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Women for Refugee Women

@4refugeewomen.bsky.social

4.2K followers 420 following 850 posts

We support women seeking safety in the UK to rebuild their lives on their own terms. www.refugeewomen.co.uk #WelcomeEveryWoman #SetHerFree #SistersNotStrangers

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 22h

📣 For one week only, your donation will be DOUBLED!

Our community space is powered by the donations of our supporters like you.

It's here where women begin to heal, build sisterhood, and thrive.💜

Until next Weds 15 Oct, you can double your impact to support refugee women: tr.ee/Qf7SVq #WGMF 1/2

Her Right to Refuge: Support Women Seeking Safety – Big Give

Many refugee women in the UK face disbelief, trauma, and poverty due to a harsh asylum system. We provide a …

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 15h

Today and every day, we stand up for the rights of LGBTQ+ people seeking safety in the UK.

Together we can create a world where:

🌈 Where LGBTQ+ women receive a fair asylum hearing and a chance to rebuild their lives;
💜 Where all LGBTQ+ women can live freely and joyfully.

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 15h

Uariumue shared a powerful message to the LGBTQ+ community:

🗣️ “Accept yourself, do not hide yourself because of what people think or do. At the end of the day, it is YOU. Be proud of yourself!"

We are proud of Uariumue and our Rainbow Sisters every day. 🏳️🌈💜

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 15h

Uariumue is still waiting for a decision on her asylum claim, but hopes that she will find safety and peace in the UK:

🗣️ “I want to be open and accepted as I am . To have a partner. To look forward to my future.” 

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 15h

This summer, she attended a Pride event for the first time!

🗣️ “I did not expect it would be so big! Seeing so many people who are LGBTQ+ and who are proud of themselves. I was so excited. It was a very, very good experience. I can't wait to do it again!"

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 15h

🗣️ “I feel so much relief – when you’re in the closet, you think you’re not normal or you did something wrong, or like you’re cursed.

Being around people who understand you and accept you, it’s like a big weight off your back. I don’t need to hide myself or to be afraid.”

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 15h

In the UK, Uariumue has found a community at Rainbow Sisters:

🗣️ “When I met other Rainbow Sisters, I started to realise I am not the only one, I am not wrong for trying to be myself.  I made lots of friends, from all over the world... it is a place where I made good friendships."

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 15h

To mark International Lesbian Day, Uariumue a member of our Rainbow Sisters, shared her experiences:

🗣️ “You’re not allowed to be yourself. People are not open about their sexuality because they’re worried about discrimination, being disowned by their families..."

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 15h

Many of our Rainbow Sisters have had to flee their countries due to persecution for being LGBTQ+ - including from countries where being LGBTQ+ is criminalised.

They came to the UK seeking safety. But often face disbelief and uncertainty in the cruel asylum process.

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 15h

Today is #InternationalLesbianDay – a day to celebrate the resilience, strength, and visibility of lesbians. 🌈🌏

It is also a day to reflect and acknowledge the multifaceted discrimination LGBTQ+ people face all around the world.

To mark the day Uariumue shared her experience: tr.ee/oCKcQB
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Women for Refugee Women : “I don’t need to hide myself or be afraid.”

Uairumue, a member of our Rainbow Sisters, shares her experience as a lesbian woman in her home country, and her experience seeking safety in the UK.

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 22h

🗣️"I had lost hope, I didn’t know how I would survive. All this changed when I joined WRW. I started off shy and quiet. Now, I am powerful!"

Donate now to support more refugee women like Olivia to access our warm and welcoming community: tr.ee/Qf7SVq

@biggive.bsky.social 2/2

Her Right to Refuge: Support Women Seeking Safety – Big Give

Many refugee women in the UK face disbelief, trauma, and poverty due to a harsh asylum system. We provide a …

tr.ee

Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 22h

Her Right to Refuge: Support Women Seeking Safety – Big Give

Many refugee women in the UK face disbelief, trauma, and poverty due to a harsh asylum system. We provide a …

tr.ee

1 2 3

Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 3d

📅 Save the date!

For just one week, every donation made to support refugee women will be DOUBLED.

At a time of increasing hostility towards people seeking safety, your support is needed more than ever.

⏰ Weds 8 Oct, 12pm - Weds 15 Oct, 12pm

tr.ee/Qf7SVq

@biggive.bsky.social #WGMF

Her Right to Refuge: Support Women Seeking Safety – Big Give

Many refugee women in the UK face disbelief, trauma, and poverty due to a harsh asylum system. We provide a …

tr.ee

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Reposted by Women for Refugee Women

EVAW Coalition @evawuk.bsky.social · 6d

The racist weaponisation of survivors’ trauma is having horrifying impacts on communities across the country.

We welcome new police VAWG lead Helen Millichap's comments. The evidence shows the vast majority of perpetrators of violence against women and girls are known to the victim.

Top cop warns of 'distraction' from threat facing women

Helen Millichap told Sky News that the "real threat" of violence against women and girls comes from a "multitude" of places, not just asylum seekers.

news.sky.com

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Reposted by Women for Refugee Women

Alasdair Mackenzie @alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social · 7d

As Shami Chakrabarti says in this piece, international human rights law has never protected people from expulsion just because they’d face worse healthcare or prison conditions.

Obviously there’s no way Starmer doesn’t also know this, despite clearly implying here that it does.

So >

PM wants to change how international law used in asylum cases

The UK needs to

www.bbc.co.uk

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 7d

If the Government truly wants to distance itself from the harmful politics of Reform, it must urgently reconsider the direction it is heading in.

These changes will cause HUGE harm.

We've said it before and we'll say it again: the asylum system needs compassion, not cruelty.

9/9

Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 7d

We all need support at times in our lives. No matter who we are or where we come from.

Yet these proposed changes send a clear message: if you fall into hardship and need support, you will be punished and will never be able to receive citizenship in the UK.

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 7d

For people who have been forcibly banned from work whilst claiming asylum, the safety net of welfare support is vital to prevent homelessness and destitution.

Forcing people to choosing between short-term security or long-term security - ILR in the UK - is incredibly cruel.

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 7d

When people are granted refugee status, they have just 28 days to:

👉 Find new accommodation
👉 Find employment
👉 Open a bank account

and much more.

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 7d

These changes will create a two-tier system that effectively punishes people from needing support.

We know from our work supporting refugee women every day that these changes will make it incredibly difficult - if not impossible - for many to receive ILR.

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 7d

These changes, disguised in the language of fairness and contribution, are in reality, restrictive and harmful.

It creates even more barriers for those who have come to the UK seeking safety.

It sends the message that people will never have a permanent home here.

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 7d

Proposed changes to ILR include:

👉 Increasing the time someone must live in the UK from 5 to 10 years;
👉 Never having received welfare benefits - a vital safety net
👉 Having volunteered in your community for a local cause
👉 Being in employment

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 7d

For people who have sought safety in the UK, like the refugee women we support, obtaining ILR grants them the right to live, work and study in the UK permanently.

It is often the final step to finally feeling safe and fully welcome in the UK.

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 7d

🚨Contribution and citizenship.⁣

In her speech at the #LabourPartyConference, the Home Secretary outlined plans to overhaul the rules for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

We're extremely concerned that this will create a two-tier system that punishes people for needing support.⁣

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Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 9d

Together, we've put VAWG firmly on the #LabourPartyConference agenda.

We hope our events, conversations and meetings will inspire those in Government to take the action that is so urgently needed.

18/18

Women for Refugee Women @4refugeewomen.bsky.social · 9d

With huge thanks to our partners @evawuk.bsky.social @sbsisters.bsky.social @lawrsuk.bsky.social @rapecrisis.bsky.social @womensaid.bsky.social @refugecharity.bsky.social @respectuk.bsky.social @seacharity.bsky.social @womensbudgetgrp.bsky.social @safelives.bsky.social for our #VAWGTakeover.

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