Women for Refugee Women challenges the injustices experienced by women who seek asylum in the UK.
We work to empower women who have sought sanctuary in the UK to speak out about their own experiences to the media, to policy-makers and at public events.
We aim to give a voice to women who are all too often unheard and unseen.
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Victory for Lydia Besong
Lydia Besong is a playwright who sought asylum in the UK after being imprisoned and raped in Cameroon as a result of her political activities. She was refused asylum and threatened with forced removal to Cameroon and was detained twice in Yarl's Wood detention centre. Women for Refugee Women has campaigned for her right to safety in the UK. Michael Morpurgo, Juliet Stevenson, Monica Ali and Nick Hornby are among those who have spoken up in her support. Leading lawyers
including Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, Lord Ken Macdonald QC , Professor Philippe Sands QC and John Cooper QC sent an open letter to the Home Secretary asking her to consider the issues raised by Lydia's case. Finally, on 16 May 2012, Lydia Besong was given leave to remain in the UK.
Go here to find out more information about Lydia and her campaign for justice.
Support women refugees
Women for Refugee Women supports a group of women who have sought asylum in the UK, Women Asylum Seekers Together London. WAST London has more than 50 members and meets every week for English classes, lunch, advice sessions and other activities. Many of WAST London's activities are unfunded; if you would like to support these women who have fled persecution from across the globe, why not make a donation today? All donations made through the website are currently used for Women Asylum Seekers Together London and go directly to educating, empowering and supporting women who have sought refuge in the UK.
I admire the work carried out by Women for Refugee Women. By telling the true stories of women and children in the asylum process they woke a lot of people up to the scandal of child detention.
Michael Morpurgo, author of War Horse
I have been delighted to support Women for Refugee Women since its launch- I've been truly inspired by the great work this organisation does, enabling women who seek asylum to speak out - whether at the grassroots or to government ministers.
Oona King
Many refugees and asylum seekers have fled their home countries because of human rights abuses. The work of agencies like Women for Refugee Women is vital for helping people rebuild their lives and have a voice.
Trevor Phillips OBE, chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission
Put the word refugee in front of woman and immediately prejudice and projection arise. Meet a refugee woman, hear her struggles – and her joys – and you encounter a person, like you and me, who has been more than unlucky....
....Women for Refugee Women joins the dots, restores our humanity to ourselves and enables women to fight for theirs. Please support them.
Susie Orbach, psychotherapist and author of Bodies and Fat is a Feminist Issue
Read the stories of women who have come to the UK seeking asylum and find themselves detained, made destitute or in danger of deportation.
See photographs by women refugees who are documenting what home means to them.