British Red Cross and VOICES network response to report from the Women and Equalities Committee on equality and the UK asylum process

Responding to a new report from the Women and Equalities Committee on equality and the UK asylum process, a British Red Cross spokesperson said:

“We know from working with people fleeing war and persecution that our asylum system often fails to protect vulnerable people and that the Illegal Migration Bill will put them at even greater risk. We have heard the powerful stories of children, women and people from the LGBTQ+ community seeking asylum and more needs to be done to keep them safe.

“The UK has a proud history of helping people in crisis when they need it most and we must put safety and compassion at the heart of our asylum system.”

A British Red Cross spokeperson and the VOICES network, a collective of refugees and people seeking asylum, added:

“People seeking protection who have experienced sexual and gender-based violence need a compassionate system which enables their voices to be heard, not the even harsher system that we are heading towards.

“The Home Office must listen to what people seeking asylum need and act on this. This means working in partnership with people who have experienced the asylum system to co-produce policies and guidance that will protect them throughout the asylum process.”

Background

The VOICES Network report last year told of women feeling their self-confidence had been ‘demolished’ by the asylum process.