In the media: We ran for our lives, now the Home Office has the power of life or death over us

Excellent article published by Bail for Immigration Detainees “On International Women’s Day, a member of All African Women’s Group shares their exhausting battle to claim asylum & access legal advice in the UK – three months later she’s still struggling to find a lawyer.” Read it in full here by clicking on the image below.

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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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Misjudging Rape – Breaching Gender Guidelines & International Law in Asylum Appeals

RESEARCH: Misjudging Rape – Breaching Gender Guidelines & International Law in Asylum Appeals Black Women’s Rape Action Project & Women Against Rape’s research documents the discrimination and hostility women seeking asylum from rape face.  Over 70% of the women claiming asylum in the UK are rape survivors.  Many face severe obstacles at every stage of …

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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, …

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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 …