On Wednesday 15th November the Supreme Court rejected the Government’s harmful Rwanda plan, and unanimously ruled that no-one seeking safety in the UK can be forcibly deported to Rwanda. The judgment is a resounding victory for all the organisations, individual claimants and legal professionals involved in the challenge, as well as everyone else who campaigned and took action. Our Director Alphonsine Kabagabo said: ‘The Supreme Court ruling sends a powerful message to the Government about just how inhumane, illegal and cruel their asylum policies are. We know how terrifying threats like the R ..read more

Suella Braverman’s speech: How it harms women and LGBTQ+ people We strongly condemn Suella Braverman’s speech today. The Refugee Convention, which was signed in 1951 following World War 2, makes no explicit mention of women or people who are LGBTQ+, but rightly, over time, the particular forms of persecution they face have been recognised by case law. Before these forms of persecution were recognised, women in our network like Anu who experienced extreme violence, rape and female genital mutilation, would not have been given refugee status – which could have had life or death consequences for ..read more

We’re looking for a support facilitator to help deliver weekly dance and movement sessions, led by a member of our network! Our creative and educational activities are at the heart of everything that we do to empower our members and support their wellbeing. At Women for Refugee Women, we strive to create a safe space where women can build friendships, share solidarity and develop their skills and confidence. We couldn’t achieve any of this without our dedicated and brilliant volunteers. We’re looking for a new volunteer who can start as soon as possible and commit to a minimum of 6 months, nea ..read more

We’re looking for two new volunteers with experience of supporting adults to develop their reading and writing skills in English! Our creative and educational activities are at the heart of everything that we do to empower our members and support their wellbeing. At Women for Refugee Women, we strive to create a safe space where women can build friendships, share solidarity and develop their skills and confidence. We couldn’t achieve any of this without our dedicated and brilliant volunteers. We’re looking for new volunteers who can start as soon as possible and commit to a minimum of 6 months ..read more

A compilation of some of the creations made by the women in our network this year. Our empowerment activities are a safe space for refugee and asylum-seeking women to make friends and form a community. The activities are creative and educational, providing a therapeutic space for the women in our network to express themselves, heal and learn new skills. Last week, as part of our summer party celebrations we held a mini-exhibition of some of beautiful work created in our activities this past year; Radical Knitting, Radical Stitching, Arts and Crafts and Rainbow Sisters. Radical Knitting “First ..read more

Joint civil society statement on the passage of the Illegal Migration Act, July 2023 As a coalition of 290 organisations representing the human rights, migrants’ rights, refugee and asylum, anti-trafficking, children’s, violence against women and girls, LGBTQI+, disability rights, health, LGBTQI+, housing, racial justice, criminal justice, arts, international development, environment, democracy, pan-equality, faith, access to justice, and other sectors, we condemn the passage of the Illegal Migration Act today, and stand in solidarity with all who will be affected. We all deserve to live safe ..read more

Following the resounding vote in the House of Lords last week, the Government has agreed to maintain the 72-hour time limit on the detention of pregnant women. This small but vital amendment will protect pregnant women and their unborn babies from the harms of indefinite detention. We are extremely grateful to the Peers who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the time limit for pregnant women remains in place. In particular, Baroness Lister who tabled the amendment in the Lords, and Baroness Sugg, Baroness Gohir and the Bishop of Gloucester who supported it. We are also extremely grateful to ..read more

This is Hiba’s story. “For as long as I can remember, I felt trapped in the wrong body.” Hiba grew up in a loving family in Pakistan, and always felt care and support from her mother and brother who gave her space to be who she is, to express herself and to live freely. Yet the extreme social stigma and harsh anti- LGBTQ+ laws in Pakistan made life incredibly difficult for Hiba, even from a very young age. She still remembers the first time she experienced persecution and violence at age 5, which was just the first of countless incidences of violence she encountered for being a transwoman, bot ..read more

This is Ange’s story. Growing up in Cameroon where same-sex activity is illegal and punishable with prison sentences, or worse, Ange found it extremely difficult to understand, accept and celebrate who she is. But being lesbian is not a choice. It is who Ange is. Once Ange came out and told her family she is lesbian, she was immediately cut off and still to this day does not have any contact with them. Fearing for her safety, and unable to live her life authentically, Ange claimed asylum in the UK. However, she is still waiting for her asylum interview, after two and a half years. “The waitin ..read more

Suella Braverman’s speech: How it harms women and LGBTQ+ people We strongly condemn Suella Braverman’s speech today. The Refugee Convention, which was signed in 1951 following World War 2, makes no explicit mention of women or people who are LGBTQ+, but rightly, over time, the particular forms of persecution they face have been recognised by case law. Before these forms of persecution were recognised, women in our network like Anu who experienced extreme violence, rape and female genital mutilation, would not have been given refugee status – which could have had life or death consequences for ..read more