PETALING JAYA: Refugee women in Malaysia have always been at risk of sexual and gender-based violence but this has now been exacerbated by xenophobia, a women’s rights group said.
The Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) said these women were exposed to such violence because they lack legal status in the country, and have no access to protection and justice mechanisms.
WAO added that the larger culture of xenophobia and intolerance towards refugees here has only made it more difficult for these refugee women.
“Racist attitudes from police, politicians, and even ordinary citizens both in person and online create yet another barrier to refugee women seeking help for sexual and gender-based violence,” WAO said in a statement today.
It said with Malaysia not being a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, these refugees, including those registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), are considered illegal immigrants.
As a result, many refugees are pushed into the informal workforce and have no protection from abuse by their employers, such as inhumane working hours or the withholding of wages.
Refugee women face further risk of sexual and gender-based violence apart from sexual harassment at the hands of employers.
“Despite this, many refugee women fear reporting such violence and harassment to the police due to the risk of arrest and detention,” it said.
WAO said “deep-rooted patriarchal attitudes”, social norms and practices also contribute to a culture where such violence is not only commonplace but accepted among the refugee communities.
And such cultural norms make it difficult for refugee women to seek help, while victims may feel discouraged from reporting it.
Even when victims want to seek protection, it said, there were other obstacles, including the fear of arrest or detention and language barriers.
According to WAO, these women also face difficulties in accessing medical treatment after falling victim to sexual and gender-based violence, because of the differing hospital guidelines that has resulted in inconsistent admission requirements.
It said while police reports were not a prerequisite to receive medical support and services at one-stop crisis centres, in certain hospitals, survivors who refuse to lodge a report are turned away.
“Or (they are) not seen by the doctor unless payment for medical services is made up-front,” it said, adding that refugee women are subject to the substantially higher “foreigner” rates for treatment.