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Description
This project addresses the issue of domestic violence and workplace abuse of female immigrants. According to a survey conducted by the Foundation, as many as 78% of female immigrants have experienced some form of workplace abuse, and 52% have mentioned sexual harassment. Female immigrants who experience domestic violence are in an especially difficult position - the factors in the decision to seek help include the language barrier and concerns regarding legal residence status or working legally, fear of loss of custody of children to their partner, and financial dependence. As a result, they are isolated and remain in a situation in which they are abused. The number of immigrants in Poland is steadily increasing, but often they have limited access to support. The Project Promoter will open a consultation and crisis support centre for abused female immigrants where women are given psychological and legal support. Female integration councillors of foreign background will provide information on how to get help, and accompany women on visits to aid institutions where necessary. The Project Promoter will also hold four integration meetings for female immigrants to enhance community skills and cope with stress. It will also provide 60 hours of training on gender-based violence or working with foreigners for people working in CSOs, social welfare, the police, and interdisciplinary teams. A map of services available for abused female immigrants will also be created. There will be a public campaign aimed at the immigrant community on various forms of violence and the options for seeking support and reacting to violence. Approximately 300 female immigrants at risk of violence will be given comprehensive crisis support due to the envisaged measures. The subject of domestic violence will be raised in the immigrant community, and awareness of the problem and competencies to recognize and react to violence will improve.
Summary of project results
The project responds to the problem of violence against migrant women. According to one survey conducted at the Foundation, as many as 78% of migrant women have experienced some form of violence in the workplace, and 52% of them cited sexual harassment. Migrant women experiencing domestic violence are in a particularly difficult position - their decision to seek support is influenced by a language barrier, as well as concerns about the legal status of their residence or work, fear of their partner taking away their children, and economic dependence. As a result, they are vulnerable to isolation and persistence in violent situations. The number of migrant women in Poland is steadily increasing, but they often have limited access to support.
As part of the project, the Projet Promoter launched a consultation and intervention center for migrant women experiencing violence, where women received psychological and legal support. Integration counselors with a foreign background provided information on support options and, if necessary, accompanied clients on visits to support institutions. The Project Promoter also organized four integration-education meetings for migrant women, improving social skills and coping with stress. It also conducted 5 trainings on gender-based violence or on working with foreigners for people working in NGOs, social welfare, police and interdisciplinary teams. A map of services available to migrant women experiencing violence was created. Activities were accompanied by an information campaign targeting the migrant community on the various forms of violence, as well as on how to seek support and respond to violence. In the wake of the war in Ukraine, the Projet Promoter launched the "Good Start" Support Center for Women and Children, where it continued project activities.
Thanks to the project, a gap in assistance offerings for migrant women was filled and the availability of support for women experiencing violence was increased. More than 350 migrant women exposed to violence received real support in a crisis situation. The topic of domestic violence came to the forefront of the migrant community, and awareness of the problem and skills to recognize and respond to violence were raised. The Foundation established cooperation with institutions of the domestic violence prevention system, which in turn developed their competence in working with migrants and migrant women.