Migrant women are over-represented in the figures on gender-based violence in Spain
In a context where the xenophobic discourses of some politicians and the media link gender violence with immigrants, we believe it is necessary to delve deeper into the reality of gender violence and migrant women, based on official and statistical data. Latin American and Caribbean Women's Network
According to the report Migrant women victims of gender-based violence in Spain published by the Red de Mujeres Latinoamericanas y del Caribe, a migrant women's group in Spain that we have supported since 2012, and AIETI, 338 migrant women were murdered in Spain between 2003 and 2019, which represents 32% of the total number of women murdered. since the register has been kept.
However, migrant women are the least likely to benefit from support for those experiencing gender violence. Between 2003 and 2019, only 9% of migrant women who experienced gender-based violence were attended by specialised care services, and only 8% benefited from financial assistance. Why?
Migrant women experience a greater impact from gender-based violence
Migrant women face a series of personal, administrative, social and legal situations that increase their vulnerability to gender-based violence. In addition, they have to face an institutional context that in a high percentage of cases reproduces prejudices and racist and unempathetic attitudes towards the situation they live in. Latin American and Caribbean Women's Network
Among these situations, they often have to deal with:
- To have fewer support networks of family and friends
- Not speaking the language of the site
- Not knowing the resources existing support services
- Being afraid to ask for this support for being in an irregular administrative situation
Migrant women's organisations and networks are essential support
Since 2012, Calala has supported 53 migrant women's organisations working for a life free from violence. In 2021 we supported 28 migrant women's organisations, 3 of which are fully dedicated to the accompaniment and support of women experiencing gender-based violence. They are:
- Amalgam, located in Madrid, which we have been supporting since 2019.
- Women forwards, located in Hospitalet de Llobregat, which we have been supporting since 2012. We were also their first donors
- Women Survivors, located in Seville, which we have been supporting since 2019. We were also their first donors
These organisations are indispensable because they are the first and sometimes the only resource migrant women have.; because they cannot access public services, because of lack of papers, lack of information, they do not receive the necessary attention in public services, and because in the end, peer support is key to help women get out of the cycle of violence.
Click here if you want to know more about our support to migrant women's organisations in Spain.
How to help?
The resources we provide are a relief for the members of the collectives, as most of them did not have any donors and had to pay for their activities out of their own pockets. For 52% of the groups, we are their first donor, and for 30% they are not legally registered, so they cannot receive official resources. However, 90% claim that they do not have sufficient resources to cover the costs of the actions they carry out, which represents a drain on their members.
We therefore encourage you to make a donation to Calala so that these organisations can continue to accompany and help migrant women who experience gender-based violence in Spain. Calala is committed to ensuring that all donations from people like you reach the women's groups we support in full.
Donate here and supports women who transform the world
Photo: Amalgama, a group of migrant women we support in Madrid.
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