By 2018, there were about 25.9 million and 3.5 million refugees and asylum seekers, respectively, fleeing from conflict and persecution (UNHCR, 2018, 2019). A considerable number of these refugees and asylum seekers are women.
Some of these women travelled a long and risky journey to reach their destination countries, expecting social and economic emancipation. Yet, many women refugees are subjected to mistreatment, exploitation, and harassment, some of the abuses coming from fellow migrants, particularly their partners.
However, there is a dearth of research on violence against women and girls among refugees, particularly in their host countries. Hence, this research project aims to investigate the causes and effects of gender-based violence among Eritrean refugees to better understand the impact of migration on gender relations and equality.
The findings indicate that Eritrean refugee women face financial, physical, sexual, and psychological violence, mostly from their intimate partners. However, women do not often report sexual violence or talk about it due to factors associated with a feeling of shame and/or protecting the perpetrators.
The study also showed that most of the contributing factors to violence against women are shaped by the host and origin countries’ socioeconomic and cultural situations. The cultural or traditional perceptions that view men as the head of the family encourage men to enforce control of their family through either persuasion or coercion.
Many women also stay in abusive relationships for lack of awareness, social pressure, or for the sake of their children. In addition, lack of parental support and educational qualifications contribute to the prospects of violence against women. Some women fear that leaving their partners could lead to economic limitations or further violence.
Moreover, the study revealed that violence against women has a significant social, physical, emotional, and psychological impact on women. Eritrean women are often advised and pushed to stay (or try harder) in their relationships, including abusive ones, by their families and religious leaders. In most cases, society perceives women who leave their partners as hysterical.
However, this study suggests that the duration for which women stay in abusive relationships has a notable impact on their lives. Women who have been victims of gender-based violence for a long time could face life-threatening injuries or mental health problems leading to suicidal behaviours.
