Government says rape victims are “not vulnerable” to deny asylum seekers legal representation
Correspondence between government Minister David Lammy and Black Women’s Rape Action Project & Women Against Rape published in The Guardian Letters page Erosion of asylum rights Monday July 12, 2004, The Guardian, Letters Rape survivors are vulnerable and find it difficult, often impossible, to speak about the violence they have suffered. The law acknowledges this, …
Racism against asylum seekers
The Guardian article below came about as a result of Legal Action for Women’s National Gathering on Saturday 3 July 2004. Kamwaura Nygothi was one of a number of women who raised the racism they were suffering in the North East of England. As a result of the article we have received many sympathetic responses, …
To Women Legislators of the Coalition of the Willing: Neither blood nor rape for oil
To Women Legislators of the Coalition of the Willing: Neither blood nor rape for oil 12 May 2004 We are writing to you, women legislators in both the UK and the US. That there are now many more women in Congress and in Parliament is due to a massive women’s movement over decades in every …
Response to Refugee Council’s letter in Times
Basic protection to people targeted for torture and persecution, does not go far enough. Dear Letters Editor, That three main organisations supposed to protect the human rights of asylum seekers broadly welcome Blair’s views (7 May 01) on asylum is frightening and potentially life threatening. The 1951 UN Convention on Refugees gives basic protection to …
In the media: Evidence of sexual history
New Law Journal: why there should be a ban of the use of evidence on a women’s sexual history Parliament should stop endorsing judges’ sexism which exposes victims to questions about sex with men other than the defendant – and understand that this kind of action is, in fact, a second rape.
Statement: Dispatches Racism – A danger to all women.
BWRAP speak out against the racist BBC programme. Dispatches promoted racist stereotypes with the dangerous lie that most gang rape is committed by Black boys. This leaves Black women even more vulnerable to rape.
In the media: What black viewers think
In the Guardian, an article responding to Dispatches programme. This documentary has demonised young black men – stereotyping them as sexual attackers and the effects of such racism is profound.
Statement: on Violence Against Women at the UN CSW.
Lisa Longstaff from Women Against Rape urges the governments of UN to take action. Outlining and proposing a proper standard of services and resources required to support all survivors of rape and sexual violence.
Legal precedent for rape victims seeking asylum
Legal precedent for rape victims seeking asylum We were centrally involved in winning this important legal precedent for rape survivors seeking asylum in the Royal Courts of Justice, London back in 1997. Mr Justice Sullivan ruled that the previous Home Secretary had been wrong not to consider new evidence provided by a young woman …
Statement: Legal precedent for rape victimes seeking asylum
We call for an official recognition of rape victims’ suffering. Ms G fled Uganda in 1989 following multiple attacks of rape and violence she suffered from soldiers. Here is the statement issued by Black Women’s Rape Action Project which marks an important legal precedent for rape survivors seeking asylum …
The convicted rapist feels unlucky – rarely guilty.
Should parliament prevent a victim’s sexual history being raised in court? An article in the Times argues the case for a change in priorities at every stage of the criminal justice process regarding the rape and sexual assault of women.
