Life on the margins: the experiences of sexual violence and exploitation among Eritrean asylum-seeking women in Israel

Abstract

BackgroundEritrean migrants in Israel, the majority of whom are seeking asylum, have limited access to institutional support. While the temporary group protection granted to Eritreans by Israel ensures that they are not deported, it does not confer permanent legal status, nor does it allow access to the formal work sector. This study qualitatively explores how political and economic marginalization increases the risk of sexual and other forms of violence as well as the exploitation of Eritrean women asylum seekers living in Israel.MethodsTwenty-five interviews with key informants, twelve individual interviews (six with men and six with women), and eight focus group discussions (four with men and four with women) were conducted among Eritreans of reproductive age in Tel Aviv, Israel. Qualitative data analysis was conducted using open, focused, and axial coding.ResultsParticipants reported that Israel’s restrictive immigration policies laid the foundation for the political and economic marginalization of asylum seekers. This manifested in limited access to institutional support during and after arrival, and hindered access to formal employment and its associated protections. The Israeli government’s decision to grant provisional status with a stipulation banning Eritreans from the formal work sector was perceived to create direct and indirect conditions for a heightened sense of structural vulnerability, particularly for women. Participants reported that this structural vulnerability increased the risk of sexual and domestic violence in addition to the risk for the exploitation of women asylum seekers.ConclusionsIsrael’s immigration policies may contribute to women asylum seekers’ vulnerability to sexual violence upon arrival in their host country. These policies shape the social realities of women asylum seekers, potentially increasing their risk of violence and exploitation during their time in Israel. This study provides an example of the effects of political and economic marginalization on violence against women, a concept that may apply to other settings globally.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12905-018-0624-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Structural and Symbolic Violence Exacerbates the Risks and Consequences of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence for Forced Migrant Women

“…My daughter was awake and saw everything but didn't know who I was hitting-she thought it was her father. I couldn't complain about this guy to the Turkish Police because I was on a refugee visa" -Diyana (Iraqi/Assyrian Woman Interviewed in Melbourne, Australia) Many forced migrants living in refuge in urban settings are not provided with humanitarian support and are simultaneously excluded from the social welfare system, services and formal work (Gebreyesus et al, 2018). This too can be construed as a form of structural violence causing gendered harms.…”

“…This too can be construed as a form of structural violence causing gendered harms. Lack of access to welfare or work can force women to take informal work which heightens their vulnerability to exploitation and sexual violence by driving them into sex work and/or crowded living conditions which pose additional risks (Gebreyesus et al, 2018). Yasmine and Moughalian (2016) describe the situation in Lebanon, where Syrian women were subject to institutionalised, multi-systemic violence as a result of sexism, classism, and racism.…”

Patterns of torture among forcibly displaced Eritreans in California: A cross-sectional study

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Migrantes y sus condiciones de trabajo y salud: revisión integrativa desde la mirada de enfermería

“…Rodríguez-Campo VA, Valenzuela-Suazo SV reported by many migrants, this has been a variable that has led to the marginalization of this group and has exposed them to deplorable work with greater risk and exploitation 23,25,28 altering the health status of the migrant worker, especially their mental health 26,37 and in some cases encouraging the use and abuse of substances. 31,39 The quality of life associated with working conditions, has also been affected because of her migrant status, especially on the physical and emotional scales.…”

“…Perhaps this reality is related to the multiplicity of tasks that they must fulfill at the labor and domestic level, the educational level and the illegality that exposes them to greater abuses, including social violence in the receiving country. 23,24,33,35,42 It is necessary to protect women and include them in the country health programmes, educate them to prevent violence against women, and select those who are professionals to fulfill tasks appropriate to their role.…”