Do Abused Women Have the Right to Asylum in Europe?

A senior advisor at the European Court of Justice confirmed today that women from outside the European Union who face the risk of "honor" crimes, forced marriage, or domestic violence in their home countries may have the right to asylum in the European bloc. The European Court of Justice highlighted the case of a woman facing legal proceedings in a Bulgarian court: "A woman who was forced into marriage fled her home to Bulgaria, a member of the European Union, after experiencing multiple incidents of domestic violence and threats from her husband and other family members." The advocate general in the case, Richard de la Tour, stated: "It is possible to grant international protection as refugees to individuals at risk of violence because they belong to a specific social group." He added: "Bulgarian authorities must carefully assess whether there is a direct link between the risks the woman faces in Turkey and her being a woman."