The Immigrant and Refugee Populations Research Team responsibilities are to conduct research on risk assessment, risk management, and safety planning for immigrants and refugees living with domestic violence.
The Immigrant and Refugee Populations Research Team is co-led by:
Dr. Mohammed Baobaid, Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration
Dr. Kate Rossiter, Adjunct Simon Fraser University and Ending Violence Association of BC
Dr. Randy Kropp, Adjunct Simon Fraser University
Fact Sheets
Links
This training manual was developed to help mainstream service providers respond to domestic violence with increased cultural sensitivity and awareness in the Muslim community. Furthermore, the manual provides stakeholders from the Muslim community with information that will allow them to gain a better understanding of the Canadian justice system response to domestic violence and an awareness of the available services for victims and perpetrators. Part 1 of the manual provides essential information for both Muslims and mainstream service providers on domestic violence including both the Canadian and Islamic perspectives, the Canadian legal response to domestic violence, the concept of honour related violence, challenges facing immigrant and refugee women to seeking services and supports, the differences between individualist and collectivist cultures, concerns of Muslim families integrating into Canadian society, and a description of the Muslim Family Safety Project as a best practice approach. Part 2 of the manual provides a workshop opportunity for dialogue and reflections about the different perspectives to domestic violence including case scenarios that reflect the complexity of domestic violence realities within Muslim communities living in the west.
This article compares immigrant and Canadian-born women on the consequences of intimate partner violence (IPV) as well as factors that influence their experiences of abuse, specifically focusing on the physical and psychological ramifications. The results concluded that there were no evident differences of physical and psychological consequences between the two populations. Immigrant women, however, were more likely to be distrustful of neighbours and colleagues, and were more likely to experience discrimination. The researchers suggest that this distrust and discrimination may influence immigrant women’s help seeking behaviour in incidents of IPV.
A Tale of Two Cultures: Intimate Femicide, Cultural Defences and the Law of Provocation
This manuscript provides a comprehensive understanding of the provocation defence, specifically in relation to femicide. The manuscript begins with an examination of the patriarchal context of the provocation defence, and its current applications with intimate partner femicide. Second, the influence of culture on the history, evolution and use of the provocation defence is explored. Lastly, the researchers examine Canadian cases of intimate femicide where cultural arguments were used to support a provocation defence.
Researchers identified a gap in risk assessments, such that there was not an intimate partner violence (IPV) risk assessment available that was specific or appropriate for the experiences of immigrant women. The researchers modified the Danger Assessment for use with immigrant women, and evaluated it in a longitudinal study using 148 participants. The results concluded that the revised Danger Assessment was predictive of IPV for immigrant women, and provided more significant results than the original Danger Assessment.
Empowering Non-Status, Refugee, and Immigrant Women Who Experience Violence
This comprehensive manual presents a woman-centred, anti-oppression, and feminist model, aimed at front-line workers, that informs and directs efforts to manage and support the complexity of needs presented by non-status, refugee, and immigrant women (NSRIW) who have been exposed to and are still at risk of intimate partner violence. The manual addresses the gaps in law, policies and practices that NSRIW must navigate in order to increase the accessibility of the legal systems with which these women come into contact.
Immigrant and Refugee Victims of Domestic Homicide in Washington State
This brief fact sheet provides statistics on immigrant and refugee victims of domestic homicide in Washington State. The fact sheet outlines the barriers to safety faced by immigrant and refugee victims and what advocates can do to support survivors.
Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence
This fact sheet outlines immigrant women’s experience with domestic violence in the U.S. The fact sheet also describes barriers to seeking help for immigrant women, tactics perpetrators use to control victims, information on support services, and how you can actively help those who are victimized.
This U.S. study examined the disparities in male perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) based on immigration status. Men recruited from community health centres completed interviews where they self-reported their immigrant status and IPV perpetration. The results concluded that recent immigrants (less than 6 years in the U.S.) were less likely to report IPV perpetration than native-born men. There were no differences found in IPV perpetration between native-born men and non-recent immigrants (6 or more years in the U.S.).
This paper examines honour-related violence and honour killing as a form of gendered violence that affects all societies. The author outlines the social patterns associated with honour killing and analyzes policy efforts in various countries that aim to prevent this type of violence with a focus on how Canada can approach and respond to cases of honour-related violence.
Violence Against Women: Health and Justice for Canadian Muslim Women
This resource from the Canadian Council of Muslim Women focuses on four forms of violence against Muslim women: woman abuse, femicide, forced marriage, and female genital mutilation within an international and Canadian context. It also proposes strategies to mitigate these forms of violence including educating women about their legal rights and appealing to religion, tradition, and/or national culture to change communities in which this type of violence is normalized. This document is also provided in French.
Violence Against Women: Health and Justice for Canadian Muslim Women
This toolkit from the Canadian Council of Muslim Women was developed to provide support in initiating conversations around violence against Muslim women and assist in developing strategies for community response to this violence. The kit includes a community workshop presentation; the Muslim wheel of domestic violence; case studies; and fact sheets. The focus of the fact sheets are on four forms of violence against Muslim women: woman abuse, femicide, forced marriage, and female genital mutilation. The toolkit is also available in French.