At JRS UK, we see every day how failings in the asylum system put women at risk. Each year, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women calls us to confront the many ways women are subjected to harm.
Our Casework Team walks alongside people seeking sanctuary through the challenges of being cut off from all support. Because our refugee friends are barred from accessing mainstream benefits, housing, or employment, they are often made vulnerable to exploitation and homelessness.
Women seeking sanctuary often face particularly complex barriers – especially after having their asylum case refused.
For example, many pregnant women only become eligible for Home Office support at 34 weeks: leaving them without stable housing or income during a critical time. Even when support is granted, the transition into Home Office accommodation can be difficult, with substandard housing and poor nutrition. Some women are wrongly charged thousands of pounds for maternity care, making them afraid to seek help.
Another critical issue facing women seeking sanctuary is domestic abuse. Because of restrictive immigration rules, many women find it difficult to access vital protections because of their status. Often we accompany women who are unable to access refuge accommodation and are often forced to choose between remaining in an abusive relationship or facing potential homelessness and destitution.
Fear of reporting abuse to the police due to potential immigration consequences can also be weaponised as a tool of coercion. Domestic violence can happen in any situation, and no matter your immigration status, you have the right to be protected from abuse.
Our caseworkers respond with compassion and expertise, providing crucial support in these situations. The team offer immigration advice to resolve cases so that women can more easily access appropriate services for motherhood, children, or domestic violence. They also work with specialist women’s services such as Women for Refugee Women, Hibiscus, Southall Black Sisters, Solace, and Maternity Action.
They also support women to access health services, including GP registration, addressing NHS debts, and and arranging referrals counselling and therapy. In emergency situations, hardship grants are available to provide immediate relief. Our caseworkers also work with the wider JRS UK team to offer holistic support: whether it’s making sure that women can access food, clothes, and toiletries, find legal support, or have a safe place to stay.
This International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, it’s important to restate that safety is not a privilege: it’s a right of all people.
Too often, immigration status becomes a barrier to safety. We believe the asylum system must be rooted in compassion and fairness. This means:
- Ensuring immigration status never prevents someone from accessing support. Women experiencing domestic abuse are routinely excluded from vital protections simply because of how they arrived in the UK. This is unjust: everyone deserves to live free from violence.
- Expanding access to legal advice so that refugee friends can resolve their immigration cases more quickly.
- Increasing capacity for specialist services – many of which are overstretched and unable to support everyone in need.
As we reflect on these issues, we invite you to join us in supporting families in the asylum system through our Advent Appeal. Your contributions can make a significant difference in the lives of those we serve.
