Migration & Asylum
Women who have migrated to the UK, forced or of free
will, are more likely then migrant men to suffer from discrimination.
They are also more likely to be exposed to forced labour, sexual
exploitation and other kinds of gender-based violence. They are more
likely to accept hazardous work conditions and low salaries that are
below the minimum wage.
Women that are forced to flee their country of origin often do so for
reasons that differ from male refugees. Women are often victims of
sexual violence and many times flee from oppression and persecution
from society rather than the state. Often the state is unable or
unwilling to protect these women. About 50 per cent of women claiming
asylum in the UK have been raped and many are traumatised due to their
experiences. Because women’s experiences differ from that of
men, they need different treatment and many times there is a lack of
awareness about this from officials.
WNC Migration and Asylum Group
The WNC established the group at the end of 2005 to take forward specific issues in the field of migration and asylum. Members are drawn from a wide background and the group is currently taking forward its work programme, prioritising Citizenship & Integration, Immigration, the Asylum and Nationality Act and the points-based system for managed migration for the focus of the group.
WNC Migration and Asylum E-network
The Migration and Asylum E-network is open to WNC partners, and organisations and individuals interested in learning more about migration and asylum from a gender perspective. In a regular email circulation, e-network members receive up-to-date information on gender issues in the migration and asylum arena, invitations to events and seminars, information on current government and NGO initiatives, and have opportunities to contribute to consultation exercises. If you would like to be a member of the M&A e-network, please complete the application form (Word 33 Kb) and email or post it to Shelly Dowrich.
In addition, the WNC has held two roundtables to
discuss the key issue. For further information please visit the Migration and Asylum
Roundtable website.
Listed below is some of the activities the Migration and Asylum Group
have been involved in;
Letter to Lin Homer (Word 310 Kb)
Letter to Tony McNulty (pdf 215 Kb)
DfID consultation response (pdf 102 Kb)
Useful Links:
New points-based immigration system starts next year (external link)
UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking (external link)
The Border and Immigration Agency (external link)
Asylum Aid (external link)
The Refugee Council (external link)
Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) (external link)
Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (external link)
