Gender-based violence among asylum seeking women : a literature review
Tuomola, Sara (2020)
Tuomola, Sara
2020
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020120826708
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020120826708
Tiivistelmä
The aim of this Bachelor’s thesis was to investigate based on existing literature which forms of gender-based violence asylum seeking women experience and how they are recognized in the asylum process. The theoretical framework of the thesis included the definitions of an asylum seeker and a refugee as well as defining the term woman, different forms of violence, gender-based violence and violence against women.
The chosen method for the thesis was literature review. The chosen data was gathered using systematic literature search in well-known scientific databases. Following the research, five scientific articles were chosen to be analyzed using the content analyzing method.
The main discovery of the thesis was that asylum seeking women experience gender-based violence in many different forms. The prevalence of gender-based violence does not differ greatly among the areas where women are from, even though some forms might be more common in certain areas. According to the studies, asylum seeking women often experienced multiple forms of gender-based violence by multiple perpetrators. Forensic and medical affidavits have been proven to strengthen women’s asylum claims but they must be requested by a lawyer. The victims of gender-based violence should be guaranteed a fair asylum process, be seen as vulnerable and as survivors and victims of torture. Non-refoulment should be guaranteed. Based on the results of this study, one could see that gender-based violence is sadly common among asylum seeking women and can have long lasting consequences. This topic should be studied more and the victims of gender-based violence should be recognized in the asylum process as survivors of torture and be granted asylum or secondary protection.
Keywords: Asylum seeker, women, gender-based violence, asylum process
The chosen method for the thesis was literature review. The chosen data was gathered using systematic literature search in well-known scientific databases. Following the research, five scientific articles were chosen to be analyzed using the content analyzing method.
The main discovery of the thesis was that asylum seeking women experience gender-based violence in many different forms. The prevalence of gender-based violence does not differ greatly among the areas where women are from, even though some forms might be more common in certain areas. According to the studies, asylum seeking women often experienced multiple forms of gender-based violence by multiple perpetrators. Forensic and medical affidavits have been proven to strengthen women’s asylum claims but they must be requested by a lawyer. The victims of gender-based violence should be guaranteed a fair asylum process, be seen as vulnerable and as survivors and victims of torture. Non-refoulment should be guaranteed. Based on the results of this study, one could see that gender-based violence is sadly common among asylum seeking women and can have long lasting consequences. This topic should be studied more and the victims of gender-based violence should be recognized in the asylum process as survivors of torture and be granted asylum or secondary protection.
Keywords: Asylum seeker, women, gender-based violence, asylum process