Immigrant women need greater protection from violence, says activist

A leading women's activist has today called on the Irish authorities to protect immigrant women here from the threat of female genital mutilation and other forms of violence.

Pragna Patel was named one of the top 100 women activists and campaigners by The Guardian newspaper.

She is in Dublin today to address a meeting organised by the Immigrant Council of Ireland, ahead of International Women's Day.

Miss Patel said that there are many reasons why immigrant women who are the victims of violence find it difficult to get help.

"Internal barriers to do with being seen to betray one's cultural and religious norms, breaking ranks with family, breaching confidentiality, if you like, 'washing dirty linen in public' - all of these internal barriers also make it difficult for migrant women to report violence or abuse or other forms of oppression and to seek safety and protection," she said.