Dr Eileen Pittaway

Research Summary

Eileen Pittaway is the Director of the Centre for Refugee Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

In the past decade she has conducted research, provided training to refugees, UN and NGO staff in refugee camps and urban settings, acted as technical advisor to a number of projects, and evaluated humanitarian and development projects in Kenya, Thailand, Ethiopia, Bougainville, Egypt and Sri Lanka. She was also involved in tsunami relief projects in Sri Lanka. This work has been variously funded by UNHCR, UNFPA, UNIFEM, the Ford Foundation, the Japan Foundation, the Asia Development Bank, the Australian Research Council and public subscriptions.

CONFERENCES AND FORUMS CONVENED SINCE 1990

2005 – four linked events November/December
One Day “Peoples Enquiry” into the detention of Asylum Seekers
One day Human Rights Court of Testimonials form Refugees
Three day International Conference on Resettlement and Women at Risk, with a Human Rights Court as a major event. Hosted at University of New South Wales - with a focus on Women at Risk
One day Specialist Forum on Women at Risk
Combined attendance - 830

2004

Asia Pacific Regional Conference in preparation for the Beijing + 10 Hosted by Mahidol University, Thailand – 800 attendees. Focus on Refugee Issues

Human Rights Court and Conference in preparation for Beijing plus 10. Hosted at the University of Sydney 200 attendees

2001

Follow up to Beijing plus 5 – Hosted at the University of New South Wales 180 attendees

2001

International Refugee Conference, Human Rights Forum, “Hypothetical Debate” and Moot Court, Hosted at the University of new South Wales, 780 attendees

2000

Asia Pacific Regional Conference in preparation for the Beijing +5 Hosted Katesart University, Thailand – 700 attendees. Focus on Refugee Issues

1999

Pacific Regional Conference in preparation for the Beijing + Five Women’s Conference Hosted at the University of Sydney – 350 attendees. Focus on Refugee Issues

1994

Pacific Regional Conference in preparation for the Beijing Women’s Conference Hosted at the University of Sydney – 350 attendees. Focus on Refugee Issues

1993

“Refuge resettlement - Let’s get it right in Australia” National Conference hosted at University at the University of Technology

1991

“Refugee Women at Risk” International Conference hosted at the University of Technology, Sydney – 500 attendees

UNSW Research Profile

Teaching

Eileen is Senior Lecturer in the School of Social Work, co-ordinating and teaching in the Master Programs of International Social Development, and Refugees and Forced Migration.

Her specialities are the Poltics of International aid and the relationship between civil society and the United Nations.

She co convenes the CRR Internship program which takes students from across the University and visiting scholars on supervised field trips to United Nations meetings in New York and Geneva, International Conferences, and to work on projects in refugees camps and sites in several countries.

Postgraduate Research Supervision
Refugee Research
Australian asylum seeker and refugee policy: a contested area
Domestic Violence and the refugee experience
Refugees, women

Publications

2007

‘Beyond “Do No Harm”: Ethical Issues in Refugee Research’, Journal of Refugee Studies, special issue on ‘Methodology’, 20: 299-319
with McDowell, C. & Mackenzie, C.

“Gendered Dimensions of the 2004 Tsunami and a potential social work response ”International Social Work, Issue no 50/3 . International Social Work.v.50 (3) pp. 307-319 with Rees, S. & Bartolomei, E.

2006

“Double Jeopardy: Domestic Violence in Refugee Communities” Women against Violence, Issue 17 with Rees, S.

‘Placing ethics in the centre: Negotiating new spaces for ethical research in conflict situations’, Global Public Health Vol1 No 3October pp264 – 277with Zwi AB, Grove NJ, Mackenzie C, Zion D, Silove D, Tarantola D,

2005

“Waves of Violence –Sexual and Gender Based Violence as an aftermath of the Tsunami, 2005” Australasian Journal of Disaster and Trauma Studies,Volume 2005 -2 www.,assey.ac.nz/-Trauma/issues/2005/2 with Susan Rees

“The Ultimate Betrayal - Domestic Violence in Refugee Families resettled in Australia”. A Centre for Refugee Research “Occasional Paper”, (refereed) ANCORW Sydney

‘The Case for a Conclusion on Refugee Women at Risk’ UNHCR Report, Sydney: CRR/ANCORW with Bartolomei, L.

‘Refugee Women at Risk – Assessment Tool and Response Mechanism’ UNHCR Report, Sydney: CRR/ANCORW with Bartolomei, L.

‘Linking the Millennium Development Goals to the Refugee Convention’ UNHCR Report, Sydney: CRR/ANCORW with Bartolomei, L.

2004

‘Its part of your life until you die: older refugees in Australia”,
Australian Journal of Ageing Vol 23 No3 September with Hugman, R. & Bartolomei, L.

‘Refugee Woman: a dangerous label’ The Australian Journal of Human Rights June 2004 pp119 -136 with Pittaway, E.E.

2003

‘When death is the only Medicine: Health Risks on the Thai Burma Border’, The Health Exchange, Nov 2003, 10 -13 with Bartolomei L.,

An examination of the role of identity and citizenship in the experiences of women in Kakuma Refugee camp in northern Kenya, with Bartolomei, L. and Pittaway, E. E., Development, 46 (3), 87-93

You Never Stop Being a Refugee: The Special Needs of Older Refugees, with Bartolomei, L. and Hugman, R., Occasional Paper No. 3, CRR & School of Social Work, UNSW, Sydney

Double jeopardy: Children Seeking Asylum, with Bartolomei, L., in The Health of Refugees, P. Allotey (ed.), Oxford University Press, Victoria

What is Intersectionality? What does the WCAR mean for Asia Pacific Women? ANCORW/APWLD, Sydney

2002

We are Sad, not Mad – Refugee Women Resettled in Australia, Women in Welfare Education, 6. pp. 63-72

Guest Editor, Australian Journal of Human Rights, 9 (1)

Guest Editor, “Special Edition: Refugee Issues”, Mots Pluriels, 21 (6) UWA, http://www.arts.uwa.edu.au/MotsPluriels/MP2102index.html

Refugees Race and Gender, DIALOGUE, 21 (1/2002), pp.16-28, with Bartolomei, L. (Shortened version of article published in REFUGE, requested by the editorial committee)

2001

Voices 2000 and Beyond: Asia-Pacific Women’s Lobbying Document for Beijing+5, (ed.), APWW, Sydney

The Indigenous and Refugee Women’s Human Rights Court, ANCORW, Sydney

Refugees, Race and Gender: The Multiple Discrimination against Refugee Women, with Bartolomei, L., Refuge: Canada’s Periodical on Refugees, 19 (6), 21-32

Women’s Human Rights: Engendering the Agenda of WCAR, with Bartolomei, L., Aberseekera, S, and George, S., APWLD, Chiangmai

Modalities, measures and strategies to meet the challenges of gender equality, development and peace for the 21st Century in the Asia Pacific Region, Women in Development Discussion Paper Series No. 11, The Economic and Social Council of the Asia Pacific, UN, Bangkok

The Role of Special Rapporteurs in the UN System, commissioned paper, APWLD, Chiangmai

Voices 2000, Asia Pacific Gender Issues for the World Conference on Racism,. (ed), APWLD and UNIFEM: Chiangmai

Surviving War, Surviving Peace, Research and Development Monograph, No.1, with Breen, C., and Maksimovic, N., CRR, UNSW, Sydney
2000
Beijing Plus Five, Human Rights Defender, 19 (2), 8-9, AHRC, Sydney

Rape and War, The Quilt, 5 (3), AWHRC, Bangalore

Asia Pacific Lobbing Document for Beijing plus Five, (ed) APWW and UNIFEM, Bangkok

Surviving War – Surviving Peace with Breen, C., INSCAN, 14 (2), Ottawa

1999

Refugee Women, The Unsung Heroes, in “Nobody Wants to Talk about It”, B. Ferguson and E. Pittaway, (eds.), Transcultural Mental Health Centre, Sydney

1998

Worth More than Gold – the Contribution of International Students to Academic life at UNSW, in Monograph of Commissioned Papers, IDP Conference, Perth: IDP

Reconciling Difference, The Quilt, 4 (2), AWHRC, Bangalore

Women Working Wonders, ANCORW, Sydney

1996

Ambivalent Welcome - A comparative study of the resettlement experiences of migrant and humanitarian entrants to Australia, with Iredale, R., and Pe Pua, R. AGPS, Canberra

1994

Protection versus Empowerment - An examination of some of the
effects of torture trauma, and aid programs on the long term settlement experiences of refugee women,. International Journal of Refugee Law, Oxford University Press

1993

Refugee Women - The Neglected Majority, in Migration Action,
The Immigration Clearing House, Melbourne
(This article was selected by Professor James Jupp, ANU, for a special edition of Migration Action: "Ten of the Best", 1993)

1991

Refugee Women - Still at Risk in Australia BIR, AGPS, Canberra

1990 If you really want us to succeed.... An examination of the resettlement needs of refugee women in Australia. REFUGEES, UNHCR, Geneva

Practical Solutions in Hope after Horror, Uniya, Sydney

Published Conference Papers

2003 Refugee Women and Mental Health (2003), Sydney ANZCMHN /WAMH Annual Conference.

2003 Globalisation, Poverty and Gender (2003) Soroptomist International Conference, Sydney.

2003 Is Social Science Worth Doing? (2003) ANU Social Science Conference

2002 Torture, Trauma and Mental Health (2002) ANZCMHN /Wamh Annual Conference.

2001 Pittaway, E. (2001) The Role of Special Rapporteurs in the UN System, Commissioned paper, Chiangmai, APWLD. Peer reviewed by academics from the Asia Pacific Region

2000 Working with Refugee Families (2000) Australian Family Bureau Conference, Sydney

2000 Surviving War, Surviving Peace, AusEinet Conference, Adelaide University

1999 Worth More than Gold, IDP Conference, Canberra

1993 Protection, the Solution or the problem? Refugee and Gender Conference, York University, Toronto

1992 Ethical issues in Cross Cultural Communication, Network for Inter Cultural Communication, Canberra

1991 Refugee Women - The Neglected Majority, International Working Group on Refugee Women, Oslo, Norway

1991 The Place of Refugee Women in the National Population, National Population Council, Population Issues and Women Workshop, Sydney

1991 From Charity to Rights and Back Again, The Social Impact of Immigration, Bureau of Immigration Research, Sydney

1990 Refugee Women in Australia, Norwegian Refugee Council Seminar, Oslo, Norway

2000 – 2005

28 Unpublished conference papers delivered, in Australia and overseas

Training and Advocacy Materials

2005 “From Horror to Hope. Domestic Violence in Refugee Communities” A resource kit with PowerPoint presentation and video for community workers, domestic violence workers and others working with refugee communities (Produced by the Centre for Refugee Research, UNSW: Sydney Australia)

2003 Seeking Hope, Seeking Safety: Refugee Women at Risk. An advocacy booklet. (Produced by the Centre for Refugee Research, UNSW; Sydney Australia) Launched at ExCom 2003 by Erika Feller, Head of Protection UNHCR

2003 “Refugees in Australian Law” – a lay persons guide to understanding Australia's refugee legislation and policy. Produced by Australian Lawyers for Human Rights in collaboration with the Centre for Refugee Research, UNSW:Sydney Australia

2002 “Welcome to Kakuma” A video showing life in a refugee camp, with a focus on Women at Risk. (Produced by the Centre for Refugee Research, UNSW; Sydney Australia)

2002 “Roads to Refuge” A Resource Kit detailing the refugee experience per and post arrival in Australia. It contains PowerPoint Presentations, a series of booklets and Video. This kit is available in three versions, Primary School Level, Secondary School Level and Community Level. (Produced by the Centre for Refugee Research, UNSW; Sydney Australia)

2001 “Surviving War Surviving Peace” A Training Kit with PowerPoint presentation and Video for people working with refugee children who have survived torture and trauma. (Produced by the Centre for Refugee Research, UNSW; Sydney Australia)
“What is the UN?, What is Lobbying?, and Lobbying at UN Meetings”, in The Intersectionality of Race and Gender in the Asia-Pacific Region: APWLD’s lobby training workshop in preparation for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, APWLD, Chiangmai

2001 “The Truth Hurts: Facts and Stories about “Boat People” and Asylum Seekers”. UNSW Publishing and Printing Service, Sydney Australia (40 000 copies sold)

Audi –Visual Recordings

Pittaway, E. Bartolomei, L. (2005 ) ‘Only Rape – Five Years of Activism with Refugee Women at Risk’ Documentary Film Sydney: Art Resistance

Pittaway, E. Bartolomei, L. (2005 ) ‘Refugee Women in leadership Roles’ DVD Sydney: ANCORW/Visual Futures

Pittaway, E. Bartolomei, L. (2005 ) ‘Elizabeth’ DVD Sydney: ANCORW/Visual Futures

Pittaway, E. Bartolomei, L. (2005 ) ‘Warehoused in the City – Refugee Women from Burma in New Delhi’ DVD Sydney: ANCORW/Visual Futures

Pittaway, E. Bartolomei, L. (2005 ) ‘Reciprocal Research’ CD Rom Sydney: ANCORW/Visual Futures

Pittaway, E. Bartolomei, L. (2005 ) ‘Owning our Future – Refugee Women at Risk on the Thai Burma Border’ DVD Sydney: ANCORW/Visual Futures

Pittaway, E. Bartolomei, L. (2005 ) ‘Hopes Fulfilled or Dreams Shattered” DVD Sydney: ANCORW/Visual Futures

Pittaway, E. Bartolomei, L. (2005 ) ‘Kakuma, (second edition) DVD Sydney: ANCORW/Visual Futures

Pittaway, E. Bartolomei, L. (2005 ) ‘Gender Aspects of the Tsunami – Sri Lanka’ DVD Sydney: ANCORW/Visual Futures

Affiliations and Memberships

Centre Director

Other Information

Human Rights and Advocacy Related Activities

1. Eileen has been a member of the twelve person Asian Women’s Human Rights Council for the past 14 years, with accreditation to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC). Activities undertaken in this role include:
 Attending meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women and UNHCR Pre Excom and Excom meetings.

 Convening 3 Human Rights Tribunals in Australia, and assisting in 5 others in Asia and Africa.

 Taking an active role in the entire “Beijing” (UN Fourth World Conference on Women) process she worked with the refugee caucus throughout the process and we were successful in introducing several paragraphs of language addressing rape in conflict situations into the Beijing Platform for Action.

 Attending occasional meetings of the Gender Caucus for the International Criminal Court.

 Member of the CONGO advisory committee which took an active role in organising NGO input into the special sitting of the General Assembly to evaluate the Beijing Platform for Action.

 Attending the 49th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the ten year review of the Beijing Platform for Action, again advocating for the rights of refugee women. At this meeting, the focus of our work was recognition and implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325, which focuses on gender issues in situations of conflict and post conflict and the inclusion of women in all stages of peace building and decision making.

2. Academic editor for the Australian Journal of Human Rights since 2002.
3. Co-chair of the Asia Pacific Women’s Watch for 7 years. Now an honorary life member. Activities include:

 Monitoring of the Beijing Process and associated Human Rights instruments, such as CEDAW, and outcomes of international meetings such as the World Conference against Racism.

 Development of a successful training package for lobbying at the United Nations for the non government sector which has been delivered on over 30 occasions in various venues in Australia, Asia, South Africa and New York. This work has been funded by bodies such as UNIFEM, the Ford Foundation, the Japan Foundation, and the Asia Development bank.

4. She has been called to participate as an “Expert’ at United Nations meetings a number of times, and have been commissioned to give papers at three of these –on refugee women in 1991, Monitoring and Modalities for the Evaluation of Commitments made by Asia Pacific Governments to implement the Beijing Platform for Action 1996 and on Refugee Protection in 2008

5. Outcomes of the work with Linda BArtolomei Women at Risk in camps in Kenya and on the Thai Burma Border has been the generation ofNew International Law on the Protection of refuege women and girls, situational analysis and risk assessment tools. This includes the identification of compounded risk factors, and protection responses for women who have experienced multiple incidences of sexual and domestic violence in refugee situation, and who are in danger of further abuse.
They were called to use these tools in Sri Lanka, following the 2004 tsunami, when a high incidence of rape and sexual violence occurred in IDP camps and temporary shelters. She continued to work with the Women’s groups in Sri Lanka, with UNFPA and with the Sri Lankan government to develop a policy response to this issue and implement a gendered response in disaster situations until mid 2006. Clear parallels can be drawn between the experience of women in post disaster and women in post conflict situations and refugee camps.

Based on this experience, working with supportive governments in New York at the CSW meeting, they were able to draft and introduce a resolution addressing gender issues in the tsunami, ECOSOC Resolution number E/CN.6/2005/L.6 March 2005. It was adopted by consensus by all government.

6. In 2003, 2004 and 2005 human rights documentation training, advocacy training and technical assistance was provided to the Women’s League of Burma. This has assisted them to produce two book, “Shattering Silences, and “Systems of Impunity”, and a number of published advocacy documents (See www.womenofburma.org ) She also assisted them to present their issues at the United Nations Economic and Social Council of the Asia Pacific, September 2004, and at the 49th sitting of Commission for the Status of Women, 2005

Personal Links

In 2001 Eileen was awarded a Human Rights Medal by the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission for her work with Refugee Women and Children.

In 2005 she was awarded a New South Wales Premiers Award for her contribution to public education regarding refugees.

Interests

Committee Memberships 2000 to current

Life member, Management Committee. Asia Pacific Women's Watch (APWW)
A major Regional Women’s Non Government Organisation

Ongoing - Council Member - Asian Women's Human Rights Council

Ongoing - ANCORW Co-operative – Chairperson

Ongoing – International Law sub-committee, full management committee member, Australian Human Rights Centre, University of New South Wales.

Ongoing - Australian Refugee Rights Alliance

June 2000. United Nations Non Governmental Committee (CONGO) International Committee to organise the special sitting of the UN General Assembly

Committee Memberships 1990 – 1999

Chair of the National Feasibility Study into a Peak Body for Women's Organisations for Dr Carmen Lawrence, then Minister for Health and for Women’s Affairs.

Evatt Foundation, Labour party think tank – Member of the New Visions Forum

Bureau of Immigration and Population Research NSW Reference Group

Technical and Further Education (TAFE) Multicultural Access Unit Advisory Committee

Refugee Advice and Casework Management Committee

Australian Council for Overseas Aid (ACFOA) Women in Development Committee

NSW Grant In Aid Co-operative Board

Australian Migrant Education Services (AMES) Women's Task Force

Australian Commonwealth Government Refugee Resettlement Working group