Abstract
General Overview: This Australian document presents a tool on assessing and responding to refugee women at risk of violence. Objective: The document addresses the need for a simple, easy to use tool to assist the identification of and response to refugee women at risk, where they experience multiple traumatic experiences, such as repeated sexual and gender based violence. Methods: The tool was developed based on research and consultation with refugee communities, UNHCR staff and community based organisations. It has been trialled in several refugee situations. Discussion: Stage 1 of the tool involves a preliminary risk assessment. Stage 2 is implemented if women are identified as potentially at risk of violence. Stage 2 includes consultation with the refugee women and, if appropriate, her community, as well as coordinated case management between agencies. The document provides information about integrating the WaR (Women at Risk) assessment tool into current UNHCR guidelines and handbooks, and provides details where changes are to be amended. Results: Stage 1 of the preliminary assessment form looks at risks, including women and girls experiencing severe domestic violence/marital rape, along with other risks; Stage 2 of the extended risk analysis involves current incidents or risks of human rights abuses which indicate the need for an urgent response, such as at continuing risk of rape or other forms of sexual and gender based violence, including state based and domestic violence; Stage 3 looks at protection measures that need to be given; Stage 4 covers case planning and management. Conclusions: The next step is to adopt the tool into UNHCR standard operating procedure, and finally to establish a register of refugee women identified as at extreme risk, along with a monitoring system.