At this time of year my mind turns to International Women’s Day on the 8th March. It offers an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women across the political, economic and cultural spectrum both at home and internationally. It is also a time not only to reflect on how far we have come but what we still need to focus on to achieve a Scotland which values equality and diversity.
At Rape Crisis Scotland our focus is on challenging sexual violence in all its forms. We work to prevent sexual violence; challenging the myths and prejudices which perpetuate sexual violence and blame survivors for the actions of others. We also provide direct support to survivors and work with partners to improve access to services to ensure survivors get the support they need, and rightly deserve, in an appropriate and timeous way.
Nowhere is this more relevant than when looking at the experience of asylum seeking women. Not only are these women more at risk of domestic abuse and sexual violence, but further at risk within conflict areas where sexual violence is used as a weapon of war, during flight or in refugee camps where security and safety are lacking, during transition where border guards/traffickers may exploit their power and position, during and while going through the asylum process where dependence on others, poverty and exclusion can further put them at risk.
There have been a number of international protocols which codify norms in dealing with women affected by human rights abuses and gender based violence, but women seeking protection in the UK are not benefiting from these provisions. The Istanbul Convention, signed by the UK in 2012 states that women should have access to protection, regardless of their immigration status but there are still key actions to be taken if we are to effect this in practice.
That is why we, alongside Scottish Refugee Council and others, are signatories to The Women’s Asylum Charter Campaign to Close the Protection Gap. The Campaign calls on the Home Office to provide:
- a guarantee that women can have a female interviewer and interpreter if they choose
- childcare during screening and asylum interview
- training for interviewers and interpreters on sexual violence, trauma and memory
- counselling and support for trauma for women who have experienced gender based harm
- information about the asylum process, rights and entitlements specific to women seeking asylum
Join the campaign
You too can get involved in supporting this campaign. Send one of the Protection Gap postcards to your MP via the campaign website http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/protectiongap.
