Domestic Violence Coalition Marks 16 Days of Action- Jan’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 11
Jan is an Asian woman who had a relationship with an Irish man for some years. Their relationship formed both in Jan’s country of origin and Ireland. Last year she travelled to Ireland with her partner and made an application to the immigration authorities to reside here. The application was successful and she was issued with permission to reside in Ireland on ‘Stamp 4’ conditions for one year. This permission will expire in August 2014. Her experience of life with her partner is not good. She feels he is treating her as a domestic slave and demands that she do all of the work in the household. Some weekends she is totally alone as he leaves without her. He will be out of the country for some weeks soon, and she is suspicious that he has other girlfriends. Jan feels she is trapped and enslaved, and while her partner has not become physically violent towards her, the control (physical, emotional and psychological) and enforced servitude that is exerted upon her is abusive in nature. Jan is concerned about the renewal of her immigration status next year as she is conscious that her right to remain in Ireland is connected with her continued relationship with her partner. She is currently being supported by a member organisation of the Domestic Violence Coalition.
