Uncharted Territory

In 2013, the Home Office and the Welsh Government jointly sponsored research by the WSMP into the experiences of violence against migrant, refugee and asylum seeking women in Wales. It was a ground breaking study at the time and remains the only research in Wales into violence experienced by this group of women and girls. The report examined a range of issues and experiences including incidents of domestic abuse in the home country, how this is explored in the UK Government asylum process including traumatisation during the interview, as well as arrangements for housing and support. It covered a range of specific forms of violence and exploitation such as human trafficking, the experiences of LGBTI asylum seekers, those with NRPF, children and provision of specialist services. The research report helped to fill an evidence gap in Wales, and identified issues within some migrant communities in order to ensure that these particular and very complicated issues are not neglected within Welsh policy. It was directly relevant to both Home Office and Welsh Government strategic aims to end violence against women. ‘Uncharted Territory’ made several recommendations for a range of partners including the Home Office; in relation to interviewing women and girls who have experienced violence, calling on a review of Home Office guidelines and training on conducting the asylum interview. The report also called for Welsh Government, in the context of its ground-breaking work on domestic abusev, to ensure that all women in Wales share the right to be safe by taking steps to extend the protections enjoyed by the majority of women to the most vulnerable women and girls in Wales. The report also contained a number of recommendations for local authorities, health, police and specialist services. An action plan was developed but there was no consistent monitoring of this after 2015 due to a lack of capacity.