Founded in 2002, the All African Women’s Group is a self-help group of asylum and refugee women who have come together across nationality and often different sides of political conflicts to fight for their right to protection in the UK. Many have suffered rape and other torture, most are mothers and most are either completely destitute or living on asylum support benefits which are less than half of what other people on benefits get. Their fortnightly meetings, workshops and the training sessions coordinated by BWRAP and WAR attract over 50 women every week. Legal cases are discussed collectively and the experience of what works and what doesn’t is shared. Women team up to provide practical support such as accompanying each other to court. AAWG campaigns include fighting for mothers to be reunited with their children, against racism, to end destitution and detention, and for housing, healthcare, protection and resources for every woman. Find them on Facebook
UPDATE: MUM & HER CHILDREN STILL HOMELESS Marian Okeibunor is a rape survivor and mother of two young children. On 14 January 2020 she and her children were evicted by Lewisham Council and are now homeless and destitute. Ms Okeibunor is a member of the All African Women’s Group (AAWG) and is being supported by … Read more
See latest UPDATE – 29 January 21 Marian Okeibunor is a rape survivor and mother of two young children. Until last week she was housed by social services in Lewisham. She and her family were cruelly evicted and are now homeless and destitute. Please write to demand that Marian Okeibunor is given immediate housing and support. … Read more
See our latest short film: STOP the Family Courts aiding and abetting domestic abuse. Made by WAR & Support Not Separation. We are lobbying for the Domestic Abuse Bill to: recognise that domestic abuse victims are mostly women; provide vital resources so women and children can escape; extend all protections and resources to immigrant women … Read more
When did you come to the UK? I’ve been in the UK since 2002. I was forced to leave [Uganda] because I feared for my life. I was married to an extremely violent, controlling and powerful man who was able to abuse me and get away with it as he had many friends among the … Read more
SIGN THE PETITION HERE An Open Letter to the Prime Minister of the UK and the Taoiseach of Ireland cc: UK Home Secretary and UK Health Secretary, Irish Health Secretary and Irish Minister for Justice and Equality, All UK MPs, All Members of the Irish Parliament (the Oireachtas), All Leaders and CEOs of Local Authorities … Read more
Speaking at today’s self-help session (which BWRAP helps coordinate) Ms O described how the immigration judge at her appeal hearing intervened to stop the Home Office barrister from putting intrusive and upsetting questions to her about her experiences. One of the French-speaking sisters in the session translated for her – “I hardly knew what was … Read more
Dear Friends, As Christmas and the school holidays are almost here, we write to ask again if you could kindly donate to our annual Christmas appeal for destitute women and children in the All African Women’s Group (AAWG) — the self-help group of women asylum seekers based with us at the Crossroads Women’s Centre. About 2/3 … Read more
Residents of deprived Newham describe domestic abuse and hunger to Philip Alston Women in London have told the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty they are bearing the brunt of government welfare cuts, and described how austerity has left infants homeless and exacerbated problems including overcrowded housing and domestic violence. More than a dozen women … Read more
2010: Why women in Yarl’s Wood went on hunger strike (transcript) M: Some of the hunger strikers said there were meetings of about 20 women who discussed organising it and that they organised across the wings because Avocet started, and women from Bunting and Dove who were working for SERCO selling food noticed no … Read more
Terrific news – Brigitte Nongo-Wa-Kitwa’s daughters landed last Friday (11 May) at Heathrow after an exhausting 10 hour journey from Kinshasa. Brigitte and Cristel from Black Women’s Rape Action Project, who has worked with Brigitte at every stage of her case, waited anxiously as the daughters were held for an extra hour after other passengers … Read more
