Domestic Violence Coalition marks 16 Days of Action Campaign – Liwei’s Story
The following case study is based on real accounts as told to a member organisation of the Domestic Violence Coalition. Specific details and circumstances have been changed in the interests of protecting identity and to preserve the confidential nature of the assistance provided. We are sharing ione case study every day to mark the 16 Days of Action campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence situations.
The Domestic Violence Coalition is made up of the following organisations: Womens Aid, Adapt Domestic Abuse Services, Doras Luimní, Nasc – the Irish Immigrant Support Centre, the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service Sligo, Akidwa, Longford Women’s Link, Sonas Housing, the Immigrant Council of Ireland and Ascend Domestic Abuse Service.
Case Study 15
Liwei is originally from China and entered the state as a dependant spouse of her husband Feng in 2009. Feng is also originally from China but has resided in Ireland for a number of years on a work permit. They have no children together. Liwei came to a member of the Domestic Violence Coalition with her husband seeking information on how her husband might apply to become an Irish citizen. While her husband was out of the room, she confided in the staff member that her husband was repeatedly violent and controlling towards her and she was fearful of her situation. He refused to let her outside the home without him and controlled her movements and finances. She had set up the appointment with the organisation on the pretext of her husband wanting to be an Irish citizen, but her real intention had been to seek information on the impact upon her immigration status if she was to leave her husband. Over the course of the following weeks, Liwei managed to submit an application for independent immigration status with the assistance of the support organisation and without the knowledge of her husband. Some months later, this application was successful and she was granted a status that allows her to remain in the State on an independent basis. During all of this time, Liwei lived in fear of her life and in fear that her husband would find out about her immigration application. She was unwilling to enter a refuge while awaiting a decision as she was concerned that her dependent immigration status would result in her not being able to receive any basic social supports and that she might become homeless. During the processing of her application, she endured repeated assaults and violence at the hands of her husband.
