Reception conditions for women refugees and asylum seekers in France

Temps de lecture : 9 minutes

Reception conditions for women refugees and asylum seekers in France

February 08, 2021

Written by Laura Delcamp
Translated by Caroline Feldner

France is now a host country for thousands of men and women every year. Women asylum seekers, and then those who obtain international protection, refugees, are often confronted with new violence for which they were not prepared. Emergency or precarious accommodation, lack of psychological or medical support, and financial insecurity are all difficulties that these women face. They may also face double discrimination, as they are both women and migrants, and integration in France is therefore a real struggle. How are the reception conditions for women seeking asylum in France insufficient? What are the alternatives for these women, in order to be truly integrated, whether socially, economically or culturally ?

Women who face gender-based violence throughout their exile journey

In France, the number of women seeking asylum has been increasing for several years. This feminisation can be explained by multiple factors, such as poverty, which pushes women to seek a more dignified life elsewhere, or a desire to be more independent, and therefore to carry out their exile by their own means.^[1]France terre d’asile. « Les violences à l’égard des femmes demandeuses d’asile et réfugiées en France », April 2018, p.12. URL: … Continue reading. AThus, in 2002, 30.7% of asylum seekers were women^[2]OFPRA. « Rapport d’activité 2020 », 2003, p. 13. URL : https://ofpra.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/atoms/files/rapport_dactivite_2002.pdf, but in 2018, this percentage reached 33.2%^[3]OFPRA. « Rapport d’activité 2018 », 24 avril 2019, p.18. URL : https://ofpra.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/atoms/files/rapport_dactivite_2018.pdf.pdf, which also helps to break the cliché that the migrant population is made up solely of men (even though they still constitute the majority, since they were 66.8% in 2019).

The journey of these people in search of a new future is littered with trying and dangerous stages, but it is clear that women are also exposed to violence and aggression. Few studies have been published on the risks faced by these women, yet gender-based violence can no longer be ignored in the face of growing numbers of female asylum seekers in France. In February 2016, a report dealing solely with the situation of female refugees and asylum seekers in the European Union was published, which recognised the particular vulnerability of women to such violence (such as insults, assaults, physical violence and sexual violence)^[4]France terre d’asile. «  Les violences à l’égard des femmes demandeuses d’asile et réfugiées en France », April 2018, p.17. URL : … Continue reading. Despite this, few measures have been taken by transit or host countries in the EU to protect these women, or to take better account of gender in asylum policy.^[5]Conseil de l’Europe. « Protéger les droits des femmes et filles migrantes, réfugiées et demandeuses d’asile », p.3. URL: https://rm.coe.int/recommendations-cles/1680994ec0.

Many women asylum seekers or refugees must therefore face different types of discrimination on a daily basis, whether physical, psychological or social, as they are often isolated, even once they have obtained their status. Having often fled their country of origin because of gender-related persecution, they find themselves in a new country where the lack of structures and resources (few places in accommodation specifically dedicated to women, little social support, lack of medical care, etc.)^[6]France terre d’asile. « Les violences à l’égard des femmes demandeuses d’asile et réfugiées en France », April 2018, p.39. URL: … Continue reading) force them to live in great precariousness, such as sleeping rough. However, associations and groups are trying to make up for the State’s shortcomings, particularly with regard to the lack of specialised accommodation or support services to help them through the difficulties they face. Moreover, their integration in France is sometimes very painful, because in addition to the violence they may suffer a loss of reference points and a cultural shock with the host society can also prove trying.

Difficulty in accessing asylum for women and girls

Currently, 40% of the people protected by international protection (refugee status or subsidiary protection) are women^[7]Forum Réfugiés. « Femmes en demande d’asile : des parcours et expériences spécifiques », 13 jJanuary 2020. URL: … Continue reading. Mostly from Africa (40%), Europe (24%) and Asia (23%)^[8]Haut Conseil à l’Egalité entre les femmes et les hommes. « Situation des femmes demandeuses d’asile en France après l’adoption de la loi portant réforme du droit d’asile », 18 December … Continue reading, women seeking asylum in France often do so as a result of gender-related persecution in their country of origin: domestic violence, human trafficking (as in Nigeria or Cameroon), forced marriages or female genital mutilation (mainly in West African countries), sexual violence or threats related to their sexual orientation^[9]Ibid.. This violence causes trauma that can last for a long time. Many of them are single or have broken away from their families, and they are sometimes alone, accompanied by one or more children. Minors arriving alone in France, known as unaccompanied foreign minors (or MIEs), are also highly exposed to these risks of violence or threats, whether or not related to their gender, due to their isolation and their young age^[10]Ibid.. All these acts are included in the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, a text of international law defining refugee status and rights.

Thanks to this convention, these women have the right to apply for asylum in signatory countries such as France. However, obtaining the benefit of international protection can be complicated and not all applications are necessarily successful, especially when it comes to certain persecutions. As explained by the association La Cimade, “the situation of women who have experienced very serious domestic violence in their country of origin is still difficult to consider as asylum. Although some decisions (sometimes directly by OFPRA, the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons) recognise this type of violence as a serious threat entitling them to subsidiary protection, these situations are very often linked to other types of violence such as forced marriage, honour killings, reprisals following opposition or transgression of the social norms in force^[11]La Cimade. « Victimes de violences ». URL: https://www.lacimade.org/nos-actions/femmes-et-violences/”.

Many refugee rights organisations advocate for gender to be taken into account more during the examination of asylum applications by OFPRA or the CNDA (National Court of Asylum).

Reception conditions that remain impervious to gender issues

In France, the majority of people seeking asylum and obtaining international protection have many difficulties in accessing their rights, and women are the first victims. In 2015, the law of the reform of the right of asylum^[12]Law n°2015-925 on the reform of the right of asylum, French Parliament created advances to address some of the specific needs of women and LGBTi+ people^[13]France terre d’asile. « Les violences à l’égard des femmes demandeuses d’asile et réfugiées en France », April 2018, p.21. URL: … Continue reading.The Code of Entry and Residence of Foreigners and the Right of Asylum (CESEDA) thus explains: The Code on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners and the Right of Asylum (CESEDA) explains that “with regard to the grounds for persecution, aspects relating to gender and sexual orientation shall be duly taken into consideration when determining membership of a certain social group”^[14]Law n°2015-925 on the reform of the right of asylum..

However, women and girls still face insufficient reception conditions, starting with accommodation places. As a reminder, only 48% of people seeking asylum in France have access to accommodation^[15]Forum Réfugiés. « Femmes en demande d’asile : des parcours et expériences spécifiques », 13 January 2020. URL: … Continue reading.  Indeed, many of them are referred to the 115, the number to call to obtain emergency accommodation or to be housed in a hotel, but due to the high demand, and the lack of places, some are forced to live on the street for several days, or even several months^[16]Amandine Seguin. « Réfugiés : les femmes demandeuses d’asile doivent raconter leur calvaire plusieurs fois », Elle. URL : … Continue reading. Living on the streets exposes these women to multiple risks, such as physical or sexual assault, violence or rape. In some cases, there are reports that women have been forced to exchange sex for a place in a home or to take a shower^[17]France terre d’asile. « Les violences à l’égard des femmes demandeuses d’asile et réfugiées en France », April 2018 p.44. URL : … Continue reading. 

This sexual exploitation in the new country then represents a continuation of the migratory journey. After the violence suffered in their country of origin, they face similar difficulties once again, which constitutes a double punishment for them. As the France terre d’asile report, published in 2018, explains: “precarious, insecure or inadequate accommodation for women, the complete lack of accommodation, as well as administrative instability and insecurity are reported as factors making them more vulnerable to suffering multiple forms of violence^[18]Ibid.”. In addition, many women find themselves alone with one or more dependent children, and when they are young, they rarely obtain childcare places. For these women, the burden of their children, the administrative procedures for legalising their papers, the search for a home, etc., all add up to a complicated situation. This is why there are associations and groups that support these people in distress.

Associations and collectives specialising in the defence of women’s rights: a refuge for women refugees and asylum seekers

To compensate for the institutional shortcomings, many groups and associations defending women’s rights have organised themselves to help women asylum seekers and refugees. This is the case, for example, of the Maison des Femmes in Saint-Denis, which was inaugurated in 2016 and whose main role is to enable women who are victims of violence or who are vulnerable to violence to be accompanied, guided or cared for. In addition, the Maison des Femmes has a unit specialising in the care of women who have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM)^[19]Official website La Maison des Femmes. This team offers a treatment programme with a psychologist, a sexologist or a gynaecologist, and can also perform an operation to reconstruct the clitoris if the woman so wishes. Today, female genital mutilation is one of the reasons why women seek asylum in France, particularly women from West Africa. Therefore, psychological and gynaecological care for FGM is currently of paramount importance. In 2004, it was estimated that there were 53,000 women in France who had undergone FGM. No more recent studies have been published since then.

Medical and psychological support is therefore essential for women who are victims of gender-based violence, but it is still difficult to obtain, due to a lack of resources or medical infrastructures, or a lack of knowledge among medical staff about certain forms of violence, such as FGM. In addition to this medical support, many women encounter obstacles to integration because of the language barrier. Associations such as the Red Cross, Collectif Réfugiés and Secours Catholique offer French as a foreign language (FLE) courses for migrants. Azmari, an association in Paris specialising in the reception of migrant women and children, offers migrant women a meeting place and, in particular, workshops on oral expression to improve their level of French.^[20]Official website, Azmari. It has been shown that women are often isolated because of their lack of knowledge of the French language and their illiteracy. In some cases, it is often the men who speak the language and therefore take care of all the administrative procedures. This social isolation is therefore problematic for asylum-seeking and refugee women, and constitutes an obstacle to their independence in the new host country.

Improving comprehensive care for women asylum seekers and refugees: a necessity

Several associations or structures, as well as the High Council for Equality between Women and Men (HCE), have made recommendations to the French State to ensure that women asylum seekers and refugees are welcomed in a better way in France. Improving the reception conditions of these women must be done at several levels, from the moment they apply for asylum, through obtaining international protection and permanent integration in France. The HCE published a report in December 2017, entitled “Situation of women asylum seekers in France after the adoption of the law reforming the right to asylum”, in order to analyse the situation of these women. In particular, it recommends that OFPRA should better assess the vulnerabilities of female asylum seekers, by training staff to understand the specificities of each person. It also recommends that the gender and sexual identity dimension be better understood when processing asylum applications, by putting in place tools and training.

The association France terre d’asile, which provides assistante to both female asylum seekers and women who have been granted refugee status, has also analysed their situation, in particular concerning the violence they may suffer during their migratory journey. In addition to training on women’s rights and gender, France terre d’asile recommends “including refugee and asylum-seeking women in violence prevention plans and in national awareness-raising campaigns^[21]France terre d’asile. « Les violences à l’égard des femmes demandeuses d’asile et réfugiées en France », April 2018, p.82. URL: … Continue reading”. Indeed, the opinion and recommendations of these women are not always taken into account when these programmes are drawn up. In addition, one of the main objectives for improving reception conditions for women is to ensure that all women have a place in accommodation, especially on arrival. These accommodation places should include single-sex facilities or dedicated facilities for women^[22]Ibid, p.83..

Communal living spaces should also be able to guarantee safety for women. Taking into account the specific vulnerability and needs of each woman is essential to minimise the risk of violence.

Conclusion

The inequalities that women asylum seek
ers and refugees may have suffered in their country of origin often are perpetuated in France, and despite legislative advances to better protect these women, particularly thanks to the 2015 reform, they still find themselves prey to great vulnerability, whether financial, psychological or social… Even if women asylum seekers and refugees sometimes face a great deal of violence, we must not forget their resilience, which is often overlooked in reports and publications on the subject. Integration in the host country is often long, but many manage to find accommodation and work, while supporting their children when they have them, and learning the French language when necessary. In order to improve their reception conditions, gender must therefore be better integrated into asylum policies, both at European and national level, from the moment these women submit their asylum applications.

Bibliography

Articles

Forum Réfugiés. « Femmes en demande d’asile : des parcours et expériences spécifiques », 13 January 2020. URL: https://www.forumrefugies.org/s-informer/publications/articles-d-actualites/en-france/596-femmes-en-demande-d-asile-des-parcours-et-experiences-specifiques

La Cimade. « Victimes de violences ». URL: https://www.lacimade.org/nos-actions/femmes-et-violences/

Amandine Seguin. « Réfugiés : les femmes demandeuses d’asile doivent raconter leur calvaire plusieurs fois », Elle. URL : https://www.elle.fr/Societe/Interviews/Refugies-Les-femmes-demandeuses-d-asile-doivent-raconter-leur-calvaire-plusieurs-fois-2997189

Reports

Conseil de l’Europe. « Protéger les droits des femmes et filles migrantes, réfugiées et demandeuses d’asile » URL: https://rm.coe.int/recommendations-cles/1680994ec0

France terre d’asile. « Les violences à l’égard des femmes demandeuses d’asile et réfugiées en France », April 2018, p.12. URL: https://www.france-terre-asile.org/images/stories/publications/pdf/violences-a-egard-femmes-demandeuses-asile-et-refugiees-en-france.pdf

Haut Conseil à l’Egalité entre les femmes et les hommes. « Situation des femmes demandeuses d’asile en France après l’adoption de la loi portant réforme du droit d’asile », 18 December 2017, p.9. URL: https://www.vie-publique.fr/sites/default/files/rapport/pdf/174000869.pdf

OFPRA. « Rapport d’activité 2018 », 24 April 2019, URL: https://ofpra.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/atoms/files/rapport_dactivite_2018.pdf.pdf

OFPRA. « Rapport d’activité 2020 », 2003 URL: https://ofpra.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/atoms/files/rapport_dactivite_2002.pdf

Websites

Azmari. URL : https://asso-azmari.fr/

La Maison des Femmes. URL : https://www.lamaisondesfemmes.fr/?lang=fr#excisions

To cite this article: Laura DELCAMP, “Reception conditions for women refugees and asylum seekers in France”, 02.08.2021, Gender in Geopolitics Institute.