experiencing – nightmares or intrusive memories – not being able to
concentrate and talk coherently
• Avoidance – not being able to remember
• Increased arousal – not being able to recall memories; perceiving the world
as dangerous; aggressive behaviour
• Sleeping disorders – may lead to aggressive, non-cooperative behaviour
• Emotional numbing – talking about trauma with short, colourless sentences,
with little detail and in disengaged manner
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7. Intercultural competence
• Keep in mind that cultural signs are always part of a larger system.
• Keep in mind that we are products of our own cultures and that our
judgements are greatly influenced by our cultural identities.
• Seek out books, articles and other resources about the cultures whose
representatives you encounter at work. Pay particular attention to the
relationship between different social, cultural and ethnic groups, gender
norms, basic forms of body language and social rules regarding the display
of respect.
• Read more about your own culture.
• Remember that cultures are not homogenous and that they change all the
time.
• Don‟t be afraid to ask people about their cultural practices and norms.
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8. Communication barriers
• Language - where possible, a woman or girl should be provided with an
interpreter, preferably female. The professional should not accept friends‟ or
family members‟ offers to interpret on behalf of the woman/girl, to avoid the
risk of emotional constraints, pressure or incorrect (subjective)
interpretations of the statements.
• Cultural aspects - professionals should show respect for the woman‟s
cultural and religious background but condemn violations of women‟s and
child rights.
• Inappropriate setting - counselling and other forms of support should be
carried out in a place where the woman‟s/girl‟s privacy and safety are
ensured, and where nobody can enter without permission.
• Time constraints - the professional should confirm the appointment with the
woman, and make sure that both have sufficient time to dedicate to the
discussion. If necessary, a follow-up appointment should be agreed.
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9. Principles of good practice
• Be aware and informed
• Assess individual needs
• Be sensitive and non-judgemental
• Be alerted to manifestations of psychological
distress
• Treatment and referrals
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10. Building a trusting relationship
• Privacy and confidentiality
• Patience
• Remaining non-judgmental
• Understanding of non-verbal cues
• Use facilitation skills
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11. Asylum process in the UK
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12. Asylum interview checklist:
• Ask the applicant if she has anything to add
• Advise the applicant what will happen following the interview, including:
 When a decision can be expected
 What will happen if the application is successful (concerning
documentation, family reunification, the right to work, etc.)
 What will happen if the application is not successful (explain the right to
and procedure of appeal)
• Reassure the applicant that, whatever the circumstances of the case, all
relevant information will be included in the interview report that will
accompany the request for recognition of refugee status
• Ask the applicant if she has any last questions, and thank her for the
interview
• Thank the interpreter and give the applicant the opportunity to do likewise
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13. Principles of good practice
• Ensure that refugee applicants affected by gender-based violence are
interviewed alone by a female staff member and a female interpreter, in a
gender-sensitive, trustful, confidential and reassuring environment.
• Remember that an applicant who has undergone gender-based violence
can be defined as a member of a vulnerable group requiring specific
protection, and hence lightened burden of proof.
• Be aware of gender and cross-cultural differences in communication; use
both open and closed questions and avoid questions that may impede
communication or be perceived as judgemental.
• Familiarise yourself with the pattern of symptoms that may be exhibited by
victims of gender-based violence and ensure that follow-up counselling and
medical and legal assistance are made available where needed.
• Familiarise yourself with relevant information concerning refugee women
affected by gender-based violence, including protection guidelines and data
on country of origin.
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14. Services
Specialist counselling
• The Haven Centres (www.thehavens.co.uk) provide on-going
support to survivors on the emotional and physical impacts of rape
and also a sensitive medical examination service
• The Anna Freud Centre in London (www.annafreudcentre.org) run
a mother-infant psychotherapy service and are a good source of
training and advice on the issue of pregnancy and children resulting
from rape
• The Women’s Therapy Centre (www.womenstherapycentre.co.uk)
is a specialist provider of psychoanalytic psychotherapy to women,
including refugee and asylum seeking women
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15. Services continued
Legal Assistance
• Asylum Aid (www.asylumaid.org.uk) provides specialist assistance and advice to women in the
asylum process through the Refugee Women‟s Resource Project. Clients may be assisted in their
applications for asylum by having a detailed medico-legal report prepared, which documents any
medical evidence of the traumas experienced by the client. Such reports should always be
prepared by a competent medical professional
• The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture (www.torturecare.org.uk) offers a
medico-legal report writing service and advice and training to other professionals in this area.
They also offer therapeutic services to torture survivors and support to professionals from their
offices in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Glasgow
• The Red Cross International Tracing & Messaging Service (www.redcross.org.uk) can assist
clients who have lost contact with relatives to try to locate and contact them, through the Red
Cross‟ network of organisations around the world
• The Refugee Council website (www.RefugeeCouncil.org.uk) contains information in a range of
languages about rights and entitlements to support for asylum seekers and refugees at all stages
of the process
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16. We would like to thank our funders,
Comic Relief and Matrix Chambers,
and our partner, the Evelyn Oldfield Unit
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17. To find out more about IARS, please visit www.iars.org.uk
If you would like to donate to our project,
please visit the Big Give website
http://www.thebiggive.org.uk/
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18. Please fill in our evaluation form
Please let us know of other organisations who would be interested
in the training
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