News

AkiDwA, the national network of migrant women, and the GBV-MIG research project in the School of Political Science co-convened a policy dialogue/conference in Athlone on the  topic of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) in contexts of migration, focusing on how policy can mitigate vulnerabilities to DSGBV for migrant women in Ireland. A joint report, prepared by Professor Niamh Reilly in collaboration with Dr Salome Mbugua, was presented to the conference, which was attended by representatives of the Department of Justice, other government departments and agencies, and DSGBV and migrant support NGOs. The report, From Commitments to Actions: Responding to Migrant Women's Experiences of DSGBV, outlines key policy recommendations based on the GBV-MIG project findings and Akidwa’s extensive research on these issues. Other researchers who contributed to and co-presented the report are Dr Nasrin Khandoker and doctoral researcher, Helen Uchechukwu Ogbu. The GBV-MIG research project (2019-2023) was funded by EU Gender Net Plus and the IRC. The policy dialogue conference and report were also supported by a University of Galway Illuminate grant.

Pictured at the AkiDwA/GBV-MIG Policy Dialogue event in Athlone, from left:

Niamh Cooney, DSGB Coordinator, AkiDwA; Uruemu Adejinmi, Chair of AkiDwA; Prof. Niamh Reilly, Head of School of Political Science and Sociology and PI of GBV-MIG; Helen Uchechukwu Ogbu, doctoral researcher, UNESCO Centre for Child and Family Research; Dr Nasrin Khandoker, GBV-MIG postdoctoral researcher (now with the SALAAM project UL); and Dr Salome Mbugua, CEO AkiDwA.