"November 2012"--Table of contents page. "This report was researched and written by Doutje Lettinga ..."--P. 57. Includes bibliographical references.
Contents:
Summary -- Recommendations -- Methodology -- I. Legal and policy framework on family violence. Gaps in protection and proposed reforms ; State outreach to women of migrant origin -- II. Obstacles to protection for family migrants. Family reunification legislation ; Gaps in the protection clauses ; Obstacles to protection for migrant women with dependent residency rights -- III. Obstacles to protection for undocumented women. Fear about reporting violence ; Inadequate police response -- IV. Access to shelters and services. Shortage of shelters ; Exclusion of undocumented migrant women -- V. Belgium's human rights obligations -- Acknowledgments
Summary:
"This 59-page report found three major protection gaps for migrant women who experience domestic violence in that country. Women who migrate to Belgium to join a husband or partner may face deportation if they report the violence during the period when their status is being confirmed, as do undocumented migrant women. And domestic violence victims, especially undocumented women, lack adequate access to shelters"--Publisher's website. "In spite of recent immigration law reform, family migrants in Belgium face continuing obstacles to protection. Income and evidence requirements make it hard for women whose immigration status is dependent on abusive partners to retain their residence permits if they leave the family home. Women who fail to inform the immigration authorities in time risk loss of residence permits and expulsion. The law excludes women who have applied but not yet received a residence permit and those whose partner has left Belgium. In some parts of Belgium the capacity of shelters for victims of domestic violence fails to meet demand. Undocumented migrant women experience particular difficulties in seeking protection. Unlike legal family migrants, they are not covered by the protection clause recently added to the immigration legislation. While undocumented women can apply for regularization on humanitarian grounds, domestic violence in Belgium is not an established criterion. Fear of deportation makes them reluctant to report violence to the police or otherwise seek help. Shelters in some parts of Belgium refuse to accept women without papers, citing limited resources. 'The Law Was Against Me' calls on the Belgian government to build on the system already in place to ensure that it offers protection from violence for all migrant women, regardless or circumstances or legal status. It makes concrete recommendations to the authorities on improving residence permits, encouraging migrant women to report violence to the police and improving access to services"--P. [4] of cover.
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