IMMIGRATION STATUS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS

That this House is concerned that domestic violence legislation provides insufficient protection to survivors of domestic violence who have an insecure immigration status and have little recourse to public funds; notes that many of these survivors remain financially dependent on a violent spouse or family member, which prevents them from leaving due to fear of destitution, mendicancy and even deportation, and that this makes the survivors and their children vulnerable to further exploitation and abuse; emphasises that, in many other countries, survivors in this situation are given greater public support and granted greater access to public funds; and calls on the Government to ensure that such survivors have the financial capability to support themselves and their children independently.