full version - World Organisation Against Torture

Violence Against Women: 10 Reports / Year 2003that they should report such violence, and that they will receive culturallysensitive support services.OMCT is also particularly worried about immigrant women victims ofdomestic violence as they face additional obstacles in escaping abusiverelationships. With regard to English speaking ability, the governmentshould ensure that all information on services for domestic violence victimsis available in multiple languages, particularly those languages thatmost immigrant women speak. Efforts should also be made to assistimmigrant women in learning English at low cost.Additionally, immigrant women face serious difficulties in accessing shelterwhen they have left an abusive home since they often have little or norecourse to public funds because of their uncertain immigration status.OMCT urgently recommends that the government of the United Kingdomconsider making public funds available to immigrant women victims ofdomestic violence in order that they may find safe shelter.Furthermore, while OMCT welcomes the “domestic violence concession”to the probationary period that many immigrant women are subjected to,it is recommended that information concerning the concession and how toexercise it be targeted at immigrant women, especially taking into accountthe plans to lengthen the probationary period to two years.OMCT is concerned about reports that police sometimes treat immigrantwomen as criminals, focusing on their uncertain or illegal immigrationstatus, rather than the fact that they are victims of violence. Therefore,OMCT urges the government to institute trainings for police officers onspecific forms of violence against women, how immigration status canworsen this violence and culturally sensitive approaches to protectingimmigrant women from such violence.Indications that forced marriages are occurring in the United Kingdomand that UK citizens are being sent abroad for such purposes are veryconcerning to OMCT and the government is strongly urged to address thisproblem with vigilance. Such efforts to ensure that women and girls arenot forcibly married should include cooperation with the country wherethe girl is sent and effective responses for concerned family and friendswhen a girl has disappeared and they are fearful that she will be forced tomarry.404