REFUGE FROM RAPE AND DESTITUTION
In the UK in 2015, about 1,252,000 people, including 312,000 children, were destitute at some point (defined as not being able to afford to buy the essentials to eat, stay warm and dry, and keep clean). People seeking asylum are cut off from all support when their legal case is refused. Those living on asylum support benefits get 50% less than the poverty line benefits that others in the UK get. Our campaigning aims to highlight the destitution of women in particular as this is often hidden, and spell out the rape and other abuse it makes women vulnerable to. Women are less likely to sleep rough and instead have to exchange housework, childcare, sexual favours . . . to survive. Thirty-five percent of destitute homeless women asylum seekers report being raped in the UK. Children are increasingly taken away from destitute mothers and families.
See also our blog https://refugefromrapeanddestitution.blog/
MUST PROTECT MOTHERS and TACKLE WOMEN’S POVERTY The Domestic Abuse Bill is debated in Parliament again today – it must help protect women’s and children’s lives. The Bill introduces new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders, which should offer more protection in an emergency. But it must go further to tackle women’s poverty and the appalling … 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
Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union announces launch of Sexual Harassment campaign supported by our sisters from Women Against Rape Has the #MeToo movement helped workers in the fast food and hospitality industry to speak out about sexual violence at work and win protection? Read WAR’s blogpost on the BFAWU website.
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
Press release from Black Women’s Rape Action Project & Women Against Rape We welcome the Committee’s recognition of many of the issues raised in the evidence we and other women’s groups submitted. But they should have gone much further, especially in the following areas: 1. Welfare cuts & financial dependence on violent men. We welcome … Read more
Summary: This evidence covers five key policy areas that result in increased vulnerability to domestic violence and lack of resources to escape violent men: Family courts and domestic violence Austerity cuts and domestic violence Destitution – a recipe for domestic violence The hostile environment for victims of domestic violence in immigration and asylum procedures Improving … Read more
Ms R (62), a longstanding member of All African Women’s Group, finally won her right to stay in the UK after a 13 year struggle. Ms R left Jamaica in 1990 to escape domestic violence from her partner . . .
Women Speak About Destitution: Read testimonies of the real impact of cruel government policy The British government’s deliberate policy of destitution forces asylum-seeking women into extremely precarious and often dangerous living situations; exposing them to exploitation and violence. Here, women speak about their experiences of destitution in the UK. Melissa I’ve been destitute, when I was … Read more
Women Against Rape’s Refuge from Rape and Destitution Campaign. The campaign was launched at the Cowley Club in Brighton 25 September 2017. See video of the meeting “Living on the Edge: refusing Dickensian destitution and other social murder” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn4XqkmUwik&t=4826s
Over 1.25 million people, including 300,000 children, are destitute in Britain. People don’t eat regularly, can’t afford clothes and are dependent on others, sometimes strangers, for a roof over their heads.
