People with an unsettled asylum or immigration position
People with an unsettled asylum or immigration position
Domestic abuse can happen to anyone no matter what their nationality, ethnic background or immigration status is.
Domestic abuse is so much more than hitting and physical violence; it can be emotional, sexual and financial too. It’s a pattern of behaviour – not a one-off argument – that leaves you feeling scared, intimidated or controlled. Nobody deserves to be treated this way.
If your partner is abusive it is not your fault, and there is nothing you could do differently that would make them change their behaviour. Often abusers will tell you it is your fault that they are acting that way, or that they only behave like that because they love you. Love is never an excuse to treat someone badly, or to be abusive.
Because domestic abuse is about power, abusers can use lots of different ways to get control. People who have moved to another country experience many of the same forms of domestic abuse as people who were born there
However, if you have an unsettled asylum/immigration position there may be some differences in how abusive partners try to get control and you may face specific challenges. Some examples include:
- Your partner may threaten to have you deported if you don’t do what they want
- They may hide your legal documents
- Being stopped from learning English or communicating with family and friends at home
- Telling you ‘no one will help you’ because you have no rights in this country such as telling you that you can’t call the police because you are in the country illegally
- You may also worry about being able to leave or get support if you have no recourse to public funds.
It’s important to know you are not alone and that we want to support you.
If you have a preferred language other than English, we can speak to you over the phone through a confidential interpreter. Or, if you want to get in touch by web chat or email we will use Google Translate and reply in English unless we have a worker available who can fluently speak your language. We will check to make sure we understand each other as we go.
We are here 24/7, and you can reach us by phone, whatsapp, text, web chat, or email.
Who else can help?
Women’s Aid
If you are a woman, Women’s Aid groups are there for you and they support women of all backgrounds. They specialise in supporting women and children affected by domestic abuse and may be able to help with emotional and practical support.
There are two Women’s Aid groups with a particular specialism in supporting women from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid
Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid are based in Glasgow and provide culturally sensitive support to women, children and young people primarily from Asian Black and Minority Ethnic communities who have experienced domestic abuse in any form.
Shakti Women’s Aid
Shakti Women’s Aid are based in Edinburgh, with outreach in some other areas. They provide help for black minority ethnic (BME) women, children and young people who are experiencing, or who have experienced, domestic abuse.
Specialist support for black minority ethnic (BME) women, children, and young people experiencing, or who have experienced forced marriage or domestic abuse. Based in Edinburgh, with outreach support in Dundee, Fife, Falkirk, Stirling, Clackmannanshire, and the three Lothians authorities; can provide limited phone/ email support across Scotland.
AMINA Muslim Women’s Resource Centre
AMINA Muslim Women's Resource Centre is a free and confidential listening and signposting service for Muslim women in Scotland. They offer services in English, Arabic, Punjabi, and Urdu.
Ethnic Minorities Law Centre
The Ethnic Minorities Law Centre provides legal advice and representation to people from Scotland’s black and minority ethnic communities. They specialise in legal issues such as immigration, asylum, human rights, and discrimination. They have offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh and projects in 11 local authority areas across Scotland.
Scottish Women’s Rights Centre
If you are a woman, the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre may be able to help with free legal information and support, including for those with no recourse to public funds.