More Australian visas available for women at risk

September 09 2009 by Rebekah Nahai

Australia visas issued to women at risk

Australian immigration has changed the rules for protection visas to include ‘complementary protection' for women at risk of genital mutilation or honour killings if they return home.

These kinds of dangers, which some women could face if told they are no longer permitted to work in Australia, are not currently included in the list of circumstances in which an immigrant would be granted a protection visa. However, they are now included in the ‘complementary protection’ category.

The changes allow more criteria to be considered when a protection claim is being processed and could lead to more women receiving protection visas allowing them to settle in Australia where they are safe.

Australian immigration minister Chris Evans explained how the changes would help women at risk.

He said: "It is not certain that a girl who would face a real risk of female genital mutilation would always be covered by the Refugees Convention, whereas she would be covered under complementary protection.”

He added that the new Australian visa rules for vulnerable women will prevent the need for unregulated ministerial intervention, allowing “all claims to be considered efficiently in one fair and transparent process”.

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