Accessibility of domestic violence services in Canada for South Asian immigrant women

Despite South Asians currently making up the biggest immigrant population in Canada, there are few organizations that are accessible to them and adhere to their unique cultural needs. South Asian immigrant women are highly vulnerable to domestic violence and face a number of challenges when trying to navigate life in a new country, and victim services are rarely culturally sensitive. This exploratory research project first examines the emerging body of literature surrounding domestic violence in the South Asian community through an intersectional and ethno-gender lens to understand the barriers to accessing help. Through the use of a resource inventory, available domestic violence organizations that cater to both the mainstream population and specifically to the South Asian population were analyzed in cities with the highest South Asian populations to see if the cultural, linguistic, immigration, and settlement needs of South Asian immigrant women were met. This project finds that although South Asian domestic violence organizations were more accessible in terms of providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services, they were lacking in availability in each of the cities examined and provided fewer services such as shelters, transitional housing and legal services. South Asian organizations were also not specifically focused on domestic violence services compared to mainstream domestic violence organizations that had a targeted objective to cater to domestic violence victims. Recommendations on how both South Asian organizations and mainstream organizations can bridge the gaps in services are discussed.