Gender Based Violence

 

 

Gender-Based Violence (GBV): The organisation is a respected authority in gender-based violence (GBV) work for migrant women in Ireland. GBV work covers a broad area and AkiDwA focuses on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and domestic violence. AkiDwA works to improve delivery of support services for GBV related issues and provides guidance and training to migrant women experiencing domestic violence.

 

Understanding Gender-Based Violence: An African Perspective This research was undertaken in response to the changing client profile attending gender-based violence service providers in Ireland and to address the needs identified by women contacting AkiDwA in relation to gender-based violence issues, including female genital mutilation and domestic violence. A summary booklet was developed to offer concise and helpful information to service providers working in this area.Summary booklet Also available is the read the research document GenderViolence.pdf

 

Migrant Women Conference on Activism In Addressing Gender Based Violence in IrelandAs part of the ‘16 Days of Action Opposing Violence Against Women, AkiDwA the Migrant women network in Ireland is hosting a Conference on highlighting its work on Gender based violence on 25th Nov 2010.Further information available from Beatrice / Nobuhle by:Email: Beatrice@akidwa.ie / nobuhle@akidwa.ie or by texting 086 3096859Please click here for more details

 

Domestic Violence Amongst Migrant Communities in Ireland, March 2009This survey was conducted with two target groups: African women and service providers in Ireland. With regard to African women in Ireland, this survey was intended to ascertain a baseline of their understanding and perception(s) of domestic violence. Through discussions with African women, AkiDwA came to realise that this objective was influenced by the realisation that some African women only recognise the physical part of violence, such as battering, as domestic violence. In awareness raising training, AkiDwA saw in its small sample that verbal abuse and psychological/mental abuse is more or less tolerated and accepted, and not as recognised or acknowledged as a form of domestic abuse.

With service providers, the intention was to find out if African women were accessing their services. If so, what challenges were they facing as service providers in supporting African women, and was there an increase in African women accessing services? Through its work, AkiDwA has realised that there is an increase in requests and calls from African and other migrant women experiencing domestic violence, seeking support and information. Baseline Survey

 

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TOOLKIT; Identifying and Responding to the Needs of African and Other Migrant Women Experiencing Domestic Violence in Ireland, April 2009This toolkit was developed in order to raise awareness and help African and other migrant women understand domestic violence and its dynamics. The toolkit was also developed to share an African cultural perspective, as well as provide insight into the specific needs and experiences of African women experiencing (or affected by) domestic violence. It illustrates unique factors of domestic violence cases of African women living in Ireland, and will highlight how better to facilitate their effective access to domestic violence support services.

 

It identifies:

a) challenges for all women seeking support in regard to domestic violenceb) how to respond to those challengesc) emerging issues for African and other migrant women.You can download the DVTOOLKIT2009 here.

 

“We recognise that women world wide, in rich and poor countries, face discrimination and inequality, in particular African women have gender specific needs that need to be represented in a safe environment, therefore African women need to be empowered to speak for themselves”

Salome Mbugua

  

  

Female Genital Mutilation

  

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is defined as the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or any practice that purposely alters or injures the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. The practice is internationally recognised as a human rights violation of women and girls. AkiDwA has been working on the issue of FGM since 2002, when AkiDwA became a member of the “Irish Coalition Against FGM”. AkiDwA situates this work on FGM in the focus on Gender Based Violence within the AkiDwA Strategic Plan 2008-2011.

 

The Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): Information for Health-Care Professionals Working in Ireland resource was developed as part of an AkiDwA project funded by the Office for the Minister of Integration examining the health care needs of women who have undergone FGM in their country of origin and who now reside in Ireland. A successful collaboration between the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland MSC Women’s Health Course Director and students and AkiDwA resulted in key information on FGM and related health care needs being researched, written, printed and launched.The resource is available to download here FGM PDF and a map of FGM prevalence in Africa and images of FGM Typologies can be downloaded here FGM Insert

 

AkiDwA Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Health Project 2008-2009 was funded by the Office of the Minister for Integration through Pobal. The AkiDwA FGM Project was independently evaluated and the final report is available to read here One2one Solutions Evaluation.

 

Click here to read AkiDwA’s Policy Briefing Paper and Briefing Note calling for the introduction of legislation in Ireland to prohibit female genital mutilation.

AkiDwA Briefing Paper for legislation to prohibit FGM

AkiDwA Briefing Note for legislation to prohibit FGM

 

Ireland’s National Plan of Action to Address FGM was launched on 25th November 2008. AkiDwA is part of the National Steering Committee and contributed to the development and launch of the Plan. Please click here to read the National Plan of Action please also read the Summary Plan

 

AkiDwA is the Irish partner of the END FGM European Campaign which is run by Amnesty International Ireland. The campaign aims to ensure that the European Union delivers a definitive strategy to prevent young girls and women in Europe from being mutilated and to protect those who flee their countries for fear of being mutilated. To learn more, and read the new Ending FGM strategy for European Institutions go to the website www.endfgm.eu

 

ENDING FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION TO PROMOTE THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

 

Click here to read a document that explores the importance of raising female genital mutilation as an underlying cause of the lack of progress on the Millennium Development Goals and makes recommendations to the European Union