Refugee Protection: A feminist way forward скачать в хорошем качестве

Refugee Protection: A feminist way forward

On International Women’s Day 2021, we hosted a short and lively discussion between prominent refugee women leaders Alphonsine Kabagabo, Marchu Girma and Zrinka Bralo, and chaired by Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, on our feminist vision for a supportive and humane asylum process. Seventy years ago, the Refugee Convention was born in international recognition of the fact that some people need to move to seek protection from persecution. It was written by men and it did not consider the unique experiences of women who need to cross borders to seek safety – we were forgotten. Over time gender-specific guidelines have been developed in the UK, but it is still difficult for women who are seeking asylum to get a fair hearing and be able to rebuild their lives with dignity. Too often, the women we work with are not believed and are made hungry and homeless or are locked up in immigration detention. The government has said it will ‘overhaul’ the asylum process this year. This should be good news, because the current process is inhumane and doesn’t work. But, the Home Office has shared hostile rhetoric and damaging proposals that don’t consider women’s needs and threaten to make it even harder for women to find safety in the UK. We must stand with our sisters. We will not be forgotten again.