Day Of Action - No recourse campaign
Abolish the 'no-recourse' requirement for abused women who have insecure status.
Assemble at 11:00am
Wednesday 23rd April 2008
Victoria Embankment opposite Portcullis House
London SW1
for a demonstration at 11.30-12.30
Most of us would like to think that here in the UK, we have measures to protect women from violence and abuse and that these measures apply to all women, that the law will ensure they get protection and justice.
This is not the case, nor is it an option, it is not a duty that falls on charities, we are not asking any favours ; this is a UK obligation, it shouldn't even need to be the subject of a campaign.
Leading women's groups and charities are calling for the government to abolish the 'No Recourse to Public Funds' requirement and have organised a national day of action.
Public meeting will begin at 1:00pm in Portcullis House: speakers will include:
* Survivors of violence who have no recourse to public funds
* Margaret Moran MP
* Paul Rowan MP
* Southall Black Sisters
* Liz McKean - Amnesty International UK
* Suzan Malaquias - Poppy Project
* Kalayaan
* Soroptimist International (tbc)
* Islington No Recourse to Public Funds Network (tbc)
* Chief Inspector Steve Deehan - Met Police
* Please RSVP to let us know you are coming to the demo and/or the public meeting (kate@wrc.org.uk, Tel: 020 7324 3030), & tell us if you have any particular access needs or if you are coming with children.
Southall Black Sisters, Amnesty International UK, Women's Resource Centre, Imkaan, National Women's Aid, just some of the NGO's calling/supporting the day of action.
This message is from : Southall Black Sisters -
Fact sheet
The 'no recourse to public funds' requirement bars anyone entering the UK on the basis of marriage from relying on public housing or benefits until their immigration position is regularized after a two-year probationary period. This forces women into positions of economic dependency on the settled spouse or partner. The 'no recourse' rule also affects other vulnerable groups including migrant domestic workers and asylum seekers.
In 2002, following immense pressure, the government introduced the 'domestic violence rule' in immigration law, which states that if a person married or living with a settled partner can provide specific evidence to demonstrate that she/he is a victim of domestic violence and meet other conditions, she/he can remain in the UK indefinitely. But for a significant number of women, the existence of the 'no recourse to public funds' requirement in immigration and welfare law, prevents them from making use of the domestic violence rule because they cannot access safe housing or benefits to escape domestic violence. The result is that they are faced with a stark choice, leave and face destitution or stay and risk their lives.
Despite waging a long campaign against 'no recourse', the lack of an adequate response from the government has led a wide range of organisations to call for direct action. There is a growing momentum within the voluntary sector and caring services for something to be done to change the present situation. There is therefore a need to build the biggest mass movement this country has seen against the 'no recourse' requirement. We need to show the government that the voluntary sector, the police and the caring services cannot be taken for granted. The human rights of black and minority women who do not have secure immigration status are not dispensable.
The campaign is calling for the government to:
Provide a special fund pending long term solutions, financed out of the Victim Fund and other sources to enable all women to have living expenses and have access refuges and local authority accommodation pending a final decision on applications to remain in the UK.
Fast track applications to remain in the UK (process within 2 months) where there is prima facie evidence of domestic violence.
Reform the Domestic Violence Rule so that all types of evidence of domestic violence is accepted.
Extend the domestic violence rule to all abused women with an insecure immigration status and introduce similar protection for trafficked women subjected to sexual and economic abuse and to overseas domestic workers experiencing violence from employers.
Provide adequate levels of legal aid so that there is access to good quality legal advice and assistance.
Evidence from around the country shows that the 'no recourse' requirement forces women with unsettled status to endure the most horrific abuse imaginable: imprisonment in the home, slavery, starvation and acute mental distress are significant features of such abuse. The 'no recourse' requirement enhances the power of violent perpetrators and allows them to abuse with impunity whilst at the same time increasing the vulnerability of the unsettled spouse or partner. Yet when women seek help from statutory and voluntary service providers, they are often denied the options - safe housing and welfare service provisions - that are available to abused women in the wider society because they are not entitled to access public funds due to their immigration status. The result is that these women face a stark choice: either to stay in their abusive relationships and risk their lives or leave and risk extreme poverty, destitution, financial and sexual exploitation.
Women's Resource Centre
Website : http://www.wrc.org.uk/policy/norecourse.htm
Southall Black Sisters
Contact : southallblacksisters@btconnect.com
Website : http://www.southallblacksisters.org.uk/
End of Bulletin:
Source for this Message:
Southall Black Sisters
http://www.southallblacksisters.org.uk/
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