WAR is independent of the police, the CPS and Home Office. Its services are based on self help, and it provides support and legal rights information to those trying to get justice, protection, asylum and compensation. Its campaigns are shaped by casework. It has helped set precedents in law such as the first private prosecution for rape in England and Wales. This work has helped to change the attitudes of individuals and institutions. When acting in individual cases, WAR takes account of the implications for other cases. It aims to make each individual advance useful to others who are seeking justice.
If you need help please see our Guides here and get in touch here.
Below are examples of some of our cases and legal victories.
In the media: Letters to the Canary: Against Scotland’s proposed rule to exclude juries from rape trials.
Scotland removing juries from rape trials? I strongly disagree with the proposal to take away juries from rape trials in Scotland because of my own experiences. In 2005, my 15-year-old daughter was raped and it went to trial in 2006. The police investigation was incompetent and they lost vital evidence. For example, it came to light during …
Press: compensation denied for criminal convictions
EXCLUSIVE: Sex abuse victim denied compo after bringing Rottweiler to collect overdue pay cheque The compensation has been denied because the victims had an unspent conviction on their record, and campaigners say that this discriminates against people who have committed a minor crime This is an interview with Kim Mitchell who has been working with WAR …
Press:’I was terrified’: Ugandan woman wins asylum thanks to women’s centre’
Sally Patterson, 23 November 2021 https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/kentish-town-crossroad-women-supports-ugandan-asylum-seeker-8498126 ‘I was terrified’: Ugandan woman wins asylum thanks to women’s centre’ A Ugandan woman won her asylum claim thanks to The All African Women’s Group, based at Kentish Town’s Crossroad Women – Credit: Women Against Rape A lesbian woman from Uganda has won her asylum claim to remain in …
PRESS RELEASE: Women win asylum & family reunion
PRESS RELEASE: Women win asylum & family reunion Three women from the All African Women’s Group (AAWG), a self-help group of asylum seekers and refugees based at the Crossroads Women’s Centre in Camden/London, have won significant victories in the last couple of months. Two women won the right to stay in the UK and one, …
In the media: ‘After I was sexually assaulted, the police let me down every step of the way’
Telegraph reports the story of Nadia Valeri. Cara McGoogan writes how, ‘In September 2020, the Met settled a civil claim with Valeri out of court and paid her £35,000 in compensation. The Met didn’t admit liability and rejected requests for a letter of apology, but it did say it would learn from Valeri’s case and …
PRESS RELEASE: Destitute mother and children win housing at last!
PRESS RELEASE: Destitute mother and children win housing at last! A mother with two children, who was evicted by Lewisham Council five weeks ago, at the height of the second wave of the pandemic and in freezing weather, has won a fight to claim asylum and be granted housing and assistance. Marian Okeibunor is a survivor of …
Press: DWP ignored coroner’s call to take action to save claimants from suicide
DWP ignored coroner’s call to take action to save claimants from suicide By John Pring for Disability News Service Documents released this week under the Freedom of Information Act show that DWP dismissed both the coroner’s plea to take action, and the findings of an inquest jury which had concluded that a jobcentre’s failings had …
NEWS FLASH: Victory after living for 17 years in limbo!
NEWS FLASH: Victory after living for 17 years in limbo! Ms O from Cote D’Ivoire – announces today 3 March 2020 that she has finally won refugee status. 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 …
Press: Landmark rape case brought by Kentish Town campaigners is turned into a play
Landmark rape case brought by Kentish Town campaigners is turned into a play Bridget Galton Lisa Longstaff of Women Against Rape and Niki Adams of the English Collective of Prostitutes outside Crossroads Women’s Centrein Kentish Town where they are based – Credit: Archant In 1995 Women Against Rape and the English Collective of Prostitutes joined …
Government announces Same Roof victims can re-apply for compensation
Government announces Same Roof victims can re-apply for compensation Congratulations everyone who campaigned for this change – what a wonderful if very belated victory for grassroots claimants/campaigners! It seems that the government has decided not to make people wait for the end of their Review of the Compensation Scheme after all. That’s good as the …
Press: Kicked while Im already down’: the child sexual assault victim denied compensation over a petty crime.
Kim Mitchell went to police threee times before they believed her Ms K was raped repeatedly by two adult men when she was 13. As an adult she finally found the courage to report it, identifying the men. The investigation is ongoing. One of the men is in prison for sexual offences against other children. …
Press: High court rules in favour of rape victim who retracted accusation under duress
Woman known as Sarah has compensation increased after she made allegation against husband before changing her mind, under pressure from him Ms RT had been refused an award despite suffering years of marital rape by a violent controlling husband. She appealed the refusal and was offered an award but with a 70% reduction for two …
Asylum from Rape Bulletin Winter 2010
Landmark compensation for torture victim and her family. A mother and her five children have won a precedent-setting, six figure compensation award from the Home Office for abuse and injuries sustained during deportation to Uganda in 2006. Ms A was supported throughout by WAR who found legal representation through Leigh Day & Co. solicitors. During …
Asylum from Rape Bulletin Spring 2009
Winning compensation for unlawful detention of rape survivor. Listen to Ms PB being interview on Radio 4’s “PM” program in December 2008 here. Read about her fight against the racist attacks here which she and other women suffered in a Liverpool Hostel. You may have heard about the case of Ms PB who was recently …