IOM MHD RO Brussels participated to the roundtable meeting ‘Gender-based violence against migrant and ethnic minority women: addressing the issue from a European perspective’ to actively contribute to the topic of discussion.

IOM MHD RO Brussels presented previous pertinent work, including the Equi-Health project developed MIPEX Health strand, migrants’ and ethnic minorities’ access and barriers to health services and recent experience with identification of staff needs and subsequent Gender-based violence trainings for health professionals organized in collaboration with UNFPA within the IOM/EC Re-Health project. The implementation of the electronic Personal Health Record (e-PHR), within Re-Health and Re-Health² fosters identification of cases, data collection and continuity of care further evidencing the reported by migrants high percentage of violence experienced, and in particular GBV by both women and men, gaps in protection and needs on interventions.

Co-hosted by MEPs Ms. Bresso and Ms. Kyenge at the European Parliament and organized within the framework of the EU funded project “GEMMA against Violence: Gender based Empowerment of Migrants through a Multiagency Approach”, the roundtable intended to provide ground for discussion between policy makers and professionals working in this area as well as to promote:

1. The implementation and ratification of existing human rights instruments, such as the Istanbul Convention 2011;
2. A coordinated multi-sectoral approaches to address the root causes of violence and properly assist migrant/ethnic minority women victims of violence.

The meeting, attended by representatives from the EC DG Justice, the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU, as well as the GREVIO Group of the Council of Europe for the Istanbul Convention, also provided the opportunity for the presentation of other related projects and to share information and best practices among participants.