A NEW report by Limerick-based refugee and migrant rights organisation Doras has found that International Protection Applicants (IPAs) are afraid to report crimes against them for fear that their claim for asylum will be negatively affected.
The report, titled Access to Justice for International Protection Applicants in Ireland, draws on lived experiences of IPAs when accessing the justice system in Ireland.
The report found that people seeking asylum here were often afraid to report it to Gardaí if they had been the victim of a crime, fearing that it would have a negative impact on their asylum application.
Distrust of Gardaí is also high among IPAs, the report found, with many coming from home backgrounds where the police were not to be trusted.
The research, carried out by Louise Kinlen with peer researchers Fisayo Alo, Amani Kamal, Omoh Lara, Martin Mohanoe and Matshaseng Ralekoala, and funded by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, found that women living in Direct Provision (DP) centres were at a higher risk of being a victim of gender-based violence, as well as experiencing a lack of supports.
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Donnah Vuma, Migrant Victim Support Project Coordinator at Doras said that the lived experience of IPAs was put front and centre of this report.
“The main findings of the report corroborate what Doras has seen over the years working with people seeking asylum in Ireland. People fear reporting crimes to the Gardaí for fear of negatively impacting their asylum claim.
“There’s also a lack of supports for victims, such as limited availability of interpreters and lack of information about their legal rights or even how to report a crime in Ireland,” Ms Vuma said.
The research spoke to 108 participants and used a mixed methodology of anonymous survey, in-depth interviews, and focus groups.
John Lannon, CEO of Doras said that the “institutionalisation of a very vulnerable group creates ripe conditions for exploitation and harassment.
“Direct Provision centres are often overcrowded, isolated from local community, and can be unsafe environments. Our research highlights how living in DP exacerbates this vulnerability and hinder people’s access to justice,” he added.
Making recommendations to improve the experiences of IPAs, Mr Lannon said that “on arrival to Ireland, IPAs should be provided with clear information on their rights in relation to reporting a crime perpetrated against them.
“Furthermore, staff in all accommodation centres must be given training and should provide residents with information in their language about available supports,” he added.
