Women fleeing rape face coercion and control by Home Office contractors

3 September 2024: Guardian: Women fleeing rape face coercion and control by Home Office contractors

Survey says refugee women are subjected to voyeurism and sexual harassment by male staff at hotels

Women who have fled rape, forced marriage and sexual exploitation are being subjected to coercion and control by Home Office contractors in hotels, according to new research.

The charity Women for Refugee Women has carried out the first research specifically focusing on the experiences of women in Home Office asylum seeker hotels. The researchers include seven women who have previously lived in such accommodation.

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Six children among 12 dead in Channel as crowded boat ‘ripped open’

3 September 2024: Guardian: Six children among 12 dead in Channel as crowded boat ‘ripped open’

Pregnant woman among those killed in ‘horrifying’ incident as charities call on government to establish safe routes

Six children and a pregnant woman are among at least 12 people who died after a boat carrying dozens of asylum seekers to the UK was “ripped open” in one of the worst Channel tragedies since the small boats crisis began.

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Start having well-informed conversations about asylum

City of Sanctuary: Start having courageous conversations about refugee rights

We are not talking about refugee rights enough. Maybe we feel overwhelmed. Maybe we fear how people will respond. But if we’re to build a kinder and fairer world, then we need to get talking.

A crucial part of shifting public attitudes is down to ordinary people simply talking about what they believe in. It’s down to having conversations – lots of them. 

Speaking from the heart, finding common ground and actively listening can markedly reduce prejudice. So one of the best tools we have for change is free and accessible to everyone.

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UK immigration strategy increases risk of exploitation, say charities

30 August 2024: Guardian: UK immigration strategy increases risk of exploitation, say charities

Home secretary urged to to make it easier for undocumented migrants to regularise their immigration status

The government’s policy of ramping up immigration raids and detaining and deporting undocumented migrants is driving more people underground and increasing their risks of exploitation, dozens of charities have warned.

In a letter on Friday, coordinated by Migrant Voice, more than 80 organisations including Care4Calais, City of Sanctuary UK, Anti-Slavery International, Doctors of the World UK and Safe Passage International are calling on the home secretary to make it easier for undocumented migrants to regularise their immigration status so they can work with less risk of falling prey to exploitative employers and human trafficking gangs.

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JCWI statement on the racist attacks across the UK

6 August 2024: JCWI: Our statement on the racist attacks across the UK

The escalation of far-right, racist and Islamophobic violence against our communities in recent days is horrifying. These targeted attacks on migrants, Muslims and people of colour do not occur in isolation – they are the direct result of years of racist, dehumanising policies and language being peddled by our politicians and the media.  

The far right has been emboldened by hateful media narratives and a race to the bottom in migration policies, with established parties battling it out to see who can enact the most cruelly and publicly.  

Now, we see the results – people up and down the country are scared for their lives, terrified that they have a target on their backs because of the colour of their skin or the way they speak. That fear is very real, because the violence is very real. Look at events in Rotherham – an attempt to burn down a hotel housing people seeking sanctuary is an attempted mass murder, and it’s time we named that.  

For too long, politicians and the media have scapegoated our communities to distract from the very real issues we all face. We’re living through a cost-of-living crisis that makes life harder for all of us, huge NHS waiting times and the ever-growing impacts of climate breakdown. Those in power, and those who support them, have preferred to distract us from these issues by demonising people who move, and targeting Muslims and people of colour. 

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Joint statement following anti-migrant attacks

August 6, 2024: Joint statement following anti-migrant attacks

QARN is a signatory to this statement: As organisations based across the UK working with refugees and migrants, we are deeply shocked and devastated by these horrific acts of violence. Racism, Islamophobia and hatred against migrants have no place in our country.

We stand in solidarity with the men, women and children affected, many of whom have already fled unimaginable horrors to try to find safety. And we stand together as a sector and with our communities to offer support. We know that these views and acts of violence do not represent the vast majority of people in this country.

It is right that the government has clearly condemned these attacks.  But we urgently need action, today, to ensure that local authorities have the right resources to ensure those under threat of attack in asylum accommodation, refugee service centres and places of worship are properly protected. 

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Immediately suspend in-person immigration appointments

6 August 2024: It’s a matter of safety

Right to Remain and other organisations are calling on the Home Office to immediately suspend all in-person immigration reporting and all other appointments, on account of the overwhelming fear of violent racist attacks in our communities.

There are people travelling all the way to reporting centres on a weekly basis who are only inside for 2 minutes – and in the current situation this is very stressful. In person reporting should be stopped immediately as it was during Covid for different safety reasons..

Read more: Suspend immigration reporting now!

We call on the Government to actively protect and uphold all of our human rights. 

5 August 2024: Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association – ILPA: ILPA Statement in Response to Racist, Anti-Migrant Violence and the Targeting of Immigration Lawyers

“We condemn, in the strongest terms, the racist, anti-migrant, Islamophobic, and far-right violence and aggression we have witnessed in the past week. It is designed to threaten and intimidate members of our communities.

We stand in solidarity with migrants to this country, including those who have fled dangerous places to seek safety here, only to be met with violence. We stand in solidarity with those targeted based on their appearance. We stand in solidarity with all those who are supporting targeted communities, through the provision of legal and other services. 

We call on the Government to actively protect and uphold all of our human rights. 

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