Women’s equality in the UK – A health check

Recommendations

Info

9.8 remained constant since 2003. In 2011, 5,329 women claimed asylum in their own right and 14,460 men. 8 Despite what the Government has highlighted in its report, evidence shows that gender issues are not fully considered in the asylum system. In particular, many women are refused asylum because their accounts of gender-based violence and sexual abuse are not believed, despite the volume of evidence that it is precisely these kinds of persecution which applicants find hard to reveal. 9 There are also issues with the current system where evidence has shown that accelerated decision making procedures (the detained fast track (DFT)) are unsuitable for complex gender-based claims. 10 More must be done to eliminate discrimination against refugee women, both in society at large and within their communities, as current measures taken are not effective and women who have fled to the UK in need of protection are too often caught in a system that compounds their trauma. .11 Case study: 12 “It is considered reasonable to expect you to recall with consistency the years in which your family members were killed.” Refusal letter, UKBA London, June 2010 Recommendation: Women should not be routed into the detained fast track whilst the risk remains so high that a woman who has experienced sexual violence will have her claim inappropriately dealt with In terms of other migration issues there is a widening gap between the aims of the Government’s Call to End Violence against Women and Girls 13 and the effect on migrant women, whether documented or undocumented migrants from inside or outside the European Economic Area (EEA), of increasingly restrictive immigration rules, cuts in legal aid, and wider cuts in support services. In particular, the recent changes in the Immigration Rules on family migration, which purport to ‘define’ how Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) duties will be applied, will make it significantly harder for women to enter the country lawfully, or, once here, to escape violent and exploitative situations. The withdrawal of legal aid from immigration will also make it harder for women to challenge negative decisions. (See Appendix: 28) In addition, further restrictions on legal avenues for migration into the UK, and the tightening of border controls by such means as biometric documentation, are having drastic results for the most vulnerable women. More women are likely to enter the country in an irregular way and there are fewer channels for women to migrate independently, therefore they are placed in a position of dependency and are vulnerable to violence and sexual abuse. 14 (See General Recommendation 19) 8. Home Office, Immigration Statistics, April to June 2011: Asylum, Table as.03: Asylum applications from main applicants by age, sex and country of nationality http://tinyurl.com/anh6qqr 9. Walter, N. (2011) ‘I am every woman’, New Statesman, 10th March 2011 http://www.newstatesman.com/society/2011/03/women-asylumrights-saron 10. Human Rights Watch (2010) Fast-Tracked Unfairness: Detention and denial of women asylum seekers in the UK. http://www.hrw.org/ reports/2010/02/24/fast-tracked-unfairness-0 11. See for example Women for Refugee Women (2012) Refused: The experiences of women denied asylum in the UK. http://www. refugeewomen.com/images/refused.pdf 12. Asylum Aid (2011) Unsustainable: the quality of initial decision making in women’s asylum claims. http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/ publications/151/UnsustainableWEB.pdf 13. Home Office (2011) Call to End Violence against Woman and Girls: Action Plan. HM Government http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ publications/crime/call-end-violence-women-girls/vawg-action-plan?view=Binary 14. Jolly, S. and Reeves, H. (2005) Gender and Migration – Overview report. BRIDGE: Brighton http://www.bridge.ids.ac.uk/reports/CEP-Mig-OR. pdf 70 Women’s equality in the UK: CEDAW shadow report 2013
9.9 9.10 Mainstreaming gender in the asylum system The UK’s 7th Periodic Report fails to mention key areas of progress even though this information was available at the time the report was drafted. 15 For example, the appointment of a Gender Champion to take the strategic lead on gender issues at the UK Border Agency (UKBA). 16 These omissions demonstrate a lack of a strategic approach by the UKBA. The lack of gendersensitivity in the asylum system at a systemic level as well as the lack of follow-up with operational issues also show the failure of the UKBA to mainstream gender issues at all stages of the asylum system. For example: a) the UKBA fails to interpret the Refugee Convention 17 in a gender-sensitive way or to implement its own gender guidelines 18 b) complex gender cases, including women who have been trafficked, continue to be inappropriately referred to the DFT process 19 despite it being unsuitable for complex cases such as gender-related claims 20 c) in some asylum and immigration cases the UKBA is separating children from their parents by holding parents in detention, despite this conflicting with the UKBA’s duty to safeguard and promote children’s welfare 21 d) the UKBA fails to apply a gender-sensitive approach to the provision of material reception conditions, particularly in relation to supporting decision making, 22 dispersal, support levels or accommodation standards 23 Case study: 24 Sanam, who suffered sexual abuse by her father as well as severe domestic violence after a forced marriage at 14 was interviewed for two hours 20 minutes. She was not offered words of sympathy nor a break. “It was obvious that they accused me of lying though they did not actually say the words, it was obvious.” The Charter of Rights of Women Seeking Asylum 25 has been endorsed by over 300 organisations from the refugee, women’s and human rights sectors and from trade unions and faith groups in the UK. Since 2008, the Charter campaign has been lobbying the UKBA to make the asylum system gender-sensitive. 15. Asylum Aid (2011) Unsustainable: the quality of initial decision making in women’s asylum claims. http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/ publications/151/UnsustainableWEB.pdf 16. Asylum Aid (2010) Charter of Rights of Women Seeking Asylum 2 years on: impacts and actions http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/ publications/133/WomensAsylumCharter2Yearson.pdf 17. Refugee Convention http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49da0e466.html 18. Asylum Aid (2011) Unsustainable: the quality of initial decision making in women’s asylum claims http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/ publications/151/UnsustainableWEB.pdf; UK Border Agency (2011) Quality and Efficiency Report: Thematic Review of Gender Issues in Asylum Claims; UNHCR (2008) Quality Initiative Project Fifth Report to the Minister. UNHCR: London http://www.unhcr.org.uk/fileadmin/ user_upload/pdf/QI_Fifth_Report.pdf 19. Vine, J (2012) A thematic inspection of the detained fast track July – September 2011, Independent Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency http://icinspector.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Asylum_A-thematic-inspection-of-Detained-Fast-Track.pdf 20. UNHCR (2010) Quality Integration Project, Key observations and recommendations http://www.unhcr.org.uk/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/ First_Quality_Integration_Project_Report_Key_Findings_and_Rec_01.pdf; Human Rights Watch (2010) Fast-tracked unfairness: detention and denial of women asylum seekers in the UK http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/uk0210webwcover.pdf 21. UK Border Agency, Criminality and detention http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/modernised/ criminality-and-detention/ Accessed: 17/04/13 also see for examples The Children’s Society (2011) What have I done? The experiences of children and families in UK immigration detention: Lessons to learn http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/tcs/research_ docs/immigration%20experiences_full%20report.pdf 22. Asylum Support Appeals Project (2011) No credibility: UKBA decision making and Section 4 support. http://stillhumanstillhere.files. wordpress.com/2009/01/asap-no-credibility-report-high-res.pdf 23. Querton, C. (2012) “It feels like as a woman I’m not welcome’: A gender analysis of UK law, policy and practice. Asylum Aid: London http:// www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/ifeelasawoman_reportv2.pdf 24. Asylum Aid (2011) Unsustainable: the quality of initial decision making in women’s asylum claims. http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/ publications/151/UnsustainableWEB.pdf 25. Asylum Aid Charter http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/charter Accessed: 22/03/13 Women’s equality in the UK: CEDAW shadow report 2013 71
Page 1 and 2:
Women’s equality in the UK - A he
Page 3 and 4:
Women’s equality in the UK - A he
Page 5 and 6:
Appendices (online only) Appendix 1
Page 7 and 8:
• the continued discrimination ag
Page 9 and 10:
• Develop a common model of analy
Page 11 and 12:
Article 9 - Nationality: One third
Page 13 and 14:
investment in social infrastructure
Page 15 and 16:
and increase the marginalisation of
Page 17 and 18:
have been no prosecutions in Englan
Page 19 and 20: 1 2 3 4 5 Introduction This is a Un
Page 21 and 22: 10 11 12 13 housing crisis, a ‘lo
Page 23 and 24: 1.1 1.2 1.3 Article 1 - Overarching
Page 25 and 26: 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 Women’
Page 27 and 28: 1.17 1.18 1.19 Young women We are a
Page 29 and 30: 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 consult to “remov
Page 31 and 32: 2.12 2.13 discrimination”. Howeve
Page 33 and 34: 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 worsen gen
Page 35 and 36: 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 CEDAW and the l
Page 37 and 38: 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 would “increase
Page 39 and 40: 3.15 3.16 3.17 and accountable EHRC
Page 41 and 42: 3.22 3.23 3.24 report is was partic
Page 43 and 44: classes, migrants, and Gypsy, Trave
Page 45 and 46: the institutional discrimination an
Page 47 and 48: 5.5 5.6 5.7 Case study: 8 Sandra li
Page 49 and 50: 5.12 5.13 5.14 issue. A more approp
Page 51 and 52: 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Article 6 - Exploit
Page 53 and 54: 6.9 6.10 6.11 to the protection and
Page 55 and 56: 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 Office’s own
Page 57 and 58: 6.24 6.25 6.26 women and increase t
Page 59 and 60: 6.31 6.32 6.33 6.34 infrequent lap
Page 61 and 62: 7.1 7.2 Article 7 - Political and p
Page 63 and 64: 7.7 7.8 7.9 7.10 The House of Lords
Page 65 and 66: 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 Recommenda
Page 67 and 68: 7.21 7.22 7.23 Political representa
Page 69: 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 Article
Page 73 and 74: 9.15 9.16 9.17 biased views towards
Page 75 and 76: 9.21 9.22 9.23 9.24 women. 47 (See
Page 77 and 78: 9.28 9.29 9.30 9.31 New family migr
Page 79 and 80: 9.35 9.36 UKBA, where men and women
Page 81 and 82: 9.39 9.40 9.41 9.42 • Do not redu
Page 83 and 84: 9.46 Research on immigration case m
Page 85 and 86: 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 10.9 The Educat
Page 87 and 88: 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 boys and on
Page 89 and 90: 10.22 10.23 allow speakers to promo
Page 91 and 92: 10.29 10.30 10.31 10.32 Case study:
Page 93 and 94: 10.37 10.38 10.39 10.40 • Many wo
Page 95 and 96: 10.46 10.47 10.48 applications (fig
Page 97 and 98: 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Article 11 - Em
Page 99 and 100: 11.8 11.9 are 754,000 women working
Page 101 and 102: 11.14 11.15 11.16 11.17 11.18 The g
Page 103 and 104: 11.24 11.25 11.26 per week or they
Page 105 and 106: 11.31 11.32 11.33 Introducing more
Page 107 and 108: 11.37 11.38 Case study: 83 Jasmine
Page 109 and 110: 11.42 11.43 11.44 11.45 At the 2012
Page 111 and 112: 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 of women and en
Page 113 and 114: 12.12 12.13 12.14 12.15 Translators
Page 115 and 116: 12.19 12.20 12.21 12.22 Barriers to
Page 117 and 118: 12.25 12.26 12.27 12.28 Gypsy and T
Page 119 and 120: 12.34 12.35 12.36 12.37 Older women
Page 121 and 122:
12.41 12.42 Recommendations: • Th
Page 123 and 124:
12.47 12.48 12.49 12.50 they are at
Page 125 and 126:
12.55 12.56 12.57 Case studies: 128
Page 127 and 128:
12.60 12.61 12.62 12.63 12.64 hospi
Page 129 and 130:
13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Article 13
Page 131 and 132:
13.11 13.12 13.13 13.14 children ne
Page 133 and 134:
13.17 13.18 13.19 13.20 Welfare ref
Page 135 and 136:
13.25 13.26 13.27 13.28 because in
Page 137 and 138:
13.32 13.33 Case study: 57 “As a
Page 139 and 140:
13.36 13.37 allocation of resources
Page 141 and 142:
13.41 13.42 Homelessness, including
Page 143 and 144:
13.47 13.48 BME women would be left
Page 145 and 146:
13.52 13.53 13.54 13.55 with some l
Page 147 and 148:
13.60 13.61 13.62 effect to their p
Page 149 and 150:
14.6 14.7 14.8 disabled and lesbian
Page 151 and 152:
14.14 Gypsy and Traveller women suf
Page 153 and 154:
15.6 15.7 15.8 15.9 15.10 15.11 The
Page 155 and 156:
15.14 15.15 15.16 purport to be vic
Page 157 and 158:
15.21 15.22 15.23 Case study: 35
Page 159 and 160:
15.28 15.29 15.30 15.31 has not pro
Page 161 and 162:
15.35 15.36 behaviour by male priso
Page 163 and 164:
16.5 16.6 people being forced into
Page 165 and 166:
16.10 16.11 16.12 16.13 16.14 16.15
Page 167 and 168:
16.21 16.22 frequently women’s ac
Page 169 and 170:
Recommendations: • Parents with c
Page 171 and 172:
19.6 19.7 19.8 as well as for our c
Page 173 and 174:
19.13 19.14 19.15 19.16 The Governm
Page 175 and 176:
19.22 19.23 19.24 19.25 VAWG is a c
Page 177 and 178:
19.30 19.31 19.32 19.33 DV is still
Page 179 and 180:
19.38 19.39 19.40 perpetrators thro
Page 181 and 182:
19.43 19.44 19.45 Support for victi
Page 183 and 184:
19.49 19.50 19.51 19.52 Recommendat
Page 185 and 186:
19.57 19.58 19.59 19.60 BMER VAWG p
Page 187 and 188:
19.62 19.63 19.64 19.65 VAWG in hea
Page 189 and 190:
19.70 19.71 19.72 Invisibility of s
Page 191 and 192:
19.77 19.78 19.79 A number of repor
Page 193 and 194:
19.85 19.86 means more provision. T
Page 195 and 196:
Annex 1: The Devolved Administratio
Page 197 and 198:
to 41.8% of rural men. 16 Rural are
Page 199 and 200:
Annex 2: The UK’s relationship wi
Page 201 and 202:
Annex 3: UK reservations and declar
Page 203 and 204:
ESA - Employment and Support Allowa
Page 205 and 206:
Annex 5: Acknowledgements Many than
Page 207:
Women’s Resource Centre is suppor
show all

Women’s equality in the UK – A health check

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?