Immigrant women face many challenges when they are discharged from the shelters. For many of the women we help, returning to the perpetrator is the only option. There is a need for measures to better protect these women.

Imagine the following scenario. Your application for family reunification has finally been granted and you are moving to a new country to live with your partner. You don't know anyone there and you don't speak the language. But the prospects are better there than at home. You'll learn the language, get a job and establish new friendships. But when you arrive in Norway, your partner still hasn't found a job. The bureaucracy is difficult to understand, but you get registered, set up a bank account, get in touch with NAV and are ready to work and pay taxes.

Negative spiral

But the language is harder to learn than expected, and without education and Norwegian references, it's almost impossible to get a permanent job. You get a few odd jobs as a cleaner, but nothing long-term. Your partner is still unemployed and starts drinking. He blames you and hits you. You have to leave and online you find information about the shelter. You stay there for three months. You get some time to think, and some of the optimism from the beginning returns. But for now. Because after you are discharged from the shelter, the challenges are still there. You need help with finances, housing, employment and NAV.

It is a negative spiral that quickly ends with the woman's only option being to move back to the perpetrator, on whom she is often financially dependent. The above story is fictional, but based on what we have been told by women who contact Caritas for help after being subjected to domestic violence. One of the barriers is finding a place to live that meets both the police's security requirements and NAV's cost framework. Poor Norwegian language skills make this even more difficult, and few people are willing to rent to a single woman with children, no job and a deposit guarantee from NAV.

Lack of action

In the Solberg government's action plan "Freedom from violence", it emerged that immigrants are overrepresented in shelters. However, not a single measure is aimed at this group in the plan. This is criticized by the Office of the Auditor General, which points out that the re-establishment phase can be particularly challenging for immigrants. "They often have a greater need for assistance when dealing with the public sector because they lack networks. Many have never lived without their extended family and have varying levels of Norwegian language skills, which makes it challenging to understand the information they receive from various agencies. To follow up the survey, the government has commissioned an escalation plan to prevent violence in close relationships.

Escalation plan on the way

The investigation shows that there are serious weaknesses in the authorities' efforts to combat domestic violence. This also applies to the immediate services for those who are discharged from the shelters, which are far too inadequate. "We need programs that make the transition to society safer, including a holistic approach with both short- and long-term assistance measures. For immigrants, measures must be put in place to address the various barriers they face, such as lack of networks, language, the possibility of getting a job, etc. We hope this will be part of the escalation plan.