Barriers to Safety for a Survivor of Gender-Based Violence

Fatemeh* (a fictional name) is a young woman from Iran. She grew up in a highly unstable and violent family environment, and she couldn’t go to school.

In the coming years, Fatemeh’s situation didn’t improve. She survived physical and sexual abuse at the hands of close family members. To this day, those experiences impact Fatemeh’s mental health and sense of safety.

As a young girl in a violent family environment and without meaningful protection from the authorities, she found herself in a particularly vulnerable position. She and her mother tried to find protection within Iran; when Fatemeh’s mother went to the police, they told her that her complaint about the violence they were suffering was not valid because she couldn’t provide 2 male witnesses of the violence. The authorities refused to intervene, and the situation continued.

To protect their safety, Fatemeh and her mother eventually had to leave Iran. They travelled to Türkiye, hoping to find safety there. However, their persecutor found them there, so the fear and insecurity that had dominated their life in Iran continued. 

The prolonged exposure to violence, combined with displacement and uncertainty, left Fatemeh in a psychologically fragile state. After spending four years in Turkey Fatemeh and her mother fled once again, this time attempting to reach safety in Europe.

Following their arrival in Greece, Fatemeh faced significant procedural and emotional challenges. As a young survivor of gender-based and sexual violence, she struggled to recount her experiences within the asylum procedure. She was reluctant to speak about the abuse she had survived, which made it particularly difficult for her to present her case clearly.

ELIL provided essential legal and procedural support to Fatemeh and her mother throughout the asylum process. Fatemeh met with our lawyers three times. They assisted her to understand the asylum process in Greece, and the criteria for international protection, in a safe and supportive environment in which she could gradually build trust. Given her initial reluctance to speak about the violence and sexual abuse she had experienced, these preparations were crucial in enabling her to understand the procedure and articulate her story at her own pace.

ELIL’s support helped address both procedural barriers and Fatemeh’s vulnerability. In parallel, ELIL referred her to a psychologist, recognising the urgent need for specialised mental health support.

As a result of this comprehensive intervention, both Fatemeh and her mother managed to prove their claim and were granted refugee status. This decision finally ensured their safety, providing long-overdue stability and protection after years of violence, displacement and insecurity.

*all names and personal details have been changed for protection reasons