 |
Processing of data by CIR
"MALIKA
PROJECT"
Daphne
programme
2000-2003
00/387/W
REPORT
Year
2001
Italian
Council
for
Refugees
Via
del
Velabro5/a
00186
Rome
Italy
Introduction
People
that
the
Malika
project
is
concerned
with
are
victims
twice:
they
are
forced
to
leave
their
country
and
their
beloved
ones,
escaping
wars
or
persecutions
which
put
at
risk
their
lives;
and
at
the
same
time
they
often
hide
dramatic
stories
related
to
their
female
condition.
The
gender
based
violence
is
a
specific
form
of
persecution.
There
are
women
who
have
been
abused
because
they
supposedly
behaved
against
the
norms
of
their
own
culture
or
society,
others
who
have
been
raped
as
a
form
of
transversal
revenge,
or
as
a
war
strategy.
All
these
dramatic
situations
might
never
come
into
light,
despite
their
devastating
psychological
and
human
effects.
The
Malika
project,
conceived
with
the
purpose
to
make
this
hidden
reality
come
to
the
surface,
is
at
present
especially
significant,
because
of
the
recent
events
which
involved
the
whole
international
community
and
stimulated
the
attention
to
the
woman
condition
in
countries
where
conflicts
and
severe
discriminations
put
at
risk
the
population.
1.
Aims
of
the
project
The
Malika
Project
addresses
refugee
or
asylum
seekers
women
who
have
suffered
violence,
persecution
or
severe
discrimination
related
to
their
gender.
The
project
originated
from
an
objective
difficulty
in
collecting
data
by
gender;
this
represented
a
problem,
since
we
did
not
have
a
concrete
idea
of
the
phenomenon
of
female
refugees
or
asylum
seekers,
essential
to
intervene
in
a
specific
way
on
the
“target”
group.
Through
the
Malika
project
CIR
and
its
partners
intended
to
investigate
-
and
inform
people
through
a
sensitisation
campaign
-
about
this
well-known,
but
still
"dark"
phenomenon.
For
this
reason
the
aims
are:
1)
To
establish
four
service
points
in
Italy:
Puglia,
Lombardia,
Calabria,
Sicilia.
2)
To
collect
information
and
data
about
the
size
of
this
phenomenon,
with
reference
to
the
presence
and
the
treatment
of
the
“target”
group.
3)
To
sensitise
people,
youth,
and
specific
categories
(volunteers
and
NGOs'
staff),
about
gender
related
persecution
and
violence.
4)
To
train
some
(female)
operators
professionally
in
individuating
and
approaching
women
of
the
“target”
group.
5)
To
promote
and
assist
the
creation
of
refugee
women's
self-help
groups.
6)
To
verify
existing
facilities
and
to
promote
the
adoption
of
protective
measures
within
the
existing
reception
centres
for
refugees.
7)
To
draft
a
"good
practices"
guide
for
operators
involved
with
refugees.
8)
To
promote
the
elaboration
and
adoption
in
Italy
of
“Guidelines
for
the
Asylum
Requests
Regarding
Gender
Issues”,
as
the
ones
existing
in
other
Countries.
In
order
to
accomplish
these
goals,
the
project
is
based
on
a
network
and
on
co-operation
among
National
and
International
Partners.
We
believe
that
such
measures
will
facilitate
the
asylum
claim
procedure.
Asylum
is
a
very
important
goal
for
the
target
group;
by
making
the
access
to
the
procedure
easier,
we
might
be
helpful
to
the
international
efforts
against
gender-based
violence.
As
far
as
the
expected
results
are
concerned,
we
expected
to
acquire
data
and
information
for
a
better
knowledge
of
the
phenomenon;
to
train
six
qualified
operators
(see
above)
to
individualise
and
approach
the
“target”
group,
to
guarantee
a
specific
assistance
to
sixty
refugees
(survivors)
in
the
refugee
centres
and
at
the
arrival
points;
to
create
a
network
of
professionals,
NGOs
and
institutions;
to
promote
the
use
of
self-assistance
mechanisms
for
the
victims
of
violence;
to
insert
a
specific
gender
thematic
and
the
best
approach
methods,
within
the
multi-disciplinary
networks
already
existing
in
the
territory;
to
sensitise
public,
mass
media,
and
the
national
and
local
institutions
and
increase
their
awareness;
to
implement
the
conclusions
and
recommendations
of
UNHCR,
ECRE
(European
Council
on
Refugee
and
Exiles),
in
this
field;
to
elaborate
and
produce
a
handbook
of
dossiers,
for
operators
and
for
the
involved
community
(2nd
year);
to
exchange
opinions
and
information
with
subjects
belonging
to
the
interested
public
and
private
sectors.
2.
IMPLEMENTATION
OF
THE
PROJECT
national
actvities
The
planned
service
points
in
Lecce
(Puglia),
Agrigento
(Sicilia)
and
Catanzaro
(Calabria)
have
been
established,
because
the
most
frequent
arrivals
of
“boat
people”
happen
in
these
areas,
and
Varese
Malpensa
(Lombardia),
that
is
one
of
the
most
important
borders
for
people
coming
by
plane.
We
thought
it
was
highly
necessary
to
develop
a
sensitive
approach
towards
traumatised
women,
especially
in
these
areas,
and
to
sensitise
involved
people
(police
officers,
NGOs'
operators
etc.)
and
public
opinion
about
the
phenomenon
of
asylum
seekers
and
refugee
women
who
have
suffered
violence
because
of
their
gender.
The
"Malika"
operators
work
at
the
borders
and
close
to
the
National
Partners
of
the
project,
creating
a
network
with
other
legal,
social,
medical
and
psychological
services.
As
far
as
the
methodology
is
concerned,
the
operators
collected
data
regarding
the
presence
of
female
asylum
seekers,
who
wish
to
apply
for
asylum,
and
helped,
whenever
possible,
the
police
officers
and
the
interviewers
at
the
borders,
in
dealing
with
women
showing
signs
of
strong
discomfort
(weeping
for
example),
in
order
to
make
the
approach
easier.
For
all
the
border
points,
statistics
show
low
numbers
of
female
asylum
seekers.
In
fact,
it
is
important
to
say
that
the
arrival
of
refugees
often
creates
a
situation
of
emergency;
there
are
very
few
rooms
in
the
camps
dedicated
to
listening.
In
such
conditions
the
presence
of
"Malika"
operators
has
been
essential
to
find
out
women’s
needs
and
to
set
up
a
long
term
relationship
based
on
trust,
through
the
help
of
female
interpreters
or,
when
possible,
even
speaking
directly
with
our
operators
in
the
women's
languages.
Letting
the
operator
herself
follow
a
case,
whenever
possible,
is
something
we
consider
important.
We
believe
this
approach
allows
the
woman
to
have
an
easier
process
of
adjustment.
It
is
important
for
her
to
deeply
share
personal
experiences,
in
order
to
avoid
feelings
of
isolation
and
inadequacy,
and
to
let
memories
come
out.
Some
women,
thanks
to
this
initial
approach,
could
be
taken
care
of
also
at
a
later
stage,
after
they
had
applied
for
asylum
and
had
been
re-located
in
reception
centres,
where
their
specific
needs
can
be
found
out
through
the
further
"follow
up"
of
the
case.
In
the
centres
they
benefit
specific
psychological
and
medical
assistance,
as
well
as
social
and
legal
advice
offered
in
some
cases
by
the
centre
itself.
Some
women,
coming
to
Italy
on
their
own,
with
no
reference
in
hand,
found
in
the
Malika
operator
someone
ready
to
listen
to
their
stories,
to
help
them
to
have
access
to
the
asylum
procedure,
to
inform
them
about
their
rights
in
our
country
and
to
give
them
legal
advice
in
case
of
refusal
of
their
asylum
applications.
As
we
said,
operators
often
work
in
a
very
difficult
environment,
where
specialised
structures
are
rare
and
where
the
external
sensitisation
lacks;
for
this
reason,
it
has
been
necessary
to
set
up
a
permanent
sensitisation
campaign,
to
highlight
the
problem,
even
to
the
public
institutions,
in
order
to
activate
some
mechanism
to
look
after
the
newly
arrived
traumatised
women
and
try
to
satisfy
their
needs.
The
operators
verified
the
existence
of
reserved
and
protected
areas
to
be
used
by
women
and
addressed
them
to
specialised
organisations,
also
for
legal
and
social
assistance.
To
attain
the
aims
of
the
project,
there
was
the
belief
that
it
was
necessary
to
have
an
exchange
of
information
about
different
national
policies,
legislation,
organisation
attitude
toward
the
specific
target
group.
Sensitisation
activities
Among
the
activities
implemented
during
2001,
there
are
the
training
seminars.
We
preferred
to
change
the
planned
calendar
and
to
organise
the
seminar
in
different
sessions
in
order
to
give
to
operators
the
basic
information
in
the
first
period,
and
to
examine
closely
specific
matters
in
the
second
one.
In
addition,
even
if
they
initially
had
to
be
addressed
only
to
the
Malika
operators,
we
decided
to
enlarge
the
number
of
participants
to
include
any
interested
person,
up
to
a
maximum
of
30-40,
as
means
of
sensitisation
(see
section
4
).
A
network
with
NGOs,
volunteers,
institutions,
health
services,
centres
against
violence
was
created
and
also
in
connection
with
the
network
of
the
project
“Reception
and
Care
of
Victims
of
Torture”
run
by
CIR
since
1996.
We
organised
a
series
of
informative
meetings
with
people
interested/involved
in
the
activities
of
the
project,
with
the
"target
group"
women
and
even
with
institutional
personnel.
Among
the
activities,
and
according
to
one
of
the
aims
of
the
Malika
Project,
we
visited
several
reception
centres
in
Rome
in
order
to
disseminate
the
project,
and
to
verify
the
life
conditions
of
the
asylum
seekers
we
had
taken
care
of.
The
accommodation
conditions
of
most
reception
centres
are
quite
good;
they
are
clean
and
well
organised;
some
of
them
are
equipped
with
nurseries,
and
asylum
seekers
can
join
training
courses.
On
the
other
hand,
there
are
some
which
do
not
satisfy
those
standard
conditions
(e.g.
there
are
some
very
strict
rules,
which
do
not
fit
with
the
fragile
personal
situation
of
female
asylum
seekers,
to
be
respected).
For
this
reason
we
are
promoting
their
improvement
through
the
creation
of
reserved
areas.
The
activities
of
the
project
included
co-ordination
missions
to
the
local
service
points.
At
first,
priority
was
given
to
the
ones
located
in
the
areas
with
higher
flows
of
asylum
seekers;
then
we
visited
the
others.
These
missions
were
aimed
at
monitoring
and
controlling
the
state
of
activities,
but
they
also
gave
a
chance
to
strengthen
the
co-operation
with
local
authorities
(Prefecture,
Police,
Border
Police
etc.).
Moreover,
we
managed
to
set
up
new
contacts
with
local
organisations
and
to
give
visibility
to
the
project
itself.
We
had
meetings
with
the
associations
which
are
part
of
the
network
created
by
Malika
operators
during
the
year.
Among
other
activities,
we
participated
in
a
yearlong
European
campaign
organised
by
European
Women’s
Lobby
in
order
to
pressure
the
EU
to
develop
a
gender
sensitive
"European
Policy
on
Asylum"
to
take
into
account
the
particular
form
of
persecution
that
women
experience.
The
English
partner
took
part,
also
as
a
Malika
representative,
in
the
final
meeting
held
in
Brussels
on
14th
–15th
December
2001.
CIR
participated
in
the
XXV
Round
Table
on
Current
Problems
of
International
Humanitarian
Law,
this
year
specifically
dedicated
to
refugees
issues.
One
of
the
main
topics
discussed
by
an
Expert
Panel
was
gender-related
persecution.
Moreover,
during
the
year,
we
wrote
by
ourselves
and
collected
some
specific
materials
about
women’s
issues
to
be
used
on
the
occasion
of
seminars,
meetings,
training
courses
and
to
sensitise
people
interested
in
the
topic
(see
attached
list).
Not
implemented
activities/obstacles
·
Among
the
activities
we
didn’t
manage
to
implement
there
is
the
promotion
of
self-help
groups,
because
we
found
some
difficulties
in
promoting
a
group
of
women
to
participate
actively
in
our
project.
The
reason
for
this
is
that
women
often
live
in
precarious
economic
conditions
and
they
cannot
involve
themselves
in
activities
which
might
jeopardise
their
job.
Despite
this
factor,
some
women
participate
in
our
initiatives,
thanks
to
the
good
relationship
with
us
and
also
because
they
felt
involved
in
social
matters
and
in
our
work.
·
As
for
the
visibility
of
the
project,
considering
the
fact
that
during
the
first
period
of
the
project
activities,
we
considered
necessary,
due
to
the
operators'
needs,
to
focus
our
attention
on
the
training,
the
collection
of
data
about
the
phenomenon,
the
planning
of
the
work
etc,
we
think
that
it
should
be
improved
in
the
future
(we
are
convinced
of
the
effective
setting
out
of
the
2nd
year).
·
In
general,
the
lack
of
an
asylum
law
which
considers
the
specificity
of
the
gender
violence
is
a
problem
for
the
treatment
of
women
of
the
target
group.
·
We
found
some
obstacles
because
of
the
lack
of
official
statistics
in
general
about
the
presence
of
women
asylum
seekers
and,
in
particular,
about
their
rate
of
recognition,
including
the
reasons
of
the
recognition
itself.
·
The
inadequacy
of
the
reception
structures
caused
some
problems
for
the
allocation
of
women
of
the
target
group.
It
is
very
difficult
to
respect
and
satisfy
their
needs.
national
partners
-
roles
EOS,
the
partner
located
in
Varese,
is
an
advisory
and
orientation
centre
against
violence,
sexual
harassment
and
abuse
towards
women
and
children,
and
the
Malika
operator
works
closely
with
it
in
order
to
assist
those
women
who
need
protection
in
Italy.
EOS
places
its
offices
at
the
disposition
of
the
Malika
operator,
gives
consultancy,
participates
in
the
Evaluation
Committees,
works
to
create
a
network
with
centres
against
violence
and
women
associations.
The
"Malika"
operator
is
also
in
charge
of
the
asylum
seekers
at
the
airport
border
of
Varese/Malpensa
where
the
asylum
seekers,
once
arrived
at
the
border
point,
are
interviewed
first
by
the
Police
and
then
by
the
operators
"in
loco",
who
give
them
the
first
legal
and
social
orientation.
Thanks
to
the
presence
of
the
Malika
operator,
female
asylum
seekers
can
receive
a
more
adequate
and
sensitive
approach.
EOS
co-finances
the
project.
As
far
as
statistics
are
concerned,
the
number
of
female
asylum
seekers
at
the
border
point
was
significantly
lower
than
the
one
of
males.
Among
them,
there
were
some
women
coming
alone
from
Africa
and
several
family
units
coming
from
Middle-East
and
Asia.
The
Cultural
Association
Acuarinto
has
been
working
since
1996
in
the
Sicilian
territory
and
acts
together
with
national
and
local
partners
for
the
reception
and
the
legal
and
administrative
assistance
for
immigrants
who
reside
in
Italy
legally;
for
the
training
and
orientation;
for
the
development
and
intercultural
education.
The
Association
works
mainly
in
the
province
of
Agrigento.
This
province,
including
Lampedusa
isle,
is
one
of
the
principal
gates
to
EU
territory
for
those
who,
coming
from
North
Africa,
arrive
with
every
available
means.
Women
represent
about
10%
of
arrivals.
As
far
as
the
Malika
project
is
concerned,
Associazione
Acuarinto
works
to
include
the
project
in
the
existing
network
together
with
public
institutions,
associations,
local
health
unit
to
exchange
information
and
periodic
reports
with
the
other
partners,
to
give
consultancy;
it
participates
in
the
Evaluation
Committees
and
places
locals
and
communication
services
at
the
operator
disposal
for
the
interviews;
moreover
it
gives
its
support
for
the
sensitisation
campaign,
for
the
drawing
up
of
informative
materials
and
for
its
dissemination.
It
co-finances
the
project.
The
"Malika"
operator
works
in
different
sites.
In
Agrigento
there
is
the
only
female
section
within
the
Permanence
and
Temporary
Assistance
Centre
for
immigrants
of
the
entire
region.
Although
the
standard
of
reception
at
the
detention
centres
are
very
poor,
it
could
be
possible
to
assist
women
waiting
for
the
expulsion
order
there.
In
fact
some
of
the
women
who
are
notified
with
an
expulsion
order
could
send
in
an
asylum
request
if
well
informed
about
their
rights.
Considering
the
fact
that
the
Malika
operator
needs
a
specific
authorisation
by
the
Local
Territorial
Office
of
the
Government
to
enter
the
centre
and
to
monitor
the
phenomenon
in
Lampedusa,
she
is
not
in
the
position
to
assist
women
there.
The
Malika
operator
also
works
at
an
orientation
office
(the
information
desk
“San
Calogero”)
where
immigrants
are
assisted.
She
works
very
closely
with
the
legal
consultant
and
we
think
that
this
approach
makes
the
treatment
of
the
case
easier;
furthermore,
we
noticed
that
many
traumatic
situations
came
to
light
during
the
legal
interview.
The
main
problem
of
the
Malika
operator
is
to
monitor
the
influx
of
boat
people
because
they
arrive
frequently
in
small
groups,
with
a
greater
possibility
of
dispersion
on
the
territory
and,
as
a
consequence,
with
a
hindrance
to
getting
reliable
statistics.
Furthermore,
it
is
difficult
to
control
the
phenomenon
because
of
the
lack
of
structures
where
people
can
be
received
just
after
their
arrival.
Because
of
this,
people
applying
for
asylum
are
sometimes
transferred
to
other
regions
such
as
Puglia
and
Calabria,
where
they
can
stay
in
a
camp
for
a
first
period.
The
“Foundation
Regina
Pacis”,
born
in
1997
as
a
reception
centre
after
the
second
big
Albanian
exodus
on
the
Salento
coasts,
it
is
currently
a
centre
for
the
Permanence
and
the
Temporary
Assistance
of
immigrants
equipped
for
the
reception
of
a
great
number
of
people,
due
to
the
continuous
migratory
flows
on
those
coasts.
The
Foundation
is
also
involved
in
the
assistance
of
foreigner
women,
in
particular
of
those
who
are
included
in
the
Social
Protection
programme
according
to
the
Immigration
Law
(L.
40/98).
Within
the
centre
there
is
also
a
Health
Guidance
Council
for
women.
The
Foundation
offers
its
consultancy,
participates
in
the
Evaluation
Committees,
works
for
the
inclusion
of
the
project
in
the
existing
network
formed
by
the
guidance
centre
“La
Famiglia
di
Lecce”,
the
Department
of
Pedagogic,
Psychological
and
Didactic
Sciences
of
University
of
Lecce,
the
associations
for
the
protection
of
refugee
women;
it
participates
in
the
activities
of
the
sensitisation
campaign
and
exchanges
information
and
periodic
reports
with
the
other
partners.
It
co-finances
the
project.
The
"Malika"
operator
within
the
“Foundation
Regina
Pacis”
works
to
assist
those
women
who
need
protection
in
Italy
after
having
received
the
expulsion
order,
and
the
ones
who
wait
for
the
admission
to
the
asylum
procedure.
She
also
works
directly
at
a
CIR
desk
in
Lecce
and
at
the
borders
in
case
of
mass
arrivals.
In
a
reception
centre,
"Don
Tonino
Bello",
the
Malika
operator
provides
asylum
seekers
-
especially
women
-
with
a
first
legal
orientation.
Moreover,
we
mention
here
some
intervention
at
Bari
harbour;
one
of
them
concerned
an
Albanian
woman
close
to
get
sent
back
to
her
country.
Female
asylum
seekers
are
fewer
than
male
ones.
For
example,
in
2001,
in
one
single
disembarkation,
there
were
58
women,
above
all
coming
from
Iraq
and
Turkey
(Kurdish
people),
out
of
a
total
number
of
567
persons.
Anolf
(Associazione
Nazionale
Oltre
le
Frontiere)
is
a
voluntary
and
democratic
association
whose
aim
is
to
promote
the
friendship
and
the
brotherhood
of
peoples.
It
was
born
in
1989,
thanks
to
the
CISL
(Workers
Trade
Unions
Italian
Confederation).
Anolf
participates
in
the
Evaluation
Committees,
offers
its
consultancy,
works
for
the
inclusion
in
the
existing
network
with
public
institutions
“Consorzio
Gruppo
Promidea”
and
hospitals,
participates
in
the
sensitisation
campaign,
supports
for
the
drawing
up
of
informative
material/brochure
and
in
its
dissemination.
It
promotes
cultural
meetings,
exchanges
information
and
periodic
reports
and
participates
in
sensitisation
and
training
meetings.
It
co-finances
the
project.
The
"Malika"
operator
works
within
the
above
mentioned
organisation
and
also
closely
with
the
CIR
branch
office
in
Badolato.
During
the
year
2001
more
than
6000
people
arrived.
Many
of
them
are
Kurdish
from
Iraq
and
Turkey
but
the
number
of
women
does
not
reach
the
20%
of
the
total.
Among
them
the
percentage
of
women
coming
alone
as
boat
people
is
even
lower.
The
"Malika"
operator
manages
to
assist
in
a
better
way
those
women
coming
from
African
countries
such
as
Ethiopia
and
Eritrea,
probably
because
of
their
culture
or
for
the
absence
of
male
relatives.
Most
of
them
are
received
first
in
a
camp,
and
afterwards
either
in
flats
in
the
province
of
Catanzaro
or
in
a
reception
centre
nearby,
where
the
reception
condition
are
still
inadequate.
In
fact
the
camp
is
not
well
organised;
people
are
accommodated
in
caravans
where
they
suffer
from
both
hot
and
cold
weather
without
any
privacy.
Men
and
women
share
bathrooms,
without
any
respect
for
their
culture
or
even
for
human
dignity.
In
2001about
2350
people
arrived
from
the
Iraqi
Kurdistan;
among
them
we
registered
about
215
women.
Among
the
1595
Turkish
people
(Kurdish),
women
are
about
155.
From
African
countries
like
for
example
Ethiopia
and
Eritrea
we
registered
about
140
people,
among
which
there
are
about
80
women.
Associazione
Sud
This
association,
situated
in
Martina
Franca
(Taranto),
is
involved
in
specific
tasks
of
promotion
and
dissemination
of
the
project
activities.
During
the
year
2001,
the
association
created
a
network
with
local
organisations
and
institutions;
among
them
there
is
the
association
“Themis”,
which
is
involved
in
the
defence
of
women
who
suffered
violence,
and
in
the
promotion
of
their
integration
in
our
territory.
In
addition,
the
"Association
Sud”
disseminated
the
project
through
documents,
newsletters
and
a
CD
Rom
"Le
Migrazioni"
and
participates
in
the
drawing
up
of
informative
materials/
brochure
and
in
its
dissemination.
It
exchanges
information
and
periodic
reports,
participates
in
the
sensitisation
and
training
meetings.
Associazione
Sud
co-finances
the
project.
We
enjoy
the
collaboration
of
other
two
partners
which
offer
the
Malika
project
their
external
consultancy,
“Associazione
Differenza
Donna”
located
in
Rome
and
the
“Centre
of
Sexual
Transmitted
Diseases”
ASL
Firenze
(S.
Mary’s
Hospital
in
Florence).
The
first
one
deals
with
the
treatment
of
women
who
suffered
from
violence
(including
domestic
violence)
and
the
network
supporting
their
activities
and
the
project
ones.
The
second
partner
takes
care
of
health
aspects,
in
particular
the
risks
and
the
prevention
of
the
above
mentioned
diseases.
Both
partners
give
their
support
for
the
sensitisation
campaign
and
participated
in
the
training
and
sensitisation
courses
of
the
Malika
Project
as
experts.
We
organised
some
training
stages
in
the
countries
partners
between
the
Malika
operators,
through
which
we
tried
to
evaluate
all
the
important
aspects
of
the
Malika
project.
In
particular,
the
transnational
operators
we
hosted
at
CIR
were
involved
in
assisting
the
asylum
seekers
and
refugees
individual
interviews
in
order
to
know
our
interview
techniques
and
to
support
the
understanding
of
individual
cases.
Moreover,
we
gave
them
a
general
description
of
the
Italian
social
and
legal
assistance
and
of
the
medical
aspects
provided
by
law.
During
the
stages
we
visited
some
reception
centres,
to
show
the
modalities
of
assistance
in
each
country,
and
some
women
associations.
In
the
UK,
the
stage
was
carried
out
during
“The
Refugee
Week”,
from
the
23rd
to
the
29th
of
June.
The
Italian
operator
could
participate
in
self-help
group
meetings.
This
was
a
good
experience
for
us
because
we
do
not
have,
up
to
now,
this
kind
of
groups.
The
stage
in
Greece,
organised
by
Ergon
k.e.k.
on
September
2001
gave
our
operator
the
opportunity
to
examine
closely
the
social
and
legal
conditions
of
asylum
seekers
and
refugees,
and
also
to
face
some
other
themes
through
the
visit
to
other
organisations
like
the
Greek
Refugee
Council
and
associations
which
focus
their
attention
on
the
integration
(e.g.
Pixida
Multicultural
Centre
etc.).
Relevance
has
also
been
given
to
the
visit
to
reception
and
detention
centres,
to
the
Medical
Rehabilitation
Centre
of
Torture
Victims,
involved
in
the
field
of
medical
care
and
rehabilitation.
The
stage
in
France,
organised
by
France
Terre
d’Asile
on
October,
developed
through
the
deep
examination
of
the
reception
and
assistance
of
women
asylum
seekers
and
refugees
victims
of
violence,
the
acquisition
of
information
about
the
work
of
associations
and
organisations
working
with
CERF
for
the
integration
of
refugee
women,
and
the
study
of
cases
followed
by
the
social
and
legal
service.
The
Italian
operator
had
the
opportunity
to
visit
other
associations
like
ASIRE
(deals
with
the
heath
care
and
integration
of
refugees)
and
AVRE
(Association
for
the
Victims
of
Repression)
and
some
reception
centre.
She
could
also
participate
in
one
lesson
of
the
course
for
the
training
of
12
refugee
women,
organised
by
CERF.
For
all
the
partners,
the
stages
were
also
an
occasion
to
give
visibility
to
the
project
activities.
Among
the
transnational
activities
an
opening
and
a
closing
transnational
meetings
were
organised.
The
opening
meeting
was
held
in
Rome
on
16-17
March
2001
at
the
CIR
Office
with
the
aim
to
plan
the
project
activities
at
international
level.
The
closing
one
was
held,
again
at
CIR
Office,
on
the
7th
and
8th
December
2001.
During
the
meetings,
each
organisation
illustrated
the
situation
in
its
own
country,
the
necessary
means
to
start
the
procedure
and
the
situation
of
reception
of
asylum
seekers
and
refugees,
with
specific
attention
to
the
target
group.
It
has
been
agreed
that
is
essential
to
exchange
the
following
information
on
the
continuous
updating
on
the
national
policies
concerning
the
right
of
asylum,
on
statistics
on
the
target
group,
media
releases
on
this
issue,
examples
of
self-help
women
associations,
exchange
of
“good
practices”,
national
and
international
recommendations,
more
informative
actions
to
spread
the
project
activities.
On
the
occasion
of
the
closing
meeting,
we
also
discussed
the
activities
planned
for
the
next
year.
In
particular,
we
are
going
to
make
a
“Handbook”
containing
all
the
useful
information,
about
the
approach
on
behalf
of
refugee
women,
the
procedure,
the
specific
assistance,
etc,
we
will
gather
thanks
to
this
project.
With
this
tool
we
would
like
to
promote,
at
a
European
level,
a
greater
attention
to
the
phenomenon
of
gender-related
violence,
in
favour
of
a
more
extensive
interpretation
of
the
ground
"membership
of
a
particular
social
group"
included
in
the
art.
1/A
of
1951
Geneva
Convention.
After
the
first
year
of
experience,
all
partners
agreed
this
project
offered
the
good
opportunity
to
start
an
important
action
in
favour
of
the
target
group.
The
UK
is
a
country
receiving
a
great
number
of
asylum
claims.
71.700
applications
for
asylum
were
lodged
in
the
UK
in
2001,
11%
lower
than
in
2000
(80.315).
The
UK
is
the
only
country
partner
where
the
adoption
of
"Gender
Guidelines
for
the
Determination
of
Asylum
Process
in
the
UK"
has
been
promoted,
since
1996,
by
the
Refugee
Women’s
Legal
Group
(RWLG)
of
which
Refugee
Women's
Association
is
part,
formed
by
individuals
and
organisations
aiming
to
develop
a
gender
perspective
in
refugee
law
and
policy.
Unfortunately,
the
guidelines
have
not
been
officially
adopted
by
the
Home
Office.
The
Immigration
Appellate
Authority's
"Asylum
Gender
Guidelines"
was
also
launched
in
December
2000.
Refugee
Women’s
Association
aims
to
help
refugee
women
through
orientation
activities
in
the
field
of
education,
work,
health
and
well
being.
Its
mission
is,
in
fact,
to
empower
refugee
women
throughout
the
challenging
process
of
integration.
RWA
also
assists
refugee
women’s
group
to
set
up
their
own
organisations
and
help
them
to
build
up
their
capacity
and
it
offers
its
expertise
in
this
field
to
the
other
partners.
RWA
organises
training
programmes,
supported
by
the
European
Social
Fund
thanks
to
which
refugee
women
have
more
chances
to
get
a
job.
Moreover,
with
the
support
of
the
European
Regional
Development
Fund,
RWA
started
in
1999
an
educational
programme
to
promote
health
protection
and
social
care;
it
trained
20
women
and
offered
consultancy
to
more
than
480
refugees.
One
of
the
most
important
activities
of
RWA
is
promoting
self-help
groups.
These
groups
are
composed
of
women
who
have
lived
particular
experiences,
often
of
violence,
and
offer
each
other
support
within
the
group
by
sharing
their
experience.
Some
groups
are
even
able
to
offer
service
and
help
to
people
who
face
similar
situations.
RWA
offers
its
assistance
for
the
creation
of
self-help
groups
of
refugee
women
also
in
the
other
country
partners.
The
association
gives
its
assistance
and
consultancy
in
the
preparation
of
the
training
activities
for
the
operators
in
order
to
make
them
acquire
the
necessary
knowledge
to
interview
women
belonging
to
the
target
group.
It
collects
information
on
gender-linked
and
domestic
violence
to
develop
knowledge
of
the
situation
in
the
European
partners’
countries.
It
co-finances
the
project.
ERGON
k.e.k.
Centre
for
Vocational
Training
-
Athens
(Greece)
In
Greece
about
19.9%
of
the
asylum
seekers
are
women.
Out
of
this,
80%
are
under
40
years
of
age.
The
majority
of
these
women
come
from
Middle-East
countries,
above
all
from
Iraq
and
Turkey,
although
the
number
of
women
coming
from
African
countries
is
increasing
since
2001.
Among
women,
the
ones
with
a
higher
education
level
have
a
different
mentality
and
integrate
easier
in
the
host
country.
They
undertake
initiatives
with
regard
to
the
destiny
of
their
families.
As
far
as
single
women
are
concerned,
their
age
ranges
from
20
to
40.
Their
educational
level,
compared
to
that
of
the
other
women
is
higher.
The
access
to
labour
market
is
easier
for
them,
as
well
as
attending
Greek
language
classes
and
Vocational
Training
courses.
Single
women
either
with
or
without
children
adjust
better;
they
overcome
the
cultural
barriers
and
are
more
active.
The
Greek
partner
is
not
an
organisation
for
asylum
seekers
and
refugees
in
the
strict
sense
of
the
term,
they
are
in
fact
specialised
in
vocational
training,
by
which
refugees
and
asylum
seekers
are
supported
at
a
later
stage,
when
they
have
already
settled.
More
specifically
refugee/asylum
seeking
women
attend
vocational
training
courses
within
the
framework
of
"Combat
the
Social
Exclusion
Programme".
After
their
training
they
are
promoted
to
the
labour
market
through
ERGON
k.e.k.'s
"Employment
Guidance
Office".
In
general,
in
the
precarious
conditions
in
which
asylum
seekers
live,
it
is
very
difficult
to
create
a
stable
life.
As
a
consequence,
the
establishment
of
a
really
confidential
relationship,
that
would
allow
them
to
speak
about
their
traumatic
experiences,
is
very
problematic.
Concerning
this,
there
is
an
aspect
about
ERGON
k.e.k.
's
work
that
is
very
positive
with
regard
to
the
aims
of
the
Malika
project:
people
attending
its
courses
usually
have
a
very
close
and
confidential
relationship
with
the
operators
and
will
be
followed
by
them
sometimes
for
years.
As
we
believe
that
only
in
a
confidential
relationship
women
are
likely
to
speak
about
traumatic
experiences,
this
confidential
relationship
is
a
very
positive
fact.
ERGON
k.e.k.
contributed
to
Malika
project
by
collecting
as
much
information
as
possible
about
the
phenomenon,
about
gender-linked
violence,
about
protection
measures
and
existing
treatment
in
Greece
for
the
target
group,
above
all
through
the
experience
of
other
organisations.
In
general
it
was
difficult
to
obtain
information
about
cases
because
of
the
privacy.
Sometimes
the
Greek
partner
managed
to
share
some
Malika
cases,
especially
with
the
Voluntary
Work
of
Athens.
Ergon
kek
offers
its
support
for
the
sensitisation
and
information
campaign
to
spread
the
achievements
of
the
project.
It
is
a
co-financer.
France
Terre
d’Asile
–
Paris
(France)
Since
1997
in
France
there
has
been
a
great
increase
in
the
number
of
asylum
claims;
during
2001
about
47.500
applications
were
lodged.
The
French
partner
underlined
that
in
France
there
is
no
specific
modality
of
reception
for
women
asylum
seekers
in
the
127
waiting
zones
(DOM
TOM,
Overseas
Departments
and
Territories
included).
Moreover,
no
decision
of
recognition
of
status,
for
women
presenting
gender
persecution,
may
be
connected
to
the
application
of
the
clause
"membership
of
a
special
social
group"
included
in
Article
1A
of
the
1951
Geneva
Convention
relating
to
refugees.
At
present,
treatment
of
application
for
asylum
is
quite
discriminating
both
at
the
gender
level,
and
for
women
who
suffered
the
same
kind
of
persecution.
France
Terre
d’Asile,
whose
specific
engagement
is
that
of
providing
both
legal
and
social
assistance
for
asylum
seekers
and
refugees,
also
assisting
them
at
the
airport,
organises
vocational
courses
and
other
activities,
also
specific
for
women,
through
a
network
of
associations.
In
particular
the
professional
integration
both
for
men
and
women
is
run
by
CERF
(Conseil
Emploi
Réfugiés
Formation).
Refugee
women
usually
apply
to
CERF
platform
for
attending
free
and
remunerated
vocational
or
French
language
training
courses,
which
add
incomes
to
the
family,
often
because
the
husband
asked
to.
Even
when
women
manage
to
attend
training
courses
or
to
get
a
job,
some
features
related
to
the
particular
female
condition
make
the
achievement
of
their
integration
process
difficult.
They
have
in
fact
some
worries
about
their
children's
care
when
they
are
out,
their
husbands
do
not
want
them
to
attend
courses,
they
are
frequently
absent
and
give
up
for
family
reasons,
they
often
refuse
to
work
preferring
remunerated
training
without
any
vocational
project.
Actually,
husbands
usually
choose
for
their
wives.
For
example,
when
a
vocational
guidance
plan
has
failed,
CERF
operators
are
informed
by
husbands
and
they
do
not
meet
applicants
anymore.
According
to
the
experience
of
the
French
partner,
refugee
women
rarely
tell
about
their
family
problems
even
if
they
have
signs
on
their
bodies.
Only
after
having
been
followed
up
for
several
months,
they
start
speaking
about
violence
they
underwent
before
coming
to
France.
The
French
partner
collected
and
exchanged
information
in
order
to
acquire
a
deeper
knowledge
of
the
target
group
in
France;
it
gives
its
support
for
the
sensitisation
and
information
campaign
to
spread
the
achievements
of
the
project.
FTDA
co-finances
the
project.
3.
RESULTS
AND
IMPACTS
OF
THE
PROJECT
The
partners
pointed
out
that,
the
Malika
project
has
given
them
a
good
opportunity
to
study
the
phenomenon
of
violence
towards
women,
to
sensitise
people,
to
understand
the
general
level
of
sensitisation
and
to
implement
a
co-operation
on
this
subject.
Data
collection
As
for
the
collection
of
information
and
data
about
the
size
of
the
phenomenon,
concerning
both
the
presence
and
the
treatment
of
the
target
group,
we
think
it
is
necessary
to
stress
that,
despite
some
difficulty,
we
managed
to
get
significant
data
from
the
local
service
points
and
from
organisations
and
associations
involved
in
migrations
and
in
the
specific
treatment
of
vulnerable
women;
actually,
we
could
enjoy
a
good
collaboration
with
these
latter
structures.
On
the
other
hand,
we
had
some
problem
in
getting
information
from
governmental
institutions.
One
of
the
most
important
data,
for
the
purpose
of
the
project,
is
about
the
decisions
of
the
Central
Commission
for
the
recognition
of
refugee
status:
it
is
actually
not
easy
to
know
how
many
women
have
been
recognised
as
refugees
according
to
1951
Geneva
Convention,
on
grounds
related
to
gender
persecutions.
In
Italy,
for
example,
in
case
of
a
positive
decision
of
the
Central
Commission,
the
reasons
for
the
recognition
of
a
refugee
are
not
specified,
as
it
happens
on
the
contrary
for
the
negative
ones,
and
no
statistical
data,
discriminated
by
gender,
are
anyway
available.
On
the
contrary,
we
believe
it
would
be
of
utmost
importance
to
understand
the
authority's
orientation
and
interpretation.
This
would
allow
a
stronger
impulse
to
awareness
raising
activities
in
favour
of
a
more
extensive
interpretation
of
the
ground
"membership
of
a
particular
social
group"
included
in
the
art.
1/A
of
1951
Geneva
Convention.
Treatment
of
the
"Malika
women"
The
creation
of
the
network
and
the
continuous
training
and
up-dating
activities
have
created
a
good
multiplier
effect,
offering
information,
a
good
background
for
a
correct
approach
to
the
problem
and
sensitising
guests
and
operators
within
centres
and
assistance
services
for
women
and
refugees
existing
in
loco.
During
2001,
staff
of
the
Malika
project
has
been
taking
care
of
44
women
who
suffered
violence
or
a
severe
discrimination
on
the
basis
of
their
gender.
Most
of
them
came
(often
alone)
from
Africa,
in
particular
from
the
Democratic
Republic
of
Congo,
Congo
Brazzaville,
Ethiopia,
others
from
Eritrea
and
Sierra
Leone
(see
the
graphic
below).
Their
age
ranges
from
21
to
41
years.
Most
of
them
suffered
sexual
violence
or
were
exposed
to
rape
attempts,
some
women
suffered
other
forms
of
violence
such
as
electric
shocks
and
cuts
on
the
body,
others
underwent
psychological
violence,
being
forced
to
assist
to
their
children'
rape.
All
of
them
asked
for
asylum
in
Italy,
among
them
23
were
recognised
as
refugees,
4
of
them
obtained
a
permit
of
stay
on
humanitarian
grounds
or
for
other
reasons,
4
of
them
were
notified
with
a
negative
decision
by
the
Central
Commission.
Appeals
against
negative
decisions
are
lodged
before
the
Court.
These
women
have
received
legal,
social,
medical,
psychological
and
psychiatric
assistance.
As
a
therapy
developed
in
the
Project
“Reception
and
care
of
the
victims
of
torture”,
some
of
them
are
attending
a
workshop
where
they
are
taught
to
restore
carpets;
someone
else
obtained
scholarships
to
attend
training
courses.
For
many
cases,
above
all
for
those
women
who
arrive
as
boat
people
-
especially
Kurds
from
Turkey
or
Iraq
we
suspect
they
have
suffered
some
kind
of
violence,
but
they
refused
to
talk
about
this.
For
this
reason,
we
assist
them
during
the
difficult
course
they
have
to
face,
to
get
their
trust
in
order
to
allow
them
to
open
up.
From
the
experience
acquired
during
the
implementation
of
the
project,
we
realised
that
the
countries
of
origins
influence
the
women’s
attitude:
women
coming
from
Africa
are
more
suitable
to
open
up
and
speak
about
their
personal
experience;
on
the
contrary,
those
coming
from
Middle-East,
mostly
with
their
families,
have
many
more
difficulties,
exactly
because
of
the
presence
of
their
male
relatives
who
“speak
for
them”.
Among
the
border
points,
we
have
to
consider
also
the
Fiumicino
Airport
in
Rome
where
CIR
has
a
desk.
During
2001
CIR
has
given
legal
and
social
assistance
to
261
asylum
seekers,
including
"Dublin
cases"
coming
from
other
European
Countries
as
asylum
seekers.
Among
those
people,
there
are
21
lonely
women,
mainly
from
Russia,
the
Democratic
Republic
of
Congo
and
Iraq.
We
also
received
2
women
coming
alone
with
their
sons
from
Turkey
and
Iraq.
Finally,
17
women
arrived
with
the
entire
family.
Thanks
to
this
presence
in
the
Airport,
CIR
could
take
care
of
people
since
their
arrival
and
continues
the
intervention
at
CIR
headquarter.
Processing
of
data
by
CIR
Evaluation
of
the
results
We
evaluated
the
results
obtained
through
specific
evaluation
meetings
with
the
national
partners
and
during
the
transnational
meetings,
that
we
have
already
spoken
about.
The
Evaluation
Committees
were
organised
on
the
18th
of
September
2001
and
the
17th
of
December
2001
with
the
four
representatives
of
the
national
associations
(our
partners
in
the
project)
and
with
the
staff
of
the
central
office
in
Rome,
in
order
to
evaluate
the
project
activities
and
to
discuss
any
necessary
corrective
action.
All
partners
pointed
out
the
difficulty
of
the
first
approach
at
the
border
point,
where
women
arrive
in
precarious
conditions
and
without
any
point
of
reference.
As
it
emerged
in
the
evaluation,
the
most
important
problem
is
to
single
out
women
who
have
suffered
from
a
particular
persecution
or
violence;
this
is
also
due
to
cultural
prejudice
and
to
the
condition
of
the
reception
centres,
where
it
is
not
so
easy
to
relate
with
the
target
group
because
of
the
lack
of
privacy,
or
the
presence
of
the
other
members
of
the
family
(husbands,
brothers
etc).
They
also
considered
the
opportunity
to
find
other
informal
ways
to
obtain
a
private
conversation
with
the
traumatised
women.
It
was
also
suggested
to
find
a
way
to
create
a
common
opportunity
to
be
together
and
share
every
day
life
(have
a
tea
together
for
example).
Moreover,
the
importance
of
the
sensitisation
of
the
public
institutions
(Police,
Health
Services,
Local
Authorities
etc)
was
underlined.
Also
on
this
occasion
it
was
remarked
that
the
inclusion
of
gender
issues
within
the
criteria
for
the
recognition
of
the
refugee
status
is
a
priority.
We
might
be
of
help
to
the
international
efforts
against
gender-based
violence.
It
was
also
underlined
that
the
training
seminars,
participation
in
specific
meetings
and
a
deeper
knowledge
of
the
situation
in
the
countries
of
origin
could
improve
the
approach
to
women.
Up
t
now,
the
sensitisation
approach
and
the
creation
of
a
network
of
organisations,
have
facilitated
the
recognition
of
the
traumas
and
the
intervention
in
favour
of
women.
Moreover,
we
have
to
underline
a
growing
interest
in
gender
issues
in
those
places
where
the
Malika
project
has
focused
its
intervention.
We
organised
a
self-evaluation
meeting
with
the
Malika
operators,
to
which
we
invited
refugee
women,
some
doctors
and
psychologists.
We
used
this
opportunity
to
compare
the
different
ways
of
reception
and
assistance.
During
the
meeting
we
also
remembered
a
previous
experience
with
a
self-help
group,
not
very
successful
because
of
the
economical
problems
of
the
involved
women
and
their
consequent
lack
of
time
to
dedicate
to
the
group.
Ultimate
beneficiaries
As
far
as
the
involvement
of
the
beneficiaries
is
concerned,
we
found
it
difficult
to
involve
them
during
all
the
activities
of
the
project,
above
all
at
the
beginning.
However,
after
several
attempts,
we
managed
to
make
them
understand
the
value
of
the
project
and
its
potential
to
support
them,
in
particular
regarding
the
sensitisation
of
public
opinion.
We
also
tried
to
involve
them
by
offering
legal
and
social
support.
We
believe
that
this
support
is
essential
also
to
make
the
women
understand
the
importance
of
applying
for
asylum
individually.
The
women
who
are
most
involved
are
those
who
have
a
good
education
and
who
were
particularly
active
in
their
countries
of
origin
in
terms
of
social,
cultural
or
political
activities,
as
well
as
those
who
have
a
better
personal
situation
(economically,
psychologically
and
in
terms
of
their
family).
They
participated
in
the
training
seminars
(some
of
them
as
speakers),
in
informal
meetings,
and
in
the
self-evaluation
group.
Some
of
the
refugee
women
work
with
us
on
the
Malika
project.
A
very
important
aspect
of
the
beneficiaries'
involvement
was
their
mediation,
which
made
us
understand
the
possible
effects
and
reactions
deriving
from
a
particular
kind
of
approach
and,
above
all,
helped
us
to
share
more
deeply
their
cultural
background.
Impacts
of
the
results
As
far
as
the
impact
on
the
beneficiaries
is
concerned,
thanks
to
the
Malika
project
we
could
guarantee
the
presence
of
female
operators
at
the
border
points;
in
this
way,
women
asylum
seekers
could
benefit
of
a
specific
approach;
female
operators
in
fact
are
trained
to
approach
traumatised
women.
At
a
second
stage,
in
the
reception
centre,
whenever
possible,
they
have
been
followed
up
by
the
same
operators
in
order
to
build
up
a
trustful
relationship
with
them.
The
experience
matured
with
the
project
makes
us
aware
of
the
fact
that
women
do
not
speak
since
the
first
interview
of
the
violence
they
suffered,
but
rather
they
start
to
open
up
after
two
or
more
contacts
with
the
operator.
For
this
reason
and
on
the
basis
of
the
suspect,
we
organised
our
work
in
order
to
arrange
different
occasions
to
get
in
touch
with
a
woman.
Thanks
to
the
presence
of
the
Malika
operators,
supported
by
some
female
interpreters,
women
understood
the
importance
of
applying
for
asylum
individually.
Sometimes,
women's
experience
of
persecution
could
be
even
more
well
founded
than
the
male
one.
The
case
follow
up
allowed
us
to
better
understand
women’s
wishes
and
expectations,
above
all
regarding
the
accommodation
conditions.
In
many
cases
for
example
women
prefer
to
live
alone
and
not
in
the
reception
centres
where
they
have
to
share
spaces
and
facilities
with
others.
Despite
the
lack
of
specific
accommodation
centres,
sometimes
we
had
the
possibility
to
set
up
an
individual
project
to
search
with
them
other
possible
solutions
(e.g.
private
flats).
We
managed
to
get
in
touch
with
public
Institutions,
the
Ministry
of
Equal
Opportunities,
the
Municipality
Office,
Border
Police
and
above
all
the
Central
Commission
for
the
Recognition
of
the
Refugee
Status.
Our
attempts
to
make
institutions
aware
of
the
phenomenon
and
of
the
necessity
to
consider
the
gender
violence
as
a
possible
ground
of
recognition
of
their
right
to
be
protected,
although
not
sufficiently
acquired,
has
been
is
some
cases
accepted
and
defended
during
the
decisions.
We
managed
to
get
this
result
by
providing
the
Commission
with
medical
or
psychological
certifications
before
the
eligibility
interview,
also
considering
some
aspects
of
the
violence
women
suffered.
In
some
occasions,
women
had
the
possibility
to
empower
themselves
through
the
participation
in
the
initiatives
organised
in
the
frame
of
the
project,
and
sometimes,
also
at
an
upper
level,
giving
them
the
possibility
to
have
interviews
with
media,
and
to
participate
as
speakers
to
specific
meetings.
We
believe
we
reached
a
good
result
with
the
audience.
In
particular
we
would
like
to
mention
some
periodic
meetings
held
with
the
Municipality
Office
during
which,
to
make
an
example,
we
studied
the
possibility
of
creating
a
specific
reception
centre
in
order
to
rehabilitate
women
who
have
suffered
from
a
particular
form
of
violence
(for
ex:
acidification
of
Pakistani/Bengali
women).
After
these
meetings
we
created
the
Forum
of
Rome
for
the
human
rights
of
women.
The
Malika
project
has
been
implemented
in
a
period
of
great
attention
to
the
woman
issue.
We
point
out
here
two
important
initiatives:
the
Presidency
of
the
Council
of
Ministers
-
Department
for
Equal
Opportunities
issued
some
guidelines
about
traditional
sexual
mutilations
(MGF);
and
a
chamber
of
Italian
Parliament
issued
a
draft
law
on
the
same
matter.
4.
dissemination
and
follow
up
We
consider
that
one
of
the
most
important
aim
to
join
was
that
of
making
people
aware
of
the
phenomenon
and,
above
all,
to
sensitise
about
the
necessity
to
adopt
a
specific
approach
on
behalf
of
the
target
group.
For
this
reason
we
organised
two
seminars
in
Rome
opened
to
NGOs,
public
Institutions
(Border
Police,
Central
Commission,
Ministries
of
Interiors
and
Equal
Opportunities
etc.),
mass
media
and
refugees.
The
first
one
on
March
28th
to
30th,
2001.
On
March
28th
the
seminar
“Day
of
study
of
the
asylum
seekers
and
refugees
in
Italy”
took
place
in
the
Traumatologic
Hospital
Centre
(CTO)
in
Rome
in
collaboration
with
CIR’s
project
“Reception
and
Care
for
Victims
of
Torture”
with
Médecins
sans
Frontičres
and
the
“Lazio
Link
Group
for
Immigration
and
Health”.
On
March
29th
and
30th
the
seminar
“MALIKA:
days
of
violence,
the
day
of
reception”
took
place
in
the
“Centro
Maree”
of
the
association
“Differenza
Donna”,
an
external
project
partner.
Several
themes
were
discussed,
such
as
the
access
to
the
asylum
procedure,
the
problems
connected
to
the
reception
of
asylum
seekers
in
Italy,
and
health
problems
such
as
the
specific
problems
of
victims
of
torture.
Furthermore,
we
also
discussed
particular
problems,
like
the
protection
of
female
asylum
seekers
and
refugees
on
the
basis
of
International
Law,
the
concept
of
violence
and
torture
observed
within
the
gender
frame,
and
finally
the
identification
of
cases
of
violence,
the
techniques
and
the
instruments
for
a
sensitive
approach.
The
2nd
seminar
was
organised
on
the
10th
and
11th
October
2001.
It
took
place
in
the
“Centro
Maree”
in
Rome.
The
title
was:
“The
sensitisation
for
the
recognition
of
gender
persecution”.
The
seminar
was
focused
on
the
study
of
the
relation
between
the
1951
Geneva
Convention
and
women,
and
the
study
of
women’s
rights
in
Muslim
countries.
Moreover
some
refugee
women
from
Algeria,
Albania
and
Rwanda
brought
their
testimony
and
then
we
discussed
about
trauma
and
its
consequences,
sexually
transmitted
diseases,
and
practical
experience
in
a
health
guidance
council.
On
that
occasion,
we
enjoyed
the
participation
of
one
of
the
representative
of
the
Central
Commission
for
the
Recognition
of
the
Refugee
Status,
with
whom
we
discussed
about
this
particular
phenomenon.
We
disseminate
the
project
results
also
through
the
contacts
with
media
operators
(journalists,
media
operators,
etc..)
managing
to
have
some
articles
about
the
project
published.
For
example
some
articles
were
published
in
specialised
reviews
and
on
a
web
site
(Mondo
Sociale,
Redattore
Sociale,
Gazzetta
del
Sud,
and
Rivista
del
volontariato-web-site).
Moreover,
we
participated
in
external
meetings
organised
by
other
organisations
in
charge
of
this
matter,
in
which
we
presented
the
project
activities.
Furthermore,
we
organised
different
meetings
in
the
central
and
local
offices
of
CIR
with
the
purpose
of
giving
visibility
to
the
project,
and,
above
all,
sensitising
people
on
the
phenomenon
of
violence
on
women,
and
in
particular
we
discussed
the
meaning
of
violence.
In
addition,
we
organised
a
series
of
informative
meetings
with
people
interested/involved
in
the
activities
of
the
project,
with
women
of
the
target
group
and
with
institutional
officers.
Follow
up
of
the
project
The
Malika
project
lasts
two
years.
This
gives
us
the
possibilities
to
improve
the
results
obtained
in
the
first
year.
We
believe
that
it
is
necessary
to
continue
in
the
future
our
sensitisation
activities
because
only
by
disseminating
our
aims
and
our
initiatives
it
could
be
possible
to
create
a
deep
awareness
in
the
Institutions
and
in
people
involved
in
the
treatment
of
such
particular
cases,
influencing
at
European
level
the
asylum
claim
procedure.
To
assure
the
project
a
follow
up,
we
are
in
touch
with
the
national
and
local
Institutions
(e.g.
Ministries)
and
Foundations
to
find
some
ways
of
supporting
the
project
activities
in
the
future.
Furthermore,
thanks
to
the
experience
acquired
during
the
implementation
of
the
project,
we
participated
in
specific
training
courses
as
reporters
speaking
of
gender
issues
in
the
frame
of
refugee
law.
For
this
reason
we
would
like
to
ensure
ourselves
part
of
the
necessary
follow
up
by
promoting
our
experience
in
the
field,
to
be
improved
also
thanks
to
the
research
to
be
done
for
the
drawing
up
of
the
good
practices
guide
(handbook),
which
will
be
a
lasting
product
able
to
influence
the
Institutions
to
recognise
the
gender-related
persecution.
Each
partner
will
actively
promote
the
prosecution
of
the
project
according
to
their
particular
skills.
Visibility
of
the
European
Commission
During
all
the
activities,
we
gave
visibility
to
the
European
Commission
inserting
its
logo
and
its
contribution
in
all
our
materials/publications.
5.
CONCLUSIONS
Summary
report
The
Malika
Project
addresses
refugee
or
asylum
seekers
women
who
have
suffered
violence,
persecution
or
severe
discrimination
related
to
their
gender.
Since
there
is
an
objective
difficulty
in
collecting
data
by
gender,
through
the
Malika
Project,
both
the
Italian
Council
for
Refugees
(CIR)
and
its
partners,
national
and
transnational,
intend
to
investigate
and
inform
people
-
through
a
sensitisation
approach
-
about
this
well-known,
but
still
dark
phenomenon.
CIR
and
its
partners
have
established
four
service
points
in
Italy
held
by
trained
operators:
Puglia,
Lombardia,
Calabria,
Sicilia
in
order
to
take
care
of
women
even
at
the
border
points,
in
terms
of
legal,
social
and
medical
assistance.
One
of
their
tasks
is
to
verify
existing
facilities
and
to
promote
the
adoption
of
protective
measures
within
the
existing
reception
centres
for
refugees.
As
far
as
the
impact
of
the
project
on
the
beneficiaries
is
concerned,
we
managed
to
facilitate
their
access
to
the
asylum
procedure
and
to
territorial
services
related
to
their
specific
needs.
They
participated
in
the
training
seminars
(some
of
them
as
speakers),
in
informal
meetings,
and
in
the
self-evaluation
group.
Some
of
the
refugee
women
work
with
us
on
the
Malika
project.
Training
and
sensitisation
are
among
the
most
important
goals
of
this
project,
so
many
informative
meetings
are
organised
for
people
who
are
in
any
way
involved,
and
have
expressed
the
need
of
information/training
and
consultancy.
These
people
might
belong
either
to
public
or
private
operators,
involved
in
the
assistance
of
female
refugees
or
operators
at
the
borders,
media
specialists
As
a
consequence
of
a
more
sensitive
approach,
we
have
taken
care
of
several
women
who
have
suffered
gender
related
violence.
We
provide
specific
legal,
social,
medical
and
psychological
assistance,
also
thanks
to
the
network
we
have
created
such
as
centres
against
violence.
We
reached
a
goal
of
the
project
by
involving
women
in
our
training
seminars,
some
of
them
as
speakers,
in
informal
meetings,
and
in
a
self-evaluation
group.
Our
goal,
for
the
prosecution
of
the
project,
is
to
give
the
best
visibility
(press
conference,
radio-spot,
intervention
during
TV/radio
programmes)
to
the
phenomenon
through
a
development
of
the
above
mentioned
activities
in
order
to
draft
a
“good
practices
guide”
for
operators
involved
with
refugees
and
to
promote
the
elaboration
and
adoption
in
Italy
of
“Guidelines
for
the
Asylum
Requests
Regarding
Gender
Questions”,
such
as
the
ones
existing
in
other
European
Countries.
Moreover,
the
creation
of
self-help
groups
should
be
promoted
as
a
way
to
give
women
the
possibility
to
express
themselves,
to
raise
their
capabilities,
to
empower
them.
We
believe
that
the
above-mentioned
measures
will
facilitate
the
asylum
claim
procedure,
promoting
a
more
extensive
interpretation,
gender-oriented,
of
the
ground
"membership
of
a
particular
social
group"
included
in
the
article
1
A
of
1951
Geneva
Convention.
Asylum
claim
is
a
very
important
goal
for
women
of
the
target
group
to
reach;
by
making
the
access
to
its
procedure
easier,
we
might
be
of
help
to
the
international
efforts
against
the
gender-based
violence.
Available
Materials
§
CIR
Website:
www.cir-onlus.org
for
more
information
about
refugees
and
asylum
law;
§
Informative
brochure
in
5
languages
for
female
refugees
and
asylum
seekers
(Italian,
English,
French,
Turkish,
Arabic)
(see
Malika
website);
§
Specific
web
site
with
the
project
activities
(http://web.tiscali.it/malika_daphne
)
§
N.
3
Newsletters
in
2
languages
(June,
December
2001
and
January
2002)
on
the
project
activities
(see
Malika
website);
§
Brief
article
on
the
opening
transnational
seminar
and
training
seminar
(Italian)
(see
Malika
website);
§
Copies
of
transparencies
used
for
training
seminars
concerning
transmitted
sexual
diseases
(Italian
and
English)
(at
disposal
in
CIR
Office);
§
Article
written
by
an
Albanian
refugee
woman
who
works
in
the
project
“The
woman
in
Albanian
society”
(Italian)
(at
disposal
in
CIR
Office);
§
Article
written
by
an
Algerian
woman
involved
in
the
project
activities
“The
condition
of
the
Algerian
woman”
(Italian
and
French)
(at
disposal
in
CIR
Office);
§
Article
written
by
a
psychologist
who
collaborates
with
the
project
“The
normality
of
feeling
bad”
(Italian
and
English)
(at
disposal
in
CIR
Office);
§
Article
written
by
a
psychologist
who
collaborates
with
the
project
“Violence,
torture:
the
gender
specificity”
(Italian)
(at
disposal
in
CIR
Office);
§
articles
published
in
some
newspapers
(e.g.
“
Mondo
Sociale”
)
(at
disposal
in
CIR
Office);
§
Refugee
Women's
Association's
bi-monthly
newsletter
“Refugee
Women’s
News”
(English).
Contact
Details
CONSIGLIO
ITALIANO
PER
I
RIFUGIATI
–
Website:
www.cir-onlus.org
;
http://web.tiscali.it/malika_daphne
e-mail:
malika.daphne@tiscali.it
cir@cir-onlus.org
Tel.:
+39
06
69200114
Fax:
+39
06200116
FONDAZIONE
REGINA
PACIS
-
Centre
for
the
Permanence
and
the
Temporary
assistance
of
immigrants
Via
Lungomare
Matteotti,
73026
San
Foca
di
Melendugno
(Lecce)
e-mail:
doncesa@uol.it
;
reginapacis@libero.it
Tel.:
+39
0832
881094
Fax:
+39
0832
881237
ANOLF
–
Associazione
Nazionale
Oltre
Le
Frontiere
e-mail:
anolfcz@tin.it
ASSOCIAZIONE
CULTURALE
“ACUARINTO”
e-mail:
acuarinto@libero.it
Tel/Fax.:
+
39
0922
403748
ASSOCIAZIONE
“EOS”
Via
Staurenghi
24,
21100
Varese
Tel.:
+
39
0332
231271
Fax:
+
39
0332239992
or
in
CGIL,
Via
Nino
Bixio,
37
21100
Varese
Tel.:
+39
0332/276111
Fax:
+39
0332
262002
ASSOCIAZIONE
“SUD”
Via
Mercadante
65,
74015
Martina
Franca
(TA)
Website:
www.eurplace.org/orga/assosud/index.html
e-mail:
sud@take.it
Tel.:
+
39
080
4304799
Fax:
+
39
080
4808917
CENTRO
M.S.T.,
U.
O.
Microbiologia
Via
dell’Antella
58,
Antella,
Bagnoa
Ripoli,
Firenze
e-mail:
smazzoli@libero.it
Tel/Fax:
+
39
055
2496459
ASSOCIAZIONE
“DIFFERENZA
DONNA”
e-mail:
d.donna@flashnet.it
Tel.:
+
39
06
6780537/6786281
Fax:
+
39
06
6780563
“ERGON
k.e.k.”
Centre
for
Vocational
Training
123,
Vas.
Sofias
Avenue,
Athens
11521
–
GREECE
Website:
www.ergonkek.org
e-mail:
ergonkek@otenet.gr
Tel.:
+30
010
64
61
482
Fax:
+30
010
6461597
REFUGEE
WOMEN’S
ASSOCIATION
e-mail:
rwa@womenassociation.freeserve.co.uk
Tel.:
+44
20
7923
2412
Fax:
+44
20
7923
3929
FRANCE
TERRE
D’ASILE
25,
Rue
de
Ganneron
–
F
–
75018
Paris
–
FRANCE
Website:
www.france-terre-asile.org
e-mail:
FTDAParis@aol.com
Tel.:
+33
1
53043999
Fax:
+33
1
53040240
The
content
of
this
report
commits
only
its
authors.
The
European
Commission
is
not
responsible
for
the
use
that
might
be
made
of
the
information
on
this
report.