I thank the committee for the opportunity to make this presentation. We have always wanted to be attend a meeting of this committee to talk to its members about gender guidelines. We acknowledge the committee offering us this opportunity to do so.
AkiDwA, which is Akina Dada wa Africa, is a network of migrant women living in Ireland. It is a charitable organisation. We work with the migrant women of different status and asylum seekers are one of the groups with whom we work. This presentation goes very much into what we have been talking about in the past few months since we launched our report, which details the experiences of women seeking asylum in Ireland. That is the reason we had emphasised previously, even before we launched the report, the need to have gender guidelines.
The system that operates does not take into account of the multiple identities of women, that women are migrating but they also carry multiple identities with them. They could be women who have been trafficked, women who have been raped during the process of migrating and they could also have children with them. To take that into account is important especially when women end up here seeking asylum.
The representatives from FLAC mentioned the number of people seeking asylum in Ireland but currently approximately 3,000 women are seeking asylum in Ireland who are living in direct provision. I also want to highlight and acknowledge some of the achievements that have been made since 1995, one of which was made this month in July. I refer to the single unit that has been established by the UN, which is an entity to promote women's equality. That is a good development. I want to avail of the opportunity to mention that.
On the issue of gender consideration, there is a high level of denial about this, especially within the reception and asylum policy and practice. The 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees does not take the ground of gender into account, that women can claim asylum based on other gender specific grounds they may experience. I assume the members know that women do not benefit equally in terms of men when they seek asylum. Their experiences in their country of origin before they arrive here differ very much from those of men. They may not be involved in political protest while men might have been very much involved in it and their names may have appeared in newspaper articles while women's names would not have appeared in them, and such newspaper articles could assist in terms of evidence to support their case. The definition does not actually take gender into account as a ground of persecution. This makes matters very difficult and it means that the current interpretation is favouring the man's experience and does not recognise what women go through.
What it terms a "well founded fear of persecution" depends on the particular circumstances of each individual. It could be a form of persecution specific to the person's sex. We are sure that here in Ireland there are over 2,500 women who have gone through the procedure of female genital mutilation. AkiDwA has worked with many women from Rwanda who have been involved in the genocide; we have worked with women who have experienced multiple difficulties before ending up here. If this is not taken into account, it leaves them in a very vulnerable situation in which they continue to suffer what they went through before living here.
We need to have gender guidelines to ensure that all grounds, such as religion, race, nationality or membership of a particular group, are interpreted in a way that is gender sensitive. Another point is the need to ensure, within the whole process to implement the guidelines, that women are given equal and fair assessment before even going through the procedure. We have given much information to the committee, including the briefing paper and a PowerPoint presentation that we will not use as our time is limited.
Women are required to make their application shortly after they arrive. If a woman has experienced rape or female genital mutilation, it would be very difficult for her to disclose such experiences to people she does not know. We ask that such women would be given time to recover and get used to the environment before they do that.
AkiDwA and the Immigrant Council of Ireland have been talking about the independent status of women. Many women who have ended up here have been in very violent relationships but their status is always dependent on their male partner, who might be a husband or fiance. We have asked from the beginning that they could be helped to get independent status or to apply for asylum in their own capacity as women and as individuals.
When we talk to the women about these problems, they tell us it is difficult for them to present their cases because once the interviewer is told what is happening, they are already disbelieved. In the briefing note, committee members can read quotes from the women we have been working with regarding the attitude of interviewers. They have also given us accounts of how they are treated at the point of entry by immigration officers. What we ask for is training to be given to everybody who is dealing with such people, particularly vulnerable people, when they are entering the country.
There are issues of isolation. Many of these women are very isolated, particularly as they are taken to very remote places. We have heard of Mosney but there are other places very far away from the reality. As most of these women have experienced gender based violence, some of the places they are located and even the housing they are put in reminds them of what they have gone through before. It is important to have culturally sensitive interpretation and translation. We have had women using their children to translate for them because they do not have translators. Also, people have had to translate for others over the telephone in regard to health conditions. We need to have gender sensitivity and culturally appropriate services.
FLAC referred to ongoing consultation. People are not consulted within the process, for example, in regard to what is happening at Mosney at present. Previously, however, women were not consulted about matters relating to their children and themselves. We still have a problem in that women do not have a choice with regard to interviews. Some may want to be interviewed by a woman but most do not have that choice. This applies even when making a decision about a doctor. If a woman has gone through female genital mutilation or has been raped during the war and then finds her GP is a man, the woman should have the opportunity to make a choice to have a female GP.
There is a major problem with regard to counselling. We are talking about people who are traumatised before even getting here, about women who have been abused while they are migrating but who have no access to counselling. We ask for culturally appropriate or sensitive training. The only organisation we have to deal with trauma is SPIRASI but it is normally booked up throughout the year. My organisation has been trying to send such women to the women's refuges in order to support them with counselling support, but this is not appropriate as their staff would not be trained in the cultural issues of gender based violence or gender specific needs.
There has been a problem in having women present for their hearings due to the need to organise child care. They must do it themselves without the support of the Department. We ask that this be considered as a matter of gender.
We have also spoken to women who have had problems with detention and the way they are arrested if they are to deported. Most of them are told the detention is for deportation but they are not told for how long it will be. If most of them have experienced gender specific harm such as rape or female genital mutilation, this is very difficult for their mental and psychological well-being.
Many women have referred to how they are treated by their legal advisers. During the preparation stage, most do not receive information and it is very important they get information from their countries of origin from the beginning and that this is checked.
We have also had issues with how women are treated during deportation, and we list much information on our website documenting their experiences. We ask for continuous training where vulnerable people are being dealt with. It is as if we are putting them into a more vulnerable position than before.
The issue of gender guidelines is very important. We had suggested them before the immigration Bill was presented to the Dáil this month. We would ask the committee to help in any way it can in regard to the issue of gender, which is mentioned in the Bill but not specifically with regard to gender specific harm. AkiDwA requests that gender guidelines would be considered. Apart from that, there are issues of protection and vulnerability in seeking asylum in Ireland today. If women could be facilitated and protected better, so they do not fall into more vulnerable situations, it would be very helpful.
We are advocating for gender guidelines. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties drew up a draft in 2002 of which we have copies. Other countries, such as Australia, Canada and the UK, have already put forward these guidelines and are using them. They are very important not alone if we are to protect women but also if women are to benefit equally with men within the asylum process. This is all we ask for, namely, that we protect women more and facilitate them more so they can benefit equally with men.