The Domestic Abuse Bill is making its way through parliament and this week the House of Lords have voted in favour of key amendments to protect migrant women. Whilst these amendments are still at risk of being voted down in the House of Commons, this positive news cannot come at a more pivotal time given the national outrage sparked by the murder of Sarah Everard. At a key moment in our nations consciousness our politicians and leaders are called once again to examine our collective commitment to ending violence against women and girls.
For migrant women with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) there are additional barriers. Migrant survivors worry data will be shared with immigration enforcement and risk deportation if they report. They do not know how to access help. They face difficulties communicating without interpretation, a legal aid sector devastated by cuts, and services unable to assist as they have NRPF.
During the pandemic, Safety4Sisters saw demand doubling with 100 percent of women referred initially refused refuge space due to the NRPF condition.
In the absence of a response, these survivors and their children are left with violent abusers while black and minority ethnic services struggle to fill gaps in accommodation, counselling, subsistence, and interpretation.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has the opportunity to shift these realities, with the development of Homelessness and Gender Based Abuse strategies key entry points to do so. Safety4Sisters charts ten ways the GMCA can reinforce the safety net to make sure all in Greater Manchester – including migrant survivors – are protected.
Building from our frontline expertise and evidence when working directly with migrant women with no recourse to public funds, the recommendations focus on some of the key areas and challenges that migrant women and their support agencies face when attempting to access key statutory and voluntary sector safety services.
For more information please contact info@safety4sisters.org and visit our website: https://www.safety4sisters.org/.
