ABSTRACT
Immigrants to the UK constitute a diverse population of ethnic, cultural and national groups. Increasing attention is being given to the ‘problem’ of immigration and asylum seeking in the UK at the point of entry, yet there is little attention from researchers and policy makers to subsequent experiences of immigrants. Women who are the victims and survivors of domestic abuse face issues common to all abused women, whether they are citizens or recent immigrants; but there are also issues specific to new immigrant women, including significant cultural and legal barriers to seeking safety, which need to be considered. Specifically, immigrant women who are abused by their partners or sponsors face very particular difficulties in accessing personal safety and protection. If these women do not have indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK, or are at risk of removal or deportation for other reasons, the consequences of leaving an abusive partner can complicate their immigration status. While immigration legislation and policies lack a gender dimension, forms of persecution can clearly be very gender specific. Due to their role and status in society generally, and more specifically within family and kinship systems, women may be exposed to human rights abuses different from those of their male counterparts.
