Even arrived in Germany, many women are still exposed to violence, says Petra Keller of the women’s rights organization Medica Mondiale in the Interview. Since the workup of trauma, is especially difficult.
During the escape, many women experience sexualized violence
The Cologne-based women’s rights organization Medica Mondiale offers Training programmes for persons involved professionally or as volunteers in the refugee assistance and refugee women working together. In the Workshops prepared participants to working with traumatized people. Petra Keller, technical officer for Trauma, explains the special challenges for refugee women, offered to help, and what is still needed.
Deutsche Welle: fleeing a traumatic experience – what challenges have to do specifically to women?
Petra Keller: In principle, a means of escape before, during, and afterwards as a continuum of violence for women. They often experience violence in the country of origin; during the escape, and also in Germany you are not sure. They are particularly often exposed to gender-based and sexual violence.
The editorial recommends
Study: Refugee women are not sufficiently supplied
Two studies shed light on the Situation of refugees in Germany. One of the two studies shows that Many refugee women are traumatized and are not treated with sufficient medical. (21.03.2017)
Desperate and disappointed: Young refugees turn to prostitution
More and more refugees in Germany see themselves forced into Prostitution, especially young men. Trigger the fear of deportation or emotional instability are often, report relief organizations. (25.04.2017)
Traumatized and aimless – refugee minors in Germany
After the train attack from Würzburg by an Afghan young people of his country people to fear in Germany that you could beat major resentment. (19.07.2016)
During the escape, it is often the case that you need money to be able to the more travel for themselves and their children Finance. Therefore, they are often forced to the so-called survival prostitution.
This is a Problem that affects men are not alike?
Yes, there are certainly cases that need to prostitute themselves, men on the run, and also here in Germany. The topic is taboo for men even more. In percentage terms, but it is, nevertheless, so that women are exposed to more sexual violence. This particularly applies to women who are alone with their children.
What are the reasons women move to escape, from what experiences can you share?
Women flee because they are exposed to danger and / or violence. The Situation is very threat – otherwise they would not make the very dangerous path, for example over the Mediterranean sea. If you were in their country of origin in safety, you would not come. It is, however, so that you definitely do not want to be seen as victims. It is important, sorry to acknowledge, but by no means as weak people.
What is your perception of the refugee women, the circumstances here in Germany?
Many women report that the Situation in Germany is safe. You say, for example, that are worthy of accommodation is neither safe nor people. There is no privacy and you experience a powerlessness in the way that she had treated to be accommodated. You are exposed here, in particular, structural violence, for example, by the police.
Unsafe accommodations women are additionally in danger. In the summer of 2015 Hamburg had tents for refugees set up
What happens to women who arrive with traumatic experiences and no psychological assistance or other support to find?
If you have already had a traumatic experience, every feeling of powerlessness, for it leads to a return displacement in the Trauma, Retraumatisation. Powerlessness as one of the characteristics of a traumatic experience does not mean to be able to act. The effect on the Psyche and the self-confidence of the Person.
Withdraw these people from society?
Yes, traumatic experiences and discrimination can lead to withdrawal – instead of Integration – if you do not experience adequate support in their environment only to encounter resistance or no other networks have where you can get help. That is why it is important that the asylum procedure is also stress – and trauma-is sensitively designed and of such faint situations can be prevented. If the women of Germany as a place of discrimination, decreases the willingness to integrate.
What should be improved from their point of view, to work here, fostering integration, and to support traumatized women better?
Funding and awareness are important. The Problem is that refugee women and men in the whole of the asylum process many are Unpredictably exposed to, which can reinforce a Retraumatisation. It is very important that the asylum procedure Competent have a basic understanding of Trauma, and that the processes are transparent.
We often hear that the asylum-hearings run anything other than sensitive, especially when it comes to sexual violence. The Problem is, for example, that traumatized people include their memories and experiences often unchronologisch and fragmented to effect a cure. In the consultation, it is then presumed that the Person is lying. Here, it needs a better basic understanding. Hearings of women should be carried out also by women. You should also psychological assistance.
“We often hear that the asylum-hearings run anything other than sensitive”
You schools, among other things, women who are self-escaped, and no longer live in Germany. Why are these women for the newly arriving refugees are a particularly big help?
It is done very much volunteer work for refugees women for other women. These are women who have been longer in Germany. Usually this happens, however, in informal structures. Therefore, overlooked their help often.
Often the women assist, the other re-refugees, women in the things of everyday life and to be their point of contact. For example, they accompany the women to the authorities or to the doctor, translation and interpretation. And all this in addition to their actual Occupations and tasks, and without having to be trained or to get other support.
What you want to convey to you what the women, who want to help others in need of assistance?
Refugee women, who want to help others, often can not rely on technical structures, and training services. In dealing with other Refugees, they are confronted with a lot of the incriminating narratives, or fainting. In order not to be overwhelmed, we want to raise awareness here and to qualify. For example, we have trained 14 women with previous flight experience in a Peer-to-peer Workshop, and Knowledge to Trauma and coping strategies.
The Interview was conducted by Charlotte Hauswedell.