SOLWODI. Solidarity with Women in Distress.

Transcription

1 SOLWODI Solidarity with Women in Distress

2 SOLWODI s Development 1985 Founding of SOLWODI in Mombasa/Kenya Aid Project for women working in prostitution 1987 Founding of SOLWODI e.v. in Germany for migrant women in distress County or Laender organisations founded in: 1988 in the Rhineland-Palatinate 1998 in North Rhine-Westphalia 2001 in Lower Saxony 2001 in Bavaria

3 SOLWODI Headquarters in Boppard Counselling Nationwide Returnee Project Administration Rhineland-Palatinate North Rhine - Westphalia Lower Saxony Bavaria Counselling centres Koblenz Ludwigshafen Mainz Counselling centres Duisburg Counselling centres Braunschweig Osnabrueck Counselling centres Bad Kissingen Passau Augsburg Women s shelter Women s shelter Women s shelter Women s shelter Koblenz Duisburg Braunschweig Osnabrueck Bad Kissingen Passau Workgroups / contact points

4 Counselling, support and protection for migrant girls and women in Germany SOLWODI = Solidarity with Women in Distress Projects: (Returnee project, EU-AGIS Training for Judges and public Prosecutors Networking Lobbying, Interviews, Publications

5 Most common reasons for first contact 2004* Accommodation / Housing 27 Adoption 1 Alien law / Inform ation 6 Asylum seeking /Asylum rejected 92 Au-Pair 6 Child abduction / kidnapping 8 Child abuse 14 Custody of children 17 Deportation detention / inprisonment / deportation order 83 Desire to return home / planning 291 Drug problems 2 Forced marriage 33 Illegal status 60 Illnes s 32 Language problems 12 Marital problem s 74 Marriage migration 4 Pregnancy 44 Pros titution 66 Psych. illness / obsessional neurosis 18 Residency problems / missing documents 127 Separation / Divorce 78 Suicide attempt 4 Threat of violence 62 Trafficking / forced prostitution / victim-witness 136 Underaged prostitution 7 Unemployment 10 Violence and mistreatment in marriage or relationship 105 Work migration 15 *) Multiple reasons per case possible, since usually a whole problem complex is involved

6 Origin Origin unknown South / East Asia Middle East Middle / Eastern Europe Remaining Africa North Africa Middle / South America South / West Europe Southeastern Europe

7 First contact 2004 by country of origin Middle / Eastern Europe: North Africa Middle East South / West Europe Austria 1 Algeria 8 Armenia 1 Italy 4 Belarus 5 Egypt 3 Azerbaijan 2 Netherlands 2 Czechia 6 Ethiopia 4 Chechnya 1 Portugal 3 Estonia 1 Marocco 16 Georgia 6 Spain 1 Germany 38 Tunesia 1 Iran 7 10 Hungary 4 32 Iraq 3 Latvia 11 Libanon 9 Middle/South America Lithuania 30 Rest of Africa: Syria 5 Argentinia 1 Poland 42 Angola 8 34 Brazil 16 Russia 51 Botswana 1 Caribbean 1 Slovakia 7 Cameroon 12 South / East Asia Chile 2 Ukraine 28 Congo 3 Afghanistan 7 Columbia Eritrea 1 Bangladesh 1 Costa-Rica 1 Gambia 2 Cambodia 2 Dom. Republic 10 Southeast Europe Ghana 20 China 9 Ecuador 15 Albania 11 Guinea 2 India 6 Paraguay 1 Bosnia 8 Ivory Coast 1 Indonesia 1 Peru 4 Bulgaria 22 Kenya 28 Kazakhstan 5 Venezuela 1 Croatia 4 Liberia 3 Kirghisia 4 59 Cyprus 3 Madagascar 1 Nepal 1 Greece 2 Mauritius 2 Pakistan 2 Kosovo 14 Mozambique 1 Philippines 17 Macedonia 7 Nigeria 29 Sri Lanka 2 Moldavia 19 Rwanda 5 Thailand 23 Romania 27 Senegal 1 Uzbekistan 9 Serbia 15 Sierra Leone 6 Vietnam 8 Turkey 61 Somalia 5 97 Yugoslavia 1 Sudan Tanzania 1 Origin unknown 18 Togo 5 Uganda 6 Unkown 3 150

8 3 main categories of violence against migrant women and girls in Germany Victims of trafficking and forced prostitution Victims of forced marriages Victims of domestic violence

9 1 Trafficking Victim Support Victims : are traumatised don t speak German are distrustful / fearful have no hope SOLWODI counsellors focus on: Providing for the victim s basic needs Obtaining psychosocial stabilisation Building relationship based on trust and respect Organising language courses Finding future perspectives Training and Integration or Returnee Programme & Reintegration Supporting victim-witness including lawyer for co-plaintiff

10 1 SOLWODI focuses on: Supporting victim-witnesses before, during and after trafficking trials => Witness is more reliable, her evidence is more credible Fighting Trafficking Safe and anonymous housing => traffickers cannot influence the witness Cooperation concept with the criminal police and judiciary => roles and responsibilities are clear Awareness Raising amongst: criminal police, members of judiciary (e.g. EU-AGIS project), politicians. => victim-witnesses not re-traumatised during questioning Networking with NGOs in countries of origin => returnees are supported with their reintegration Lobbying for reforms in legislation => victim-oriented instead of offender-oriented

11 Trafficking in Human Beings Facts and Figures Victims of Trafficking in Western Europe (EU-Estimate) 2,8 % in Witness- Protection- Programme = 31 victims Maximum penalty of 10 years is seldom given Victims detected in Germany Suspects detected 10% sentenced

12 1 Current Difficulties In Fighting Trafficking Trafficking in women = control delict Domestic policy focus: combating Terrorism, Islamism & Drug trafficking. Trafficked women often simply deported => Trafficking in Women is NOT A PRIORITY German Law on Prostitution (2002): no longer immoral practice => Harder to detect forced prostitution EU enlargement: Victims from Eastern Europe legally in the West => No way to control who has been trafficked German anti-trafficking legislation reformed 2005: definition includes Forced Labour => Statistics distorted Many national / EU Initiatives to combat Trafficking in Women => Many studies written and conferences held, a lot of money spent HOW MANY TRAFFICKED WOMEN HAVE BEEN HELPED?

13 2 Forced marriages Victim Support Victims: are in conflict between losing their familiy and losing their freedom in fear of being found by male relatives Run away, quit school / vocational training No legal documents SOLWODI counsellors focus on: Building a bond of trust to ease loss of family Providing anonymous safe housing Providing opportunity to continue school/training Helping with authorities, obtaining documents Developing future perspectives without a family

14 2 Awareness raising: Fighting forced marriages In schools and youth groups long-term change in attitude amongst male members of migrant families Girls aware of counselling centres if help needed In the media => Public awareness increased, neighbours, friends, teachers etc recognise cases and help (potential) victims Networking with migrant women s groups and organisations

15 3 Domestic Violence Victim Support Victims : suffer psychological / physical abuse do not know their rights kept dependent financially / mentally scared of losing custody of children have uncertain legal status lose right to residency when separated? in country illegally? SOLWODI counsellors focus on: Psychosocial counselling Informing of their rights Helping with social services, organising legal aid / lawyers for maintenance claims, strengthening their self-confidence Organising lawyers for custody claims Negotiating with alien s office for legal status

16 3 Fighting domestic violence Prevention via awareness raising: In countries of origin In schools, organisations, in the media Improving the rights of migrant women

17 Future requirements to better combat violence against women 1 Victims of trafficking and forced prostitution 2 Victims of forced marriages 3 Victims of domestic violence A comprehensive approach: - victim support incl. cooperation between NGOs, social services & police - commitment of politicians for concrete measures (women / victim oriented) - public awareness raising Preventative measures in countries of origin - improving conditions and opportunities for women in society - public awareness raising (dangers and risks of migrating) - strengthening local NGOs

18 Just because everyone is talking about violence against women doesn t mean it is being prevented!! LESS TALK MORE ACTION!