Forced Dependency and Legal Barriers: Implications of the UK’s Immigration and Social Security Policies for Minoritized Women Living in Abusive Intimate Relationships in Northern Ireland

Authors

  • Monica McWilliams University of Ulster
  • Priyam Yarnell
  • Molly Churchill

Keywords:

Domestic violence, immigration, social security, ethnic minorities, forced dependency, Violencia doméstica, inmigración, seguridad social, minorías étnicas, dependencia forzosa

Abstract

This paper examines the complexities of the help-seeking process of minoritized women (primarily asylum-seekers and immigrants) experiencing domestic violence in Northern Ireland. The term ‘minoritized’ is used here to emphasize that “minority” status is not a static or innate trait of certain groups but instead is the outcome of a process of being positioned as a minority. The paper addresses the intersections of ethnicity, nationality, class and gender and shows how state policies in relation to immigration and social security reinforce inequalities in gendered power relations. Despite attempts to improve the social security and immigration systems, the findings from a Northern Ireland study show how recent policy changes have not addressed the systemic institutional racism and institutionalised patriarchy in these agencies. Where avenues for action are undermined by such practices, the policies raise concerns about the safety and protection of minoritized women living in abusive relationships. We argue that the UK is failing to meet its human rights responsibilities to provide adequate support and assistance to minoritized women in abusive relationships and conclude that delivering state accountability alongside a human rights framework based on security, autonomy, liberty and equality is what is needed.

Este artículo analiza las complejidades del proceso de búsqueda de ayuda en Irlanda del Norte para mujeres pertenecientes a minorías (principalmente solicitantes de asilo e inmigrantes) que sufren violencia doméstica. El término 'minoritarizadas' se utiliza aquí para hacer hincapié en que la situación de "minoría" no es un rasgo estático o innato de ciertos grupos, sino que es el resultado de un proceso de ser posicionado como una minoría. El artículo aborda las intersecciones de origen étnico, nacionalidad, clase y género y muestra cómo las políticas estatales en relación a la inmigración y la seguridad social refuerzan las desigualdades en las relaciones de poder desde una perspectiva de género. A pesar de los intentos de mejorar los sistemas de seguridad social e inmigración, los resultados de un estudio de Irlanda del Norte demuestran que los cambios políticos recientes no han abordado el racismo institucional sistémico y el patriarcado institucionalizado en estos organismos. Estas prácticas debilitan las vías de acción emprendidas, sin embargo, las políticas generan interés sobre la seguridad y protección de mujeres pertenecientes a minorías que sufren abusos en sus relaciones. Se sostiene que el Reino Unido no está cumpliendo su responsabilidad de defender los derechos humanos para proporcionar apoyo y asistencia adecuada a estas mujeres que sufren relaciones abusivas y se llega a la conclusión de que es necesario ofrecer una responsabilidad estatal dentro del marco de los derechos humanos, basado en la seguridad, autonomía, libertad e igualdad.

DOWNLOAD THIS PAPER FROM SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2700201

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Author Biographies

Monica McWilliams, University of Ulster

Monica McWilliams is Professor of Women’s Studies in the Transitional Justice Institute at Ulster University. She was a delegate for the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition at the multi-party peace negotiations in Northern Ireland and a signatory of the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. She was elected to the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly until 2003 and served as the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission until 2011. She has published extensively on the impact of political conflict on domestic violence. Transitional Justice Institute, Ulster University, Jordanstown. BT36OQB Northern Ireland. m.mcwilliams@ulster.ac.uk

Priyam Yarnell

Priyamvada Yarnell is a PhD candidate at the Transitional Justice Institute. Priyamvada has a background in human rights law and has worked in Sri Lanka, New York and Geneva with a range of human rights and rule of law organisations. Transitional Justice Institute, Ulster University, Jordanstown. BT36OQB Northern Ireland. Yarnell-P@email.ulster.ac.uk

Molly Churchill

Molly Churchill is a final year student in the Masters of Social Work/Bachelors of Laws program at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where she is affiliated with the Centre for Research on Children and Families. School of Social Work, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. molly.churchill@mail.mcgill.ca

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Published

10-11-2014

How to Cite

McWilliams, M., Yarnell, P. and Churchill, M. (2014) “Forced Dependency and Legal Barriers: Implications of the UK’s Immigration and Social Security Policies for Minoritized Women Living in Abusive Intimate Relationships in Northern Ireland”, Oñati Socio-Legal Series, 5(6), pp. 1536–1556. Available at: https://opo.iisj.net/index.php/osls/article/view/540 (Accessed: 5 November 2024).

Issue

Section

Legal Remedies for Gender Violence