NO RECOURSE
NO SAFETY
Every year, hundreds of black and migrant women face domestic violence from their husbands and families in the UK. For many, their insecure immigration status renders them extremely vulnerable to abusive partners who exploit their position by subjecting them to often-extreme forms of violence, imprisonment and domestic servitude, usually with impunity
The NO RECOUSE NO SAFETY Campaign brings together key women's organisations to highlight the devastating impact of 'no recourse to public funds' on the lives of minority women without secure immigration status and who are subject to domestic violence in the context of the marriage, employment and trafficking.
The Campaign is supported by the following organisations:
? Amnesty International UK
? Greater London Domestic Violence Project
? Imkaan
? Kalayaan
? Newham Asian Women's Project
? Poppy Project (Eaves Housing for Women)
? Refuge
? Soroptimist International (Rugby)
? Southall Black Sisters
? Women's Aid (England)
? Women's Resource Centre
For more information on the campaign and for advice and resources to help take action on the campaign see:
www.southallblacksisters.org.uk
www.wrc.org.uk/policy/norecourse
The Campaign is calling for the UK Government to:
Allow refuges the funds they need upfront to [protect all women suffering abuse
Provide for an exemption to the no recourse for public funds requirement to ensure women are not forced to remain with a violent partner
Develop an integrated strategy for violence against women so as to minimise the chance of policy contradictions undermining women's rights
Ensure that commissioning and tendering for services does not rely only on generic service provision without equally assuring and financing specialist black women's services.
Briefing document (300 words) issued 28 Apr 2008
