Many women seek asylum from sexual violence, rape, gender-related persecution (such as Female Genital Mutilation and forced marriage) but may find it hard to access appropriate legal representation, or prove their case to the Home Office and the courts. If their case is turned down, they are vulnerable to destitution, exploitation, and as ‘failed asylum seekers’ are not eligible for health care. Many women are supporting children in the UK and the combination of trying to survive in a hostile asylum process, and maintain a family life puts many women under huge emotional pressure.
Significant numbers of women suffer from mental and physical health problems as a result of their experiences in their country of origin, made worse by their living conditions here, and others face domestic violence in the UK. For women who are allowed to stay in the UK, the transition from asylum seeker to refugee brings problems, for example accessing housing, employment and education. Older women may be particularly isolated and their needs may be overlooked by service providers or support organisations.
The Vulnerable Women’s Project at the Refugee Council has been developed to identify and help women in the asylum process who are considered to be vulnerable or could potentially become vulnerable. The project works by assessing women’s mental health, health, social circumstances, previous experiences, and takes into account whether they are a refused asylum seeker or if they have been trafficked. The project, funded by Comic Relief, provides practical support to women including counselling, advice, help to access support networks and registering with a GP. By doing so, the project helps women to avoid becoming destitute, or trapped in exploitative situations. An important part of the project is to develop and share good practice, and use the front line evidence gathered to push for changes in government policy, and so challenge the injustice faced by women.
The Older Refugees Programme was developed to address the needs of older refugees, including women. It is a two year partnership initiative, funded by Lloyds TSB, between Age Concern England, the Refugee Council, Age Concern London and the Greater London Association of Older Women (AGLOW).
The programme has provided space for older people with a refugee background to identify gaps in policy and service delivery, explore solutions and raise awareness among policy-makers and service providers of the rights and needs of older refugees.
In January 2008, a conference ' Older Refugees - From Isolation to Integration' will explore how existing and potential initiatives can help integrate older people in to society, and will provide an important platform for future lobbying to improve life for older refugees.
 | | "Being an asylum [seeker] here, it’s like I’m not existing." Yeukai, Zimbabwe
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