Click here to read “Am only Saying it Now – Experiences of Women Seeking Asylum in Ireland”
AkiDwA’s new report launched in March 2010

 

Women and Asylum

Women may not benefit equally with men when looking for asylum. Their experiences in their countries of origin often differ from those one of men. For example women’s
involvement in political protest and action isnot as widely publicised as that of men and their inability to produce evidence, both oral and documentary may alter their asylum claim. Deported Migrant women victim of GBV.

 

Assessing the Needs of African Women in Ireland

This report is a narrative of project of activities on establishing African women’s network that was carried out by AkiDwA with once off grant that was received from Combat Poverty Agency in November 2003.

Need Assesment.

 

Herstory
Migration Stories of African Women in Ireland

The book consists of ten migration stories of African women to Ireland. The stories narrate how the lives of these women use to be in Africa, what caused them to migrate and their migration Journey.

 

For a lot of women who seek refuge in other countries, it is often a personal and emotional struggle. Their stories and circumstances are different but they are all linked by one thing – leaving their countries, homes and often their families for fear of persecution, punishment and torture.

 

Below are some quotes from some of the women whose stories that feature in this book.

 

“I pleaded with my aunt who housed me not to make me go through female circumcision, I was badly cut and lost a lot of blood, those who mutilated me were half drunk, and I suffered for a long time from acute vaginal infections”
(Nina, Nigeria)

 

“The Journey to the refugee camp had lasted three hours, women cried as they were drugged out of the van, some people had died in the van due to suffocation”
(Mary, Rwanda)

 

“My hands were tied to the back of a chair, the rape I experienced in prison resulted into pregnancy, and I suffered from depression”
(Lydia, DRC)

 

“When I was 16 years old, my father summoned me and told me he was giving me away in marriage to the chief of the village who was 45 year old”
(Emma, Cameroon)

 

“I lived in fear and oppression; there were a lot of shootings and killings on the street” (Mora, South Africa)

    
 

 

 

“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, CEO of Akidwa

 
 
Submissions

Gender Guidelines in Asylum Processes in Ireland  Click here to Read more…..

 

SUBMISSION ON THE NATIONAL ACTION PLAN AGAINST RACISM IN IRELAND  NAPAR.

 

Submission to the Draft National Plan for Women (2001-2005)
Akwida and the Catherine McCauley Centre welcomes the publication of the Draft National Plan for Women and it welcomes the opportunity to make some very important recommendations to this plan. NPW.

 

Carrier’s liabilities legislation and the Immigration Bill 2002
Submission to the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights regarding Carrier’s liabilities legislation and the Immigration Bill 2002; and the implications of a recent Supreme Court judgement concerning the residency rights of non-national parents of Irish born children. Position paper Parent of Irish born child.