Women for Refugee Women

05/10/2026

The Home Secretary rightly points out that nearly all women who make dangerous journeys to the UK are survivors of r**e.

The majority of women we support have survived sexual and gender-based violence in their countries of origin, on their journeys to safety, and again in the UK.

So why does the Government:

❌ Detain some women on arrival
❌ Let women languish in the asylum system for months and years on end
❌ Operate a culture of disbelief in Home Office decision-making
❌ Close safe routes that support women and children

That is not a fair or compassionate way to treat survivors of sexual and gender-based violence who are seeking safety here.

The Government must:

👉 Reopen refugee family reunion
👉 Open a specialised caseworker unit for survivors of SGBV
👉 Dismantle the culture of disbelief and improve the quality of decision-making
👉 End immigration detention

If the Home Secretary is genuinely concerned about survivors and ways her Department can support them, she knows where to find us.

Home secretary warns people traffickers will exploit asylum seekers because they decide who comes to the UK

01/10/2026

We are incredibly proud that Maisson and Olivia performed at Mother Tongues: An International Multilingual Poetry Celebration today!

The event, organised by Poetry Pharmacy and Experimental Writing School, took audiences on a journey through languages, cultures, and traditions, exploring how poetry connects us beyond borders.

Maisson and Olivia read their beautiful original poems, first in their mother tongues and then in English. 🗣️😍

If you couldn't make it, please read their powerful poems below!

30/09/2026

🚨The one in, one out UK-France deal is due to end tomorrow.

We welcome this news.

This route was never a genuine safe route.

It was:
❌ A dangerous trade in human lives
❌ Reliant on immigration detention
❌ Retraumatising and harmful

If the Government is serious about safe routes, it must create routes that are genuinely accessible, at scale, and that do not trade in human lives.

The most effective thing the Government could do is to reopen Refugee Family Reunion so people can reunite with their loved ones and heal.

As the deal comes to an end tomorrow, we extend our solidarity to all those who have been cruelly detained under this shameful failure.

We hope those who have been detained under this scheme find the protection they need so they can rebuild their lives in the UK.

Deal aimed at deterring small boat arrivals set to end as talks stall over French demand for EU-wide scheme

29/09/2026

📣 We welcome the Government's announcement of a safe route for vulnerable individuals, including a prioritisation of Afghan women and Palestinians.

This is a good step in the right direction.

However, the scheme, pitched to be 'small scale' for a few hundred, does not go far enough and will leave many people behind in danger and at risk of severe harm.

This announcement comes at a time when Refugee Family Reunion remains suspended - despite over 92% of grants going to women and children - with no timeline for when it will reopen.

Safe routes save lives.
But they must be genuinely accessible and scalable.

The Government must reopen Refugee Family Reunion as a matter of urgency, and create new safe routes for people to come to the UK to rebuild their lives and heal.

Exclusive: Move by Shabana Mahmood comes after closure of Afghan scheme last year but experts say numbers too small to deter Channel crossings

23/09/2026

Today is Bisexual Visibility Day 🩷💜💙

A day to lift up, recognise, and celebrate bisexual people all around the world.

Today, we celebrate our bi Rainbow Sisters, such as Olubunmi, who shared:

🗣️"I'm celebrating that my bisexuality taught me empathy and that love doesn't fit in one box."

The asylum system can be particularly gruelling for LGBTQ+ people who often experience disbelief and questioning about their sexuality. That's why Rainbow Sisters is so important as a vital space for connection, friendship and solidarity. 🫶

So today, and every day, we celebrate our Rainbow Sisters.🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Everyone should be free to live safely and happily as their true selves.

Read Olubunmi's blog:

To celebrate Pride month 2026, one of our Rainbow Sisters has shared her experience of being bisexual and seeking safety in the UK.

18/09/2026

🎉 That's a wrap on the first week of the new term!

Our warm and welcoming community space was abuzz with excitement.

Here's a snippet of how it went:

🎭 Alaia who joined Drama for the first time shared: “Wow. It was so exciting and fun! Shaking our bodies, meeting new people. I am already excited for next week!”
🏳️‍🌈 We welcomed new members to Rainbow Sisters - our solidarity group for LGBTQ+ women - and we can't wait to see new friendships blossom over the year.
💜 Four new volunteers joined our incredible volunteer team, leading our creative and educational activities for refugee women.
🗣️ Sabeen shared: "Being here makes me so happy. I feel relaxed as soon as I walk in the door. It's like a welcome back home where I belong."
🫂D, who we supported to apply for refugee family reunion, shared: "I am happy to return to the community that has made it possible for me to be closer to getting my daughter!"

We can't wait to see all that is achieved this term. This week is just the start!💜

09/09/2026

🚨Racial violence is escalating.⁣

Racist violence, intimidation and hatred is becoming a weekly occurence.⁣

Yet the Government response remains woefully inadequate. ⁣

This is not in our name. ⁣

It is time for urgent action. So over 150 organisations have come together to demand the Government acts, NOW.⁣

Memory, a refugee woman in our network shared:

🗣️"No one should be targeted because they were forced to flee their homes... If we all speak out, we can make small ripples of change and together they can create something powerful."

Read the full statement below. With huge thanks to Amnesty International UK for coordinating.

Over 150 organisations unite to raise the alarm and demand the Government acts to urgently tackle the escalation in racist violence and intimidation.

04/09/2026

Dehumanising language, violent tactics, and lack of compassion are central to the Government’s response to people seeking safety here.

This lack of humanity is deeply disturbing.

A different way is possible.

The PM has the chance to change course - it is vital he does so. Lives depend on it.

Burnham and Macron have committed to going further in the crackdown on French beaches. But little is being done to offer refugees safe alternative routes, says human rights writer Diane Taylor

02/09/2026

As September begins, we're reflecting on what a fun and brilliant summer we've had! 🌞💜

From meeting hundreds of you at the Ben & Jerry's Festival, to dancing at Pride in London, celebrating with our supporters during a special evening together, and much more - we've had a blast!

Roll on the start of our new term!

20/08/2026

Yesterday, the Government released guidance on how people seeking asylum in the UK should behave.

The Guide:
❌Reinforces anti-migrant rhetoric
❌Scapegoats people seeking asylum
❌Distorts the reality of violence against women and girls
❌Distracts from its root causes
❌Impedes access to support and justice for survivors

We reject this scapegoating.

If the Government is serious about tackling violence against women and girls it must promote an evidence-based understanding of it and invest in specialist services.

All women deserve better than divisive narratives that trade on fear while doing little to address the realities of violence.

Read our full statement:

Our statement on the harmful "Understanding behaviours and expectations in the UK" guide released by the Home Office on 19 August 2026.