The Role of OFPRA in Protecting Against Violence Towards Women
Introduction
In commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFPRA) has highlighted its role in providing protection for women and girls who are victims of such violence. This article draws from a report published by OFPRA on 25th November 2022.
Violence Against Women in Asylum Claims
Women and minors account for between a third and 40% of those seeking asylum in France. As per the 2021 activity report, as of 30th June 2022, the proportion of women has increased to 36.7%. Most of these women and minors report fears of persecution or serious harm from family members who intend to inflict female genital mutilation, subject them to early or forced marriage, or inflict domestic violence.
Minors citing a risk of female genital mutilation mainly come from Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria, along with other West and East African countries. There have also been rare cases from the Middle East (Iraq, Egypt) and Asia (Malaysia). The risk also extends to adult women, albeit to a lesser extent.
Furthermore, the narratives of sexual violence in transit countries such as Libya, Morocco, and Turkey are frequent. Human trafficking for sexual exploitation is most often cited by women from Africa, the Balkans, and Asia.
Protection Offered to Women Victims of Violence
At the end of 2021, 40% of the people protected by OFPRA were women and minors, representing 36% of the total population under the Office’s protection. Among them, over 14,000 children and young girls were protected against female genital mutilation (this number increased to over 16,000 by the end of the first half of 2022). The highest rates of protection primarily concern women originating from China, Afghanistan, Syria, the Central African Republic, and the Horn of Africa.
Special Measures for Recognizing Violence Against Women
OFPRA has established reference groups since 2013 that develop expertise corresponding to particularly vulnerable groups of asylum seekers. Two of these groups are dedicated to women victims of violence and victims of human trafficking, with women significantly represented in both groups.
The experts in these groups raise awareness of these specific protection needs among the Office’s staff and interpreters, ensuring that individuals needing international protection are identified, and their applications are processed by properly trained staff.
Enforced provisions of the asylum reform law of 29th July 2015, ensure that women can request to be interviewed by a protection officer and/or an interpreter of their chosen sex, especially when discussing sexual violence. Additionally, the law provides the possibility of being assisted by a third party during the interview at OFPRA.
Participation in the Vulnerability Plan by the Ministry of the Interior in May 2021
OFPRA has played a role in three actions from the ten-action plan adopted in May 2021 by the Directorate General of Foreigners in France (DGEF) to strengthen the care of asylum seekers’ vulnerabilities. These actions involve implementing a “Health Appointment” at the registration of the asylum application, creating a network of “vulnerability” referrals among asylum actors, and developing training to identify vulnerabilities early.
Conclusion
OFPRA’s efforts reflect a broader societal and institutional commitment to addressing the vulnerabilities and protection needs of women and girls, particularly those subjected to violence. These measures aim to ensure the provision of international protection for women and minors who are victims of gender-based violence, a critical aspect of safeguarding human rights in the context of asylum and immigration.
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