African refugee women in Australia: Domestic and family violence experience

This chapter highlights some salient issues of domestic and family violence (DFV) experienced by refugee women of African background in Australia. DFV among African refugees in Australia is rarely formally reported, yet these women are uniquely vulnerable due to several factors, which include: the traumatic experiences of war and displacement, changing cultural dynamics in the resettlement process, cultural differences with service providers, poverty, and legal illiteracy. The forced migration and refugee background heighten their vulnerability to DFV and their risk of isolation. Their war experiences, suffering, and dislocation also have a global dimension as their displacement due to wars often relates to national and international competition for resources, and their refugee resettlement involves competition for limited places and resources with other refugees around the world.