They are here too: Experiences of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violenc

In 2020, 48 percent (134.9 million) of all international migrants worldwide were women or girls, according to mid-2020 UN estimates1. 1 in 3 women (approx. 736 million) worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner or non-partner in their lifetime (WHO 2021). This means that statistically, 44.97 million transnational migrant women have faced IPV. This estimate is consistent with a meta analysis of ~26,000 migrants which found prevalence of physical violence at around 30.9% overall (Ines et al. 2024).

Migration has always been seen as a potential escape for survivors of domestic abuse, a chance to live life beyond the control of their abuser. From pre-migration vulnerabilities to violence at borders, in asylum systems, and within host societies, the experiences of migrant and displaced communities remain underexamined in both scholarship and policy. Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) intersects with race, class, religion, sexuality, and legal status, creating complex challenges for justice, protection, and solidarity.

This interdisciplinary conference aims to bring together researchers, frontline practitioners, community advocates, and migrant voices to critically examine the connections between migration and DSGBV in Europe. We welcome not only academic papers but also research-informed discussions, workshops, storytelling formats, and grounded contributions based on practical experience or community engagement.

The event will also feature the presentation and discussion of findings from the four-year IRC-SFI funded project “They are Here Too: Gendered Violence in the South Asian Immigrant Community in Post-COVID Ireland”, which explores gender-based violence and South Asian communities in Ireland through an intersectional and collaborative lens.

This conference marks the conclusion of the Pathway Project of the same name funded by Research Ireland.

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Host or Publisher Institute for Research on Genders and Sexualities