Addressing Hidden Harms: How Human Rights Education Can Combat Gender Violence Against Migrant Women in Iceland
Unveiling the “Gender Paradise”
Iceland is often heralded as a pioneer in gender equality, a beacon of progress where women’s rights shine brightly against the often dim backdrop of global struggles for equality. However, recent research unveils a stark and troubling contradiction — the reality that migrant women in Iceland face a heightened risk of gender-based violence. This revelation ignites an essential discussion about the hidden complexities beneath the surface of a seemingly progressive society.
The curiosity of researchers Stebbins, Gollifer, and Tietgen was piqued by an urge to address this troubling paradox. They embarked on a journey to explore how human rights education could become a tool to combat this pervasive issue. Their focus was on those who interact directly with this vulnerable population — the service providers who can play a transformative role in mitigating violence against migrant women.
Exploring the Hidden Layers
At the heart of this study is a profound question: How can human rights education empower service providers to mitigate the intimate partner and employment-based violence that migrant women in Iceland face? To uncover insights, the researchers delved into the publications from the project titled ‘Immigrant Women’s Experiences of Intimate Partner (IPV) and Employment-based (EBV) Violence’. Their thematic analysis exposed uncomfortable truths about the normalization of institutional violence and entrenched colonial logic that paints migrant women as ‘deficient’.
The study suggests that these hidden harms are part and parcel of cultural narratives and assumptions that service providers may unconsciously perpetuate. Such narratives, based on Nordic exceptionalism, possibly foster an “us versus them” mentality that further alienates women who are already marginalized.
Transformative Power of Education
The researchers propose a concept termed transformative human rights education (HRE), tailored specifically for those working at the frontline with migrant women. This form of education not only increases awareness and understanding of human rights violations but also integrates narratives and personal stories from those directly affected. By hearing stories from victims themselves, service providers can understand violence in more personable terms rather than abstract concepts.
This education approach asks professionals to question their own assumptions, biases, and practices. It aims to disrupt the norms that allow violence to go unchecked. With education that goes beyond procedures and policies to challenge the systemic forces at play, service providers could become more empathetic and effective in their roles.
Bridging the Gap Between Ideal and Reality
Reflecting upon this study as a journalist, I find it strikes a critical nerve about the disparity between reputational sheen and lived experiences. While Iceland is indeed a leader in gender equality legislation, the everyday reality for its migrant women suggests a gap between ideals and the lived reality.
This study prompts us to question: How often do we overlook such hidden narratives because they challenge our comfortable perceptions of progress? The researchers’ work underscores the importance of attentiveness and reform, not just at policy levels but at societal attitudes entrenched in professional practices. It urges Iceland — and indeed all societies championing gender equality — to look beyond statistics and consider nuanced narratives that reveal more about its true state of affairs.
Lessons for a Global Audience
The implications of this research extend well beyond Iceland’s shores. In many countries, migrant women are often overlooked in discussions of gender-based violence. This work provides a potential blueprint for how societies can address these issues through education that transforms service provider responses.
In a world that is increasingly interconnected yet fractioned by various forms of bias and prejudice, transformative HRE offers a means of healing — not just for those directly affected, but for entire communities. Integrating narratives of lived experiences into the education of professionals is a potent step towards increasing empathy and understanding.
The study by Stebbins, Gollifer, and Tietgen leaves us with a reflective question: What responsibility do we each carry in acknowledging and dismantling the hidden harms in our societies? For nations like Iceland, as well as broadly, the story of migrant women’s struggles and strength challenges us to redefine and deepen our commitments to human rights for all.
Reference
Gollifer, S. E., Stebbins, R., & Tietgen, F. (2025). Transformative human rights education: a response to migrant women’s experiences of violence in Iceland. Human Rights Education Review, 1-13.
