Project on Gender-Based Violence in EU Reception Centres: An Analysis of Identification, Referral, and Protection Measures.

The overall objective of the study is to assess how effectively gender-based violence (GBV) victims are identified, referred, and supported in asylum reception centres based on case studies across the eight case study EU Member States, and to generate practical, evidence-based recommendations and guidance that support the implementation of gender-responsive and trauma-informed practices. 

EIGE’s previous research on gender-based violence (GBV) in migration and crisis contexts, including its Responding to gender-based violence in the context of migration: Mapping EU Member States’ policies and actions, emphasised heightened risks for women and girls, as well as gaps in protection and support responses. 

These findings confirm that GBV remains a serious risk for women and girls in asylum contexts, including within reception systems across the European Union. Ensuring timely identification, safe referral pathways and access to appropriate support services is essential to upholding fundamental rights and international protection standards.  

In this context, EIGE is implementing a research project on GBV identification, referral, and protection practices in EU asylum reception systems - Project on Gender-Based Violence in EU Reception Centres: An Analysis of Identification, Referral, and Protection Measures. Building on EIGE’s previous work on GBV in migration contexts, the project aims to strengthen the evidence base on how legal and policy frameworks are translated into practice at EU and national level, in line with the Istanbul Convention and EUAA operational standards.  

The project engages with EU agencies and international organisations working in theis field to strengthen collaboration on gender and migration, by informing policy improvements at EU and Member State level. In producing practical guidance, the project also assesses institutional capacity of reception staff and asylum officers to detect and respond to GBV in line with EUAA operational standards and Istanbul Convention obligations.