Domestic Violence Asylum Claims and Recent Developments in International Human Rights Law: A Progress Narrative?

Title: 
Domestic Violence Asylum Claims and Recent Developments in International Human Rights Law: A Progress Narrative?
Journal Citation: 
60(2) International and Comparative Law Quarterly, 459-484 (2011)
This article examines recent developments in international human rights law relating to domestic violence, and addresses the extent to which refugee law has integrated these developments into the adjudication process of asylum seekers. The article notes that victims of domestic violence who file asylum claims on that basis continue to face difficulties. The article surveys recent international jurisprudence and regional developments, highlighting the expanding due diligence norm. The article also provides a critical analysis of an American asylum case, "In the Matter of R-A". the article concludes that the standard of due diligence, which is increasingly being used by international and regional bodies to determine the scope of States' responsibilities in the context of domestic violence, is not being applied to assess the adequacy of State protection in asylum cases.