Our autumn conference on the 3 November was a sold-out success and brought together various refugee focused organisations in Scotland and the UK, academics, policy makers and other individuals interested in refugee issues.
Importantly it provided an opportunity for refugee women to talk about their experiences, highlight the challenges they face going through the asylum process and beyond, and share their hopes for the future.
During the conference we did the rounds gathering views via video vox pops from participants who reflected on the issues asylum seeking women face, how the asylum system needs to be improved and the importance of conferences like this that give voice to refugee women.
Vox pop videos – reflections on refugee women
A huge thanks to the many who participated in our vox pops and our volunteer Alieu who carried out the filming. In this blog we’ll hear from:
Debora Singer, from Asylum Aid who highlights the importance of protecting asylum seeking women, and problems they face like not being given credibility or being believed during the asylum process.
Francis Nicholson (UNHRC) who highlights the danger of women facing sexual or gender based violence both in the countries they come from and when they arrive in the UK. She feels the UK asylum system needs to get better at dealing with women who have faced such violence.
Tony Good, Retired Anthropology Professor, Edinburgh University who reflects on how the particular problems that women face are not always recognised in the asylum process – and advocates for understanding of the broad context and better education for asylum officials.
A Congolese refugee woman, Refugee Women’s Strategy Group share her own experiences and highlights the difficulties that woman face in getting into work after being granted asylum in the UK.
Charlotte Cooke, British Refugee Council (North) tells us about the difficulty of running a non-profit in a period of economic uncertainty. We also hear about the problems of isolation that refugee women face and the importance of community integration.
Still more to do to ensure refugee women are heard
A successful conference – yes. But clearly still a lot to more to do to ensure refugee women’s voices, experiences, needs and aspirations are not only heard but acted on.
