Project bridges gap between migrant women and domestic and sexual violence

Published: Thursday, March 19, 2026

“When information is not accessible, fear fills the space…”

National Women’s Council project bridges gap between migrant women and domestic and sexual violence support services

“So many (migrant) women are afraid that reporting violence could affect their residency or their children’s. So many don’t know their rights—when information is not accessible, fear fills the space.” Gabriela Burnett, Latina Women against Violence

“I think the biggest problem migrant women have is the isolation and the silence. Sometimes women think they will be judged if they say something.” Zany Chavez, Project Facilitator

“Come forward, don’t be afraid. There are systems and supports. It's illegal, it’s criminal and you will be protected, you will be believed. It is not your fault.” Cristina Santamaria, Aoibhneas

The National Women’s Council (NWC), today (19th March 2026), launched a report and resources from a pilot project in the North Inner-City Dublin which looked at effective ways to bridge the gap between migrant women and relevant support services available to them, such as domestic abuse refuges. The project directly supported the implementation of the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV). It particularly supports commitments to improve access pathways to services for women in all their diversity. 

Dublin’s North Inner city has seen significant growth in its migrant population in recent years bringing vibrance and vitality to the area. Migrant women who have made the area their home are not a homogeneous group – they come from a variety of countries with diverse attitudes to domestic and gender-based violence.

The project saw the dissemination of targeted leaflets in English, Romanian, Arabic, Urdu, Somali and Spanish with support services, designed specifically for migrant women. This was complemented with sessions delivered by migrant women for migrant women, with service providers in English, Arabic and Spanish on how Irish law protects victim-survivors of violence and locally available services.

The report finds that the project strengthened relationships and referral pathways between mainstream domestic and sexual violence services and migrant organisations. Community partners and peer workers gained knowledge, confidence and practical tools to support women and signpost to services.

Speaking about the project, Ivanna Youtchak, Senior Policy Coordinator (Violence Against Women), NWC, said:

“We know that migrant women face persistent barriers when trying to access domestic and sexual violence supports and other specialised services in Ireland. The needs of migrant women also vary. For example, economic migrants from Latin America have different needs compared to the unique challenges faced by survivors of Female Genital Mutilation or those with international protection status concerns.

This unique project bridged the gap between migrant women and relevant services by providing culturally appropriate and accessible information about the type of supports available. Crucial to this was the unique collaboration between trusted community organisations with deep connections and relationships with migrant women on the ground and relevant service providers. This collaboration ensured meaningful representation, cultural diversity, and sensitivity throughout, meaning the content of the project genuinely reflected and responded to the specific needs of migrant women.”

Rabiya Ali, author of the report, said:

“Specialist services and migrant‑led organisations involved were interviewed as part of our evaluation and all partners found the project model highly valuable. The learning and leaflets developed through this pilot offer a strong foundation that can be replicated across the country and integrated into future policies to combat violence against women.”

The project was carried out by NWC membership organisations: AMAL Women Ireland, AkiDwA, Cairde, Network Ethnic Minority Domestic Abuse (NEMDA), Aoibhneas, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC), and Latina Women Against Violence.

NWC would like to acknowledge the support of the Department of Justice, who funded this project through the Community Safety Fund.

Learn more about the project and access the report ‘Migrant women Community Project on Domestic and Sexual Violence’ and other resources, here.

Watch the project video.