2. Assessing a case (if the interviewee has knowledge of assessment)
a. What issues would the Home Office take into account when assessing a case of this kind?
b. Are there any particular difficulties you face in developing guidance for assessing cases of this kind?
c. How would you assess the credibility of a woman seeking asylum of the grounds of domestic violence?
d. Have there been any changes in the way you assess these kinds of cases since you started

Yes / No
If you said yes then please tell us what has changed?3. Knowledge / Information needs
a. Do you use in country reports in your work? Yes / No If you answered yes, how useful are they in assessing a case? (particularly in the case of Pakistan)
c. Is there any additional information that would help you in assessing these cases?
d. Do Home office workers or assessors have access to training in any of the following areas?
How domestic violence is viewed in Pakistan
In country conditions in Pakistan e.g. customary practices
Considering applications of women from tribal/feudal areas
Honour killings
Forced Marriage
Economic situation of womene. Is there any other training that you think workers should have access to?

4. Woman’s experience
a. What issues do you think the women face when going through the asylum process?
b. Are there any parts of the process that you think are carried out particularly well?
c. Are there any parts of the process that you feel could be improved?
d. How often are women provided with women interpreters in these cases?
e. Are there any issues which women are reluctant to discuss?
If so what kinds of issues are they?e. is there anything that you think would help a woman to disclose any difficult or sensitive issues?

5. Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about this issue?
2. Schedule for UK Judges
Name
Areas / regions worked
Adjudicated in asylum cases of this kind?
1. Assessing a case
a. What kind of evidence do you think is useful to you in these cases?
b. What issues do you take into account when hearing a case of this kind?
c. How would you assess the credibility of a woman seeking asylum on the grounds of domestic violence?
d. Have there been any changes in the way you assess these kinds of cases since you started

Yes / No
If you said yes then please tell us what has changed?2. Are all Immigration Judges trained to know that often disclosures of traumatic events like rape can come at different stages in the asylum process – if so, what guidelines are referred to?
a. Do you use your own guidelines?
b. Do you have UNHCR guidelines or?
c. Do you use the Home Office guidelines?

3. Knowledge / Information needs
a. How useful do you find the Home Office in country report on Pakistan in assessing these cases?
b. Do you think there is sufficient information on internal flight in Pakistan?
c. What type of evidence can be considered in assisting the judge when considering such cases?
d. Is there any training available to you around –
How domestic violence is viewed in Pakistan
In country conditions in Pakistan e.g. customary practices
Considering applications of women from tribal/feudal areas
Honour killings
Forced Marriage
Economic situation of women
Please tell us about this training -d. Is there any additional information or training that would help you in assessing these cases?

1Do you identify cases which are more appropriate for an all female court or is it down to the rep to identify?
5. Experience of the woman
a. How often would you say that women are provided with all female panels in these cases?
b. How often are women provided with female interpreters in these cases?
c. Do you ever have any problems in accessing female interpreters? Yes / No
If you said yes then tell me what they were – d. What do you think would help a woman to discuss any difficult or sensitive issues?

3. Schedule for UK Police
1Area covered by police station
2Rank of officer
3Role of officer
4a How do you define domestic violence? b How much of your time is spent on dealing with domestic violence cases? c Can you describe the policies/practices/procedures you have to follow in DV cases? d Describe the training on DV issues for police?
5Can you provide female officers when dealing with cases of domestic violence?
6Describe the procedures you follow when someone makes a complaint of domestic violence? Prompts – Who deals with the woman? / What happens to her – accommodation etc?
7What specific difficulties do you face if the woman is Pakistani? Prompts – Are there any language difficulties? Access to interpreters? Gender of Interpreters? Problems with accommodation – funding etc? Any difficulties with the family? Evidence collection / reporting?
8Are there any issues that you find Pakistani women are reluctant to discuss? Yes / No If so what sorts of things? Why do you think this might be?
9Are there any specific difficulties in prosecuting cases of domestic violence involving women from Pakistan?
10Is there anything else you think is relevant in these cases?

4. Schedule for UK Public and Voluntary Sector Service Providers
1Name and Address of Organisation
2Which sector would you say your organisation belongs to?
3What do you provide/ How are women put in contact with your service?
4Are services free at the point of delivery? Yes / No
5. Do you work with Pakistani women asylum seekers? Yes / No
a. If so, what regions of Pakistan have women come from?
6. What is the typical journey of a Pakistani woman arriving at/accessing your services?
a. Can you give an example/s of a Pakistani woman you have worked with who wasn’t a ‘typical’ case?
5As a worker what issues do you face in working with women who are seeking asylum from Pakistan on the grounds of domestic violence?
6In your opinion, is the law in the UK is adequate to protect women from domestic violence?
7How effective do you think the current systems in the UK are in dealing with DV?
8Do you think there are any particular issues for Pakistani women who have experienced domestic violence?
9Pakistani women can claim asylum on the grounds of being a group which is persecuted in their home country. What do you think of this?
12. Have you worked with a woman / women who has been refused asylum on the grounds of domestic violence and returned to Pakistan?
a. If you answered yes, please tell us what you know about what happened when the women were returned to Pakistan.
13. Did your clients feel that they would be able to live independently in Pakistan?
a. Can you tell us why they thought this?
10 Are there any changes that would make your work with this group of clients more effective?
11 Women who come to the UK as sponsored spouses, and experience domestic violence, sometimes claim asylum, have you worked with any of these cases?
12 What reasons did they give for being unable to return to Pakistan?
13 Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your work with either of these groups of women?

5. Schedule for UK Lawyers/Barristers
1Name:
2Role:
3Organisation / Firm :
4Have you had any cases of Pakistani women who were claiming asylum on the grounds of domestic violence?

a. How many cases would you say you have worked with?
5. Have you had any cases of sponsored spouses who were claiming asylum on the grounds of domestic violence?
a. How many cases would you say you have worked with?
1What stage of procedure are the cases at ?
2Are there any common factors in the cases?
3What experts do you use in these cases?

a. What are the characteristics of the experts preferred by the Home Office in these cases?
9. In your opinion, is the law in the UK is adequate to protect women from domestic violence?
a. Please tell us why
10. How effective do you think the current legal system is in dealing with cases of domestic violence?
a. Do you think there are any particular issues for Pakistani women who have experienced
domestic violence?1 What are the specific issues you have to address when preparing a case for a Pakistani woman claiming asylum on the grounds of domestic violence?
2 What are the specific issues you have to address when preparing a case for a sponsored spouse from Pakistan who is claiming asylum on the grounds of domestic violence?

a. What would be an ideal piece of evidence to resolve such cases?
b. How would you structure the evidence within the case?
c. How would you present it to the Home Office?

1 What do you think are the factors that influence a decision in asylum cases of this kind?
2 Do you think there have been any changes in the way cases are assessed?
3 Have you worked with a woman / women who has been refused asylum on the grounds of domestic violence and returned to Pakistan?

a. If you answered yes, please tell us what you know about what happened when the women were returned to Pakistan
16. Did your clients feel that they would be able to live independently in Pakistan?
a. Can you tell us why they thought this?
1 Are there any changes, legal or otherwise, that would make your work with this group of clients more effective?
2 is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your work with either of these groups of women?

6. Schedule for Refuges and Shelters
1Name & address of centre/shelter
2Name of main contact & position
3How many staff are there in the refuge?
4How is your refuge funded?
5How do women find out about your centre/shelter?

1How many women can you accommodate?
2How many children can you accommodate? Girls Boys (age?)

1Do you have any spaces for women with NRPF? Yes / No (Number ?……..)
2How long can women stay?
8. Do you ever turn women away? Yes / No
a. Tell us why you might turn women away?
9. Have you worked with any women from Pakistan who are claiming asylum on the grounds of domestic violence?
a. If so, what regions of Pakistan have women come from?
3 What is your policy around confidentiality?
4 Describe how a woman usually arrives at the refuge? a Are there any differences in the way Pakistani women arrive at the refuge?
5 What rules do the women have to follow in the refuge?
6 What services are provided for children whilst they in the refuge?
7 What support do the women receive while they are in the refuge?
15. Are there circumstances when you would evict a woman?
a. If so – for what reasons are women usually evicted?
b. What is the procedure for eviction?
16. Is there any support available to the women after they leave the shelter?
a. Please tell us what support can be provided to women when they leave.
b. How long would you provide support to a woman leaving the refuge?
8 What issues do you face in working with this group of women?
9In your opinion, is the law in the UK is adequate to protect women from domestic violence?
19. How effective do you think the current systems in the UK are at dealing with cases of domestic violence?
a. Do you think there are any particular issues for Pakistani women?
10 Pakistani women can claim asylum on the grounds of being a group which is persecuted in their home country. What do you think of this?
21. Have you worked with a woman / women who has been refused asylum on the grounds of domestic violence and returned to Pakistan?
a. If you answered yes, please tell us what you know about what happened when the women were returned to Pakistan
22. Did your clients feel that they would be able to live independently in Pakistan?
a. Can you tell us why they thought this?
11 Are there any changes that would make your work more effective?
12 Women who come to the UK as sponsored spouses, and experience domestic violence, sometimes claim asylum, have you worked with any of these cases?

a. What reasons did they give for being unable to return to Pakistan?
7. Schedule for UK Victim/Survivors
Asylum Seekers –
1. Can you say why you left your home in Pakistan? What region of Pakistan? What was you family like in Pakistan? What was your level of education/ Your job? Were you subjected to physical or other kinds of violence? How was your physical
and mental health affected by the violence? Who was violent to you /How long did you suffer violence? Children (if applicable) subjected to violence? How were they affected by the violence?
2. How did you arrive at the shelter/place where you are staying in the UK? How did you travel to the UK? Did you need money? What happened when you arrived / what
was the process? What help were you offered – legal, financial, emotional? If not, how did you get
help, who has helped you?
Were interpreters used? If so were you offered a choice of gender?1How do you feel about applying for asylum in the UK? How much do you feel you understand the process? Are there any things you don’t understand?

What has been most difficult for you? What have you found useful in the process? Is there
anything that has helped? Sponsored Spouses –
1.1. Can you tell me about why you came to the UK? Was the marriage arranged? How happy were you with the arrangement? Was your husband related to your family – if so how? Were you subjected to physical or other kinds of violence? How was your physical and mental health affected by the violence? Who was violent to you /How long
2.did you suffer violence? Children (if applicable) subjected to violence? How were they affected by the violence?
2How did you get to the place where you are staying? What arrangements did you make? Did you [plan to leave or leave suddenly? Did you get any help, if so what? How did you know who to contact or where to go? Did you

have any money / possessions? Did you bring your children?
Both Groups of Women –
1.1. Do you feel safe now? How long have you been in the accommodation? Do you have private space? Can you come and go as you wish? Can your children stay? Do you have access to services – legal/medical etc? Do your children have access to schools / health services etc? Are you in touch with your family in
2.Pakistan? Are you in contact with Pakistani community here? Is there anyone who knows where you are?
2What do you think will happen to you and the children (if applicable)? What are your options? Do you know how you will get accommodation? Do you think you will be able to work? Education for children (if applicable)?How do you feel about surviving on your own

here in the future? Do you have any fears about being returned to Pakistan? What would be the best outcome in the future? What would be the worst outcome in the future?
8. Schedule for Government Officials in Pakistan
Name of official:
Rank of official:
Role of official – which government department:1. Do you think the current law is adequate to protect women from domestic violence?
a. Please tell us why
1How effective are the current systems at dealing with cases of domestic violence?
2What do you see as the barriers to effectively addressing domestic violence in Pakistan? Local & family practices Police reluctance/lack of services Cultural or religious practices
3Internal flight – where else does a woman go after leaving family home OR the shelter/centre? Reconciliation/remarriage? Process of internal flight – where does she go? Where can she go? How does she get there / Money etc Notify anybody? E.g.police?
4How easy would you say it is for a woman to live independently in Pakistan? Accessing accommodation Getting a job Travelling alone? Living without a male? Education for children? Accessing local services? Requirements to register in a new town etc? Health issues? Religion?
5What needs to change? The law? Systems and structures? Customary practices? Family practices? At societal level? Perceptions? Locally/regionally/nationally/internationally?
6Open space for any additional comments/thoughts/ideas?

9. Schedule for NGO’s , INGO’s and Other Service Providers in Pakistan
1Name and Address of Organisation
2Which sector would you say your organisation belongs to?
3What do you provide?
4How are women put in contact with your service?
5How many workers are there in your organisation?
6Which services do they work for?
7Are services free at the point of delivery? Yes / No
8What is the typical journey of a woman arriving at/accessing your services? Prompt-How does find out about your service? Physical arrival at your service? Children? Health issues? Disability issues? Patterns to typical cases? Where women likely to come from? Geographically?

8.b Can you give an example of an atypical journey of a woman arriving at your service? Prompt-How does find out about your service? Physical arrival at your service? Children? Health issues? Disability issues? Patterns to typical cases? Where women likely to come from? Geographically?
10. Schedule for Police in Pakistan
1Area covered by police station
2Rank of officer
3Role of officer
4 How do you define domestic violence?

4.b How much of your time is spent on dealing with domestic violence cases?
4.c Can you describe the policies/practices/procedures you have to follow in dv cases?
1 Describe the training on DV issues for police?
5. Do you have any female officers specifically dealing with cases of domestic violence?
a. If so, may we speak to them?
6. Describe the procedures you have to follow when someone makes a complaint of domestic violence? Prompts –
Who deals with the woman?
Could you explain the different stages of registration?2Describe your role in the complaint? Prompts – Do you register the complaint? What details do you take? How do you deal with the woman?
3Do you get involved with mediation/reconciliation? Yes / No If yes, can you tell us about this process – Prompts -Do you work with the husband / family / woman? How do you see the role of mediation?

11. Schedule for Crisis Centres and Shelters in Pakistan
1Name & address of centre/shelter
2Name of main contact & position
3Is the centre / shelter staffed? Yes / No

a. If so, how many staff are there?
b. Describe the roles and responsibilities of the different staff

1Can you describe the resources you have to provide your services?
2How do women know of your centre/shelter?

1How many women can you accommodate?
2How many children can you accommodate? girls/boys?
3Do you ever have to turn women away? Yes / No
4What is the maximum period a woman can stay?
5Tell us about any problems you have in finding space for women?
6Do you accept referrals of women who are not Pakistani nationals?

11. Do you offer any counselling to –
a. Women Yes / No
b. Children Yes / No

1Do the children in the shelter /centre access any schooling during their stay?
2 Describe how a woman usually arrives at the centre/shelter ?
3 How easy/difficult is it to protect a woman’s confidentiality?
4Are there circumstances when you a woman would be evicted? Yes / No

a. If so – for what reasons are women usually evicted?
1 What is the procedure for eviction?
2 Are women able to come in and out of the centre/shelter?

a. If so are there any specific rules they have to follow? What are they?
1 Is there any aftercare support available to the women? Yes / No
2 Describe what is involved in preparing for a woman to leave the centre/shelter?
3 Do you think the current law is adequate to protect women from domestic violence? 21.How effective are the current systems at dealing with cases of domestic violence?

1 What do you see as the barriers to effectively addressing domestic violence in Pakistan?
2 Internal Flight – where else does a woman go after leaving family home OR the shelter/centre
3 How easy would you say it is for a woman to live independently in Pakistan?
4 What needs to change?
5 Open space for any additional comments/thoughts/ideas?

12. Schedule for Victims/Survivors in Pakistan
1Can you say why you came to the shelter/place where you are staying? Where from/lived? Family setup? Your education? Your job? Account of type(s) of violence subjected to? Perpetrator(s)? Duration of violence?
2What were your options for getting help?

E.g other family members/police? Tell anyone about the violence? If so, how responded? Personal
possessions? Children (if applicable) subjected?
Health – physical and mental?1How did you arrive at the shelter/place where you are staying? Did you plan to leave/you left suddenly? Knew where you were going? Money? Anyone help you? Type of transport? Length of journey? Travelled alone? Took children? What were your options?
2Do you feel safe now? How long in shelter/place where you are staying? How long allowed to stay? Can children stay (if applicable)? Room setup – Safe? Privacy? Confidential? Practice for coming and going from premises? Support services? E.g. Legal? Medical?
3What do you think will happen to you and the children (if applicable)? Are you expected to return to the family? What are your options? How get accommodation? How long for? How get a job? How financially support yourself/children? Education for children (if applicable)? How get health care? Need male protector? Position of single woman/with children?
4Any additional comments you want to make? Impact of your experience on you/children? What are your concerns right now? What could have made a difference for you? Could you have changed anything?
5Any additional information about personal history Disability issues – you/your children? Religion? Bonded labour?