Female Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Norway : Agency and Victimisation from Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Abstract

Objective: The study aims to determine the perceptions of Norwegian NGOs’ representatives of the possibilities and constraints for female asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants’ agency during the asylum process, and the access of SGBV victims to support services Method: Semi-structured interviews conducted to seven participants who represent NGOs that work as service providers and in advocacy. The interview transcripts were coded using the Atlas.ti qualitative analysis software. Results: The informants perceive women’s individual agency as constrained by the asylum structure which reduces the opportunities for their action oriented to achieve their personal goals. Similarly, individual factors for instance lack of education, financial resources, networks, Norwegian knowledge, and SGBV victimization constrain their agency. Concerning collective agency, NGO representatives lack awareness of efforts from women to create groups and do not perceive explicit obstacles for women to establish organizations. The informants perceived that the absence of systematic procedures to identify vulnerability within the asylum process has a negative impact on SGBV victims’ prospects to access support services and exercise agency. Conclusion: The informants perceived that the characteristics of the asylum system restrict women’s agency and enhance their vulnerability to SGVB.