Refugees 'subjected to domestic violence'

Women refugees in New Zealand are being increasingly subjected to domestic violence as their husbands struggle to adapt to a Western society where wives can be the breadwinners, says Refugee Council president Nagalingam Rasalingam.

Dr Rasalingam, who is also a Glen Innes general practitioner, said he was seeing cases of refugee women who were clearly intimidated and scared of their husbands as the family relationships became strained by adapting to life in New Zealand.

For many refugee men, a woman's place was in the home, he said. But in New Zealand the women often gained employment ahead of men, and that caused domestic tensions.

Dr Rasalingam had noted problems with adjustment, particularly among the Burmese community of about 300 in New Zealand, with tensions resulting from low employment rates and poor language skills.

"Because the men are not working, there is a problem with family dynamics.

"They are unable to come to terms with or get help from mainstream services because of their cultural background. They try to manage within themselves."

He had seen incidents of women subjected to verbal abuse, intimidation and violence.

They were often scared to go home and did not know how to access services such as Women's Refuge.

"The men are taking it out on the women. It is becoming a problem ... They say they are sorting it out themselves but they are just postponing it."

For many men, accepting women as breadwinners was not easy.

"And when women begin to work, they get more assertive. Men struggle to adjust.

"It is common across all refugee groups."

Burmese refugee Yam Sanda said that in her culture women were expected to remain at home.

"Women are more [physically] weak ... their education is lower, their English is lower."

She said that when men did work they gave "all the money" to their wives, who controlled the household budget.

Dr Rasalingam said more education and help was needed for the smaller migrant communities.

Support and advice was provided to refugees in their first six weeks of arriving in New Zealand, but they were often too euphoric to take everything in at the time.

Pe Khin Aung, general secretary of the United Democratic Burmese Community, said he did not agree with Dr Rasalingam, as they worked hard to share information and learn about New Zealand culture.

Refugee and Migrant Services spokeswoman Jenni Broom said the challenges of resettlement were huge and a number of agencies worked to provide support groups, including cross-cultural workers.

"Settlement is a long process and adjustment."

Support services

* Refugee and Migrant Service: tel (09) 276-6423

* Refugee Medical Clinic: tel (09) 276-6719

* Refugees as Survivors: tel (09) 270-0870

* Auckland Regional Migrant Resource Centre: tel (09) 625-2440