Refuge statement on migrant women amendment in the Domestic Abuse Bill

Cordelia Tucker O’Sullivan, Refuge senior policy and public affairs manager said:

However, the rejection of the amendment to protect migrant women experiencing domestic abuse is a huge disappointment. Frontline organisations, such as Refuge, Southall Black Sisters, and Latin American Women’s Rights Service who work with migrant women every day know just how important it is to ensure they too, are protected, regardless of whether they have the ‘right’ type of visa. Refuge stands in solidarity with the Step Up Migrant Women coalition and wholeheartedly support repeated calls for the protection of migrant women, who are so often locked out of accessing the specialist support they need. This was a real opportunity for the government to ensure that all women, regardless of where they happen to have been born, have access to the life-saving protection they need and deserve. Insecure immigration status should never be a barrier to accessing support and Refuge will continue to fight for all women to have access to the protection they need. The falling of this amendment sends a very worrying message to migrant women, and Refuge hopes the government will think again and ensure a solution which supports women with ‘no recourse to public funds’ or with insecure immigration status is swiftly forthcoming. Women’s lives depend on it’.

ENDS