Forced migrant survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) have experienced remarkable acts of kindness from people they met during their journeys, a new study from the University of Birmingham reveals.
Acts of kindness ranged from incredible bravery to help forced migrants escape dangerous situations, to offers of shelter, food, and medical care, assistance with navigating the asylum system, and developing friendships.
Acts of kindness
This study is the first to focus on acts of kindness toward forced migrants during their journeys.
Through interviews with 166 forced migrant survivors of SGBV, researchers learned about the range of kindnesses refugees encountered in the face of horrific cruelties from authorities and smugglers, among others.
Extraordinary encounters of kindness required outstanding bravery from strangers to protect and help forced migrants. For instance, Fatma from Sierra Leone was repeatedly raped while imprisoned in a Libyan brothel. A guard, noticing her dire condition, helped her escape. Similarly, Fadila from Côte d’Ivoire, imprisoned for illegal entry into Libya, was assisted in escaping after sharing her story with a guard.
In another instance, Samia, escaping a violent marriage in Afghanistan with her children, was saved by a hostel owner in Iran who disarmed her brother-in-law and helped her flee to Turkey.
Simple gestures
More simple acts of kindness, while less dramatic, were equally important. Interviewees recounted multiple examples of these everyday acts during their journeys. These included offers of shelter, food, hygiene products, and standing up for survivors against racist interactions.
Other survivors received guidance on claiming asylum. Boadicea, from Guinea, was advised by a fellow passenger on a flight to England, who also called a friend to assist her. Mortaza, arriving in Sweden from Afghanistan, was helped by a police officer who provided asylum information and a free train ticket.
These acts of kindness often led to further support and care. Natani, after being raped and left for dead by police in Libya, was taken in by a local woman who provided long-term care and eventually helped her leave the country. Zahra, an Egyptian asylum seeker, received unexpected kindness from a receptionist at a doctor’s office in England, leading to a life-changing friendship.
“Our study reveals that kind encounters manifest across forced migration journeys and range from the extraordinary to the everyday,” the researchers conclude. “Such encounters offer vital help and support, connecting people across social barriers while fostering resistance against degrading border practices and preventing further violence and danger.”
“While these acts of kindness are heartening, the significance that our interviewees attach to these encounters underscores huge gaps in humanitarian protection and the normalization of cruelty towards forced migrants.”
