Labour’s immigration policy and LAWRS
The Immigration White Paper
In May this year, the UK Government released its Immigration White Paper, outlining a series of proposed changes to immigration policy. These proposals have created widespread uncertainty and fear among migrant communities — feelings that persist today, as many details remain undecided.
The direction taken by the government is deeply concerning. Rather than dismantling the hostile environment created under previous Conservative governments, it seeks to entrench and expand it — to the detriment of society as a whole.
The proposed measures are, and will continue to be, particularly harmful to migrant women — especially those who are survivors of gender-based violence, trafficking, modern slavery, and exploitative or unsafe working conditions.
LAWRS, together with partner organisations Southall Black Sisters, Hibiscus and EVAW, joined by 100+ organisations, are fighting these cruel policies. We have released a response outlining how they will harm migrant women and concluded with a protest outside of the Home Office on the 15th of October. However, we know that this will be a long fight — one that will require sustained collective action, solidarity across movements, and a continued commitment to centring the voices and leadership of migrant women.
Why are we so concerned?
Mainstreaming the far-right in immigration policies
The White Paper marks a dangerous and racially discriminatory escalation which scapegoats immigrants, not austerity, for economic and social deprivation. The government is mainstreaming far-right rhetoric, using this to inform reactionary policy-making at a time when violence against immigrants, asylum-seekers and refugees is increasing.
This is evident not only in the White Paper, but in subsequent statements from the Prime Minister and other members of his cabinet, as well as in the government’s failure to condemn the actions of far-right groups who are targeting migrants and people seeking asylum.
Migrant victim/survivors of domestic abuse
The government has pledged to halve gender-based violence in 10 years. Yet in its White Paper, it fails to address the vulnerability of migrant women survivors of VAWG. Frontline services such as LAWRS support migrant women whose inability to access mainstream refuges, financial support, stable housing or quality legal advice prevents them from fleeing domestic abuse and rebuilding their lives. Existing protections, such as the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession (MVDAC) and Domestic Violence Indefinite Leave to Remain (DVILR) are extremely limited, and cover only a limited number of women with insecure immigration status.
Moreover, the risk of statutory services, including the police, sharing information with immigration enforcement is directly weaponised by perpetrators, deterring reporting and access to protection. Individuals who are now in government have previously emphasised the critical need for a firewall between immigration enforcement and the police. Despite this, commitments to remove these barriers have not been followed through, and protections remain unavailable for most migrant victim/survivors.
Labour market and immigration
This government continues to devalue what they frame as “low-skilled” roles overwhelmingly held by migrant women in the UK. This includes care work, cleaning and support services, where essential workers already lack fair conditions and robust protections. The decision to scrap care worker visas is particularly alarming and risks collapsing an already fragile sector.
We are alarmed that genuine workforce planning and sectoral investment are being replaced with a reliance on migrant women workers as temporary stopgaps for labour shortages. By restricting their access to long-term stability and settlement, these policies force workers to accept poor conditions and deepen dependency on partners or employers, increasing the risk of abuse and exploitation
We also wholly reject the government’s framing of immigration control as a means to address labour exploitation. This narrative misrepresents the root causes of abuse in the labour market and instead targets the victims/survivors, rather than the exploitative employers who profit from their precarity.
Criminalisation of victim/survivors
In the UK, most women in prison or under community supervision have experienced abuse or exploitation. For vulnerable migrant survivors, criminality often results from coercion or economic precarity. As expressed above, migrant women also face barriers to report abuse and exploitation, meaning they slip through the cracks before later coming into contact with the criminal justice system. Automatic deportation and accelerated removals will prevent survivors from pursuing meaningful justice and rebuilding their lives.
Urgent priorities for action
The Government faces an urgent choice: to continue bolstering far-right ideology or to take immediate action to protect migrant victims/survivors. We call on the Government to:
- Abandon the UK Government’s Immigration White Paper (May 2025), which harms victim/survivors of VAWG, trafficking and modern slavery.
- Implement safe reporting mechanisms.
- End the criminalisation of victim/survivors of VAWG, trafficking and modern slavery.
- Fully repeal the Illegal Migration Act (2023) and the Nationality and Borders Act (2022).
- Tackle systemic racism and structural inequalities.
- Centre and provide ring-fenced funding for by and for organisations.
- Extend the combined MVDAC-DVILR model to all victim/survivors regardless of immigration status.
VAWG Takeover at Labour Conference: Putting Women and Girls at the Centre
As the Labour Party Conference gets underway this weekend, specialist violence against women and girls (VAWG) organisations will take over the agenda – calling on the government to turn its pledge to halve VAWG within a decade into meaningful action.
Leading VAWG organisations – including community-based ‘by and for’ services – are coming together at the Conference to have the urgent conversations this government has neglected to hold. Through three key events, we will call for vital reforms:
● Sunday 28 September – Reception on building a whole-system approach to VAWG, focused on the sector’s priorities for the national strategy to ensure a joined-up, coordinated response to preventing VAWG, investing in support for victim-survivors, and holding perpetrators and institutions to account.
● Monday 29 September – Roundtable on the erasure of Black, minoritised, and migrant women and girls from government commitments, focused on the systemic barriers facing these communities and the urgent reforms needed to ensure access to life-saving support and justice.
● Tuesday 30 September – Panel on post-separation abuse of women and children, focused on the hidden harms of abuse that continue after separation and the measures government must take to address them.
These events will amplify the call for:
● A comprehensive, integrated, whole-system approach to prevent and respond to all forms of VAWG - including domestic abuse, sexual violence, economic abuse, so-called ‘honour’-based abuse, stalking, and online harms.
● Multi-year funding for specialist victim-survivor support services, with ringfenced support for ‘by and for’ organisations.
● Recognition of children as victims in their own right.
● A full firewall between the police and Immigration Enforcement, and the abolition of No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) for migrant victim-survivors.
● The inclusion of asylum-seeking women within the government’s mission to end VAWG.
The Labour government’s pledge to halve VAWG within a decade is a welcome starting point. But pledges alone will not be enough. As the scourge of VAWG – perpetrated disproportionately by men – continues to devastate lives, urgent and decisive action is required. Too many victim-survivors are left with lasting trauma, and for some, the consequences are fatal. VAWG organisations’ events at the Conference will make clear that if the government is serious about its mission, it must listen to the sector, centre women and girls in every decision, and deliver the reforms needed to end VAWG once and for all.
For far too long, state failures to prevent violence and respond effectively to victim-survivors have left women and girls with little confidence in the system. A recent survey revealed that 69% of women had either first- or second-hand experience of VAWG. Black, minoritised, and migrant women and girls are further marginalised by institutional racism and the barrier of NRPF. Research shows migrant women with NRPF are three times more likely to be subjected to VAWG. Femicide figures in London also highlight racial disproportionality: in 2023, over 62% of victims were Black, a shocking rise from 43% in 2022.
These numbers should stop us in our tracks. Behind every statistic is a woman or girl whose life has been cut short or profoundly harmed. Now, more than ever, we must prioritise tackling VAWG. The Labour manifesto offers hope for long-overdue reforms – reforms the specialist VAWG sector has been championing for decades.
Yet progress has been slow and, to VAWG organisations’ deep disappointment, meaningful consultation has been blocked. Even discussions on the forthcoming VAWG strategy – which will likely underpin the government’s solutions – have excluded many of the very experts who work alongside victim-survivors daily. This is alarming. The sector’s expertise is rooted in decades of lived experience and frontline evidence; silencing these voices risks designing policies that fail the very women they are meant to protect.
Instead of centring victim-survivors, the government has leaned too heavily on a criminal justice approach. Reform of our broken system is essential, as it currently re-traumatises many victim-survivors of sexual violence and abuse, particularly due to lengthy Crown Court backlogs and shamefully low charging and attrition rates. Yet a sole focus on the criminal justice system ignores the widespread mistrust that many women and girls hold towards it, preventing them from ever engaging with the system in the first place. This mistrust is even more acute for Black, minoritised, and migrant women, who often face disbelief, racist stereotypes, and the absence of a firewall to protect them from Immigration Enforcement when seeking help. Without a firewall, many women are forced to choose between silence and safety, fearing that reporting abuse will lead to detention or deportation. Research from the Step Up Migrant Women campaign found that over 60% of migrant women had the abuser threaten them with deportation if they sought help – showing how immigration status is weaponised to trap women in abuse.
Compounding this, investment in life-saving support has been grossly inadequate. Community-based ‘by and for’ services – proven to be highly effective – are six times less likely to receive government funding. Despite evidence showing a need for £502 million annually for victim-survivor domestic abuse support, including £280 million for community-based services, only £19.9 million additional funding has been pledged for victim-survivor support services this year to a handful of services, in the context of actual and real-terms cuts to existing funding streams. The effect of this inadequate funding is already having a tangible impact on victim-survivor services and victim-survivors, with three specialist Rape Crisis centres forced to close their doors already this year and services for Black, minoritised, and migrant victim-survivors operating under unprecedented precarity. While the Government has invested £53 million across four years into high-risk, high-harm domestic abuse perpetrator responses, the disparity with direct investment in essential victim-survivor support, particularly specialist ‘by and for’ services and sexual violence provision, is stark. These services remain on a cliff edge, raising a pressing question: where in these measures are victim-survivors being seen, heard, and supported?
The focus on reporting and already identified perpetrators sidelines Black, minoritised, and migrant women – particularly those with insecure immigration status – who face structural barriers to engaging
with the criminal justice system. The failure to invest in specialist ‘by and for’ services not only leaves them with limited avenues for safety but also costs the state. Estimates show investment in such services could save £127 million nationally. Without this investment, marginalised women are left with the least protections and the greatest risks. In the current political climate, these risks are further exacerbated by the way VAWG is being weaponised to fuel racist, anti-immigrant narratives – distracting from the true causes of violence and undermining the frontline work that is already saving lives.
VAWG organisations see the Conference as a vital opportunity to reset the government’s approach. We urge ministers to recognise the urgency of what is being called for – and to work in partnership with the VAWG sector to deliver the transformative change women and girls have been demanding for decades.
Selma Taha, Executive Director, Southall Black Sisters, said:
“While we welcome the government’s commitment to halving violence against women and girls within a decade, we are extremely concerned that the current approach risks leaving Black, minoritised, and migrant women and girls behind. Specialist, community-based ‘by and for’ services have too often been sidelined and excluded from vital conversations about the urgent reforms needed to prevent and address VAWG. We are calling for an end to this exclusion – we must have a seat at the table to share the lived experiences and needs of some of the most marginalised women and girls, and to contribute meaningfully to shaping legal and policy reforms, particularly in an increasingly racist and hostile immigration environment. We hope that the VAWG takeover at the Labour Party Conference will be a first step toward that change.”
Gisela Valle, Executive Director, Latin American Women’s Rights Service, said:
“For far too long we have known that the prioritisation of immigration control over safety places migrant women at risk of violence and abuse whilst severely limiting their access to justice and support. Recent vital pieces of legislation such as the Domestic Abuse Act and the Victims and Prisoners Act left migrant survivors completely unprotected, cementing existing discriminatory responses that disproportionately affect black and minoritised migrant women. For this reason, an ambition to halve VAWG could not be achieved if it doesn’t specifically address the needs of those most marginalised and offers equal protection to all. The ending VAWG sector is keen to support the government’s development of a strategy that brings all of these considerations to the table to develop robust system wide responses that effectively respond to the needs of the most vulnerable. We view the VAWG takeover at the Labour Party Conference as a prime opportunity to foster this collaboration for the benefit of all.”
Andrea Vukovic, Co-Director, Women for Refugee Women, said:
“Most women seeking asylum in the UK are survivors of gender-based violence – including rape, domestic abuse, forced marriage, sexual exploitation, and female genital cutting. Yet their experiences are routinely overlooked, and instead of receiving the safety and support they need to recover, they are met with an asylum system that exposes them to further abuse, exploitation and harm. This not only causes immense suffering but directly undermines the Government’s ability to meet its pledge to halve violence against women and girls within a decade. If asylum-seeking women are excluded from this promise, a dangerous two-tier system will persist – where asylum-seeking women, predominantly from racialised backgrounds, are treated as less deserving of protection and support. We look forward to building momentum around this issue at the Labour Party Conference, and to working with others across the sector to push for a VAWG strategy that leaves no woman behind. The government must recognise that protecting all survivors is not optional, it is essential for achieving real, lasting change.”
Dr Sara Reis, Deputy Director and Head of Policy and Research, UK Women’s Budget Group, said:
“The lifetime economic cost of sexual violence and abuse perpetrated in one year alone is estimated to be £400 billion. Failing to invest in tackling VAWG is not just morally indefensible – it’s also economically reckless.”
Gemma Sherrington, CEO, Refuge, said:
“The government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls is ambitious and important – and it’s vital we do not let that focus slip. This commitment must mean halving all forms of VAWG – both online and offline – and protecting all women and girls, including Black, minoritised and migrant women, and those with insecure immigration status. It must be backed by long-term, sustainable funding for frontline services – particularly ‘by and for’ organisations – and developed in genuine partnership with the specialist VAWG sector. We have a real opportunity to transform the systems that are failing women. We cannot afford to waste it.”
Ciara Bergman, Chief Executive, Rape Crisis England & Wales, said:
“Every year, Rape Crisis centres support enough survivors to fill Wembley Stadium. Our 24/7 Support Line connects another stadium’s worth of calls. And over a million people come to our website, most often wanting to know whether what happened to them ‘counts’.
We think it does. But a lack of political will or funding commitments means we are on the brink of losing these, and other, specialist support services. Rape Crisis Centres have not benefited from additional funding announcements, 3 Rape Crisis Centres have closed in the last year alone, and almost a third of our remaining centres (27%) are at risk of imminent closure unless the government commit to extending funding beyond March 2026. We call on the Government to secure the future of all services supporting women in the aftermath of VAWG, including vital specialist by-and-for services supporting Black, minoritised and migrant women and girls.
Survivors of male violence and abuse deserve better than this, and we know it’s possible.”
Farah Nazeer, CEO, Women’s Aid, said:
“We are at a pivotal moment in our fight towards eradicating domestic abuse – our government has made the welcome commitment to halving VAWG in the next decade and the time for decisive action is now. We urge the government to work with us and our sector colleagues to deliver change where it truly matters – the epidemic of VAWG will not be solved without addressing the root causes of misogyny and racism. Improving perpetrator responses and the criminal justice system alone will not work in isolation, we must listen to survivors and support them where they need it most, and for that, long-term, secure funding for domestic abuse services is essential. Only this can guarantee that the sector continues providing life-saving support to women and children when and where they need it most. Survivors must have the same access to support regardless of where they are in the country, regardless of their race or immigration status. The upcoming Strategy is a unique opportunity to make true, long-lasting change and keep women and children safe – we stand ready to work together to end this heinous crime once and for all.”
Andrea Simon, Executive Director, End Violence Against Women Coalition, said:
“We are now over one year on from the Labour government’s election with its manifesto commitment to halve VAWG within a decade. We are still without any published VAWG strategy which sets out what action the government plans to take to uphold the rights of women and girls to live free from violence and abuse. This state of limbo is causing great uncertainty for our coalition – with every day that passes, more
women and girls are avoidably harmed and life-saving specialist VAWG services lose staff and face risk of closure. Meanwhile, the government’s approach to migration continues to entrap survivors, whilst migrant and racialised communities are targeted and scapegoated. The challenge we face is urgent. The End Violence Against Women Coalition is participating in this VAWG takeover at Labour Party conference to ensure that VAWG is a political priority for the government, that all survivors are supported without discrimination, and to set out our recommendations for change.”
Sam Smethers, CEO, Surviving Economic Abuse, said:
“Last year, 4.1 million UK women had their money and belongings controlled by an abusive current or ex-partner, trapping them in dangerous situations and making it harder to rebuild their lives. Black, Asian and other racially marginalised women are disproportionately affected, facing economic abuse at more than twice the rate of White women. For migrant victim-survivors, the risks are even greater and escape routes even fewer. To halve violence against women and girls, the government must scrap no recourse to public funds for migrant survivors, create a firewall between statutory services and immigration enforcement, and ensure migrant survivors can open a bank account while regularising their status. The Prime Minister has rightly called economic abuse a “national emergency”. Now we need action to match those words and break the cycle of economic abuse.”
Liz Thompson, Director of External Relations, SafeLives, said:
“We are 100% behind the ambition to halve VAWG in ten years. We call on the PM and the Chancellor to back this commitment with effective long-term resourcing for the system and the services which respond to victims and survivors, particularly those working to support marginalized and minoritised victims, and ensuring these voices are heard. We want to see all Government departments playing an active role and backing any fine words in the new strategy with real cash and hard commitments. Survivor voices must be at the heart of the new strategy along with meaningful engagement with VAWG and domestic abuse services, who play such a vital role in supporting them. We see the ambition from key Ministers to driving change – let’s match that with a pan-Government strategy which goes beyond the criminal justice system and into every area of the response. We stand ready to play our part in making that real for every adult and child survivor.”
Jo Todd CBE, Chief Executive, Respect, said:
“Respect is pleased to be working with our fellow VAWG sector partners to deliver our collective messages at this year's Labour conference. The pledge to halve VAWG in a decade is an ambitious one that will only be fulfilled if the government takes a wider view that not only goes beyond criminal justice but also looks at the root causes of domestic abuse. In addition, we need to see government deliver the funding needed for victims to match the scale of the problem. We stand with our colleagues from the “by and for” organisations that have long been calling for meaningful inclusion in the development of the VAWG strategy, and for issues such as the lack of a firewall to protect migrant victims of domestic abuse to be addressed, as a matter of urgency.”
Finding Strength Together: Voices from Our Peer Support Sessions
For Latin American women in the UK, navigating the isolating and often hidden realities of domestic abuse is compounded by the challenges of being a migrant. Every year LAWRS organizes peer support sessions tailored to meet the needs of our community. Our aim is to create a safe space where these women can share their voices, reclaim their power, and take steps toward healing.
Addressing Unique Challenges
The systemic barriers and the hostile environment in the UK make an already difficult situation even harder, putting fundamental human rights at risk. Perpetrators also often use the hostile environment to keep victims/survivors trapped. LAWRS recognizes that migrant victims/survivors are not vulnerable by nature but are instead made vulnerable by the structural injustices they face - whether it’s limited access to resources, the challenges of No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition, insecure immigration status, or cultural stigma around domestic abuse.
This year’s peer support sessions incorporated a focus on policy for the first time. This new element addressed the broader challenges victims/survivors face and aimed to empower them to become part of the change.
Through collaboration between the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Policy teams, these sessions helped amplify survivors’ voices and connect their personal journeys to LAWRS’ advocacy and campaigns.
A Space for Healing and Empowerment
These sessions provided much more than information - they offered a sanctuary of safety, confidentiality, and, most importantly, the freedom to share experiences without judgment. For several of the participants, it was the first time they had felt truly seen and heard.
As one participant shared:
"I thought I wouldn’t be able to speak because I struggle so much. But this group was different. It gave me the strength to open up. Knowing I wasn’t alone made all the difference."
Each session was uniquely structured, focusing on topics that resonated deeply with the survivors lived experiences, including:
- Male Privilege and Gender Roles: Reflecting on how cultural norms perpetuate inequality.
- The Cycle of Violence: Recognizing harmful patterns, with one participant admitting, "I thought it was love."
- The Wheel of Power and Control: Learning to identify and understand abusive behaviors.
- Stages of the Journey: Focusing on moving forward and reclaiming their lives.
- Myths About Domestic Abuse: Breaking down taboos and rebuilding self-esteem after emotional abuse.
- Protecting Children: Offering tools to safeguard children from manipulation and harm.
These topics were particularly meaningful in illustrating the context and cultural norms that are associated with traditional gender roles and familial expectations, such as remaining with the perpetrator no matter the abuse and trauma especially if there are children involved, often creating additional barriers to recognizing and addressing abuse.
Surpassing Expectations
The majority of the participants arrived at the sessions uncertain, carrying heavy burdens of fear, anger, and self-doubt. One participant described her journey:"I came into this with so much anger, but through these sessions, I feel empowered. Talking about these issues has been incredibly helpful. This group was really useful, it was dynamic, respectful."
Another reflected on how these sessions defied her initial expectations: "I thought it would be like other support groups, maybe something like AA. But after the first session, I realized it was completely different. It was perfect for me - a space to have real conversations. They helped me more than I could have imagined."
A Community
One of the most powerful realizations to come from the group was the shared understanding among participants that domestic abuse affects women regardless of age, education, or background. One participant shared, "for the first time, I realized that what I was going through was part of the cycle of violence. The information gave me clarity and helped me make the decision to leave my relationship and be with my baby."
This connection created a ripple effect of empowerment. Many women expressed a desire to share what they had learned with others in the Latin American community, creating a domino effect of awareness and support. "We want to spread the word so that more women know there are safe spaces like this," one participant explained.
Beyond the Sessions: A Call to Action
LAWRS remains committed to listening to and supporting the voices of our community; to pursue equal rights and social justice for all Latin American women and migrant women in the UK. We want survivors to remember that what they’ve endured is not their fault and that their voices are powerful and a catalyst for change. These peer support sessions are a doorway to understanding these points further. At the end of these sessions, some of the women were inspired to take their involvement further, expressing a desire to join LAWRS’ advocacy and policy work as part of their healing journey.
LAWRS’ mission is to ensure no woman walks this journey alone. From providing vital resources to amplifying voices, our work is rooted in the belief that every survivor deserves support, dignity, and a pathway to healing.
A Message to Our Community: You Are Not Alone
To every Latin American woman facing similar challenges: You are not alone. Spaces like these exist to help you heal, find your strength, and use your voice to stand up for your rights.
As one participant said, “I feel very strong.” Another shared, “I am so grateful for all the help; it has been very meaningful to me.”
Your experiences matter, and your voice is powerful. Let’s continue to uplift one another and build a community where every woman feels seen, heard, and supported.
If you or someone you know needs support, LAWRS is here for you. Reach out to us - this is your space, and we are ready to listen.
Bringing purpose to my life
By Rizia, volunteer on the LAWRS helpline and on the Psychotherapy Team as Administrator.
Introduction
Nice to meet you, my name is Rizia Cabral. I am Brazilian, born in the Amazon region, third daughter of 5, trained psychiatrist and for more than a year I have been volunteering for Latin American Women's Right Service.
When I decided to apply for a volunteer role at LAWRS, I was looking for fulfillment in my new life in the UK. With basic English I was trying to say out loud that I want more of this experience of living in foreign lands. I was unable to occupy the available space on the VAWG team after my interview for the position. But the first step had been taken. The volunteer coordinator, Betsy, promptly offered me a new opportunity to perform another role as a Portuguese Helpline Agent. This time I studied hard to give my best in the interview. My desire to feel useful and return to work had gained even more strength after getting to know and learning more about LAWRS. This time the position was mine.
My experience as a Helpline Agent
Listening to the vulnerabilities of Latin American women and working as a team in the first contact and reception of service users was great. Supporting our community and feeling like you belong to a group has been incredible. I have never imagined how strong an impact this could have on my personal life. I was able to appreciate the extent of my privileges when I realized the number of women who go through and deal with extreme suffering here in the UK. At the same time, I identified with the shared sufferings of all of us, Latin American women : the challenge of a new language, a new environment, a new perspective on life, homesickness and many others. I also learned a lot about my adaptability and resilience, necessary to move forward. I developed more confidence in my intellectual capacity, I created strategies to deal with my fears and my false beliefs about myself. Each woman I supported on the helpline taught me with her story and touched me as a human being in a transformative way.
Transition to Psychotherapy Service Administrator
I continue to work as a volunteer administrator of the psychotherapy team. I can see a big and profound change in myself in the professional field. I am not only involved with the Latin American community, participating in workshops or contacting our clients to measure mood and anxiety data or verify their satisfaction with our service offered. But I have also participated in discussions and exchanges of experiences with my fellow psychologists and counselors in the office.
This exchange has been so rich in terms of learning, as well as personal encouragement, for me to take further professional and academic steps here in the UK. To give you an example: I am in the process of validating my specialty here. I was successful in my first exam (paper A) at the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Back then, before I managed to expose myself to my first volunteer interview, I couldn't even dream of practicing my profession here in the United Kingdom. Before, there were only fleeting moments when I could see myself working as a doctor here in the UK. But being embraced by LAWRS opened doors for me to make definitive changes, changes in thought and behavior.
Now, I walk a path filled with purpose and hope. I can't wait to share even more with you. To each member of LAWRS and to each person reached by our services: Thank you very much!
Join our Young Women’s Advisory Board 2024
Would you like to inspire and unlock your full potential to champion and lead action to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG)?
At LAWRS, we are looking for 12 enthusiastic Latin American Young Women aged 18 to 24, based in London, to join our Young Women’s Advisory Board for one year.
What’s it about?
The Young Women’s Advisory Board is an initiative by the Latin American Women’s Rights Service (LAWRS) and its project for girls and young women: Sin Fronteras. The programme seeks to train Latin American Young Women for collective action at the intersection of migration, age, and gender, amongst others.
This programme provides you with theoretical and practical skills in feminist leadership and advocacy that you will be able to apply in your life, your career, and your community.
The program will be held in English and Spanish, and meetings will be in-person in London.
Who’s it for?
Latin American Young Women aged 18 to 24*, based in London, are invited to participate in the Young Women’s Advisory Board and will receive a stipend to support their engagement in the programme (at London Living Wage levels).
Please note: this also includes first and second-generation of young women with Latin American ethnicity and European/UK nationality.
* Please notice you must be at most 24 years old by the time of submitting the application form.
How?
The one year programme (Apr.2024 - Mar.2025) consists of 8 sessions Leadership and Advocacy training (Saturdays, Jun. Oct and Sep. 2024), 9 Discussion Meetings about tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) as Latin American young migrant women advocates (Apr, Jun, Nov, Dec 2024, Jan, Feb and Mar 2025) and 3 planned activities (LAWRS’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), LAWRS’ International Women’s Day (IWD) and the Million Women Rise March). (Nov.2024 and Mar.2025)
Programme Timeline
Programme Starts: Saturday 27th April - Opening Session. (11 am – 3 pm) in-person in London.
Saturday 11th May: Discussion session to set goals for the year. (11 am – 3 pm) in-person in London.
Leadership and Advocacy training sessions:
- Saturdays 08th and 15th June 2024. (11 am – 4 pm) in-person in London.
- Saturdays 07th, 14th, 21st and 28th June 2024. (11 am – 4 pm) in-person in London.
- Saturdays 12th and 26th October 2024. (11 am – 4 pm) in-person in London.
Further discussion sessions:
- 13th and 27th Jul, 9th Nov, 7th Dec. 2024, 25th Jan and 15th Feb 2025. (11 am – 3 pm) in-person in London.
Other activities*:
- 23rd Nov. 2024 - LAWRS’ AGM
- 1st Mar. 2025 - LAWRS’ IWD
- 8th Mar. 2025 - Million Women Rise March
* Throughout the year we expect to have participative activities where the YWAB can amplify their network and uptake action. It will be In-person meetings in London, time to be confirmed. These are highly recommended activities, however they are not compulsory and will not be financially compensated.
Program Ends: Saturday 15th March 2025.
Benefits
With the Young Women’s Advisory Board, you can gain skills, meet new people, and influence LAWRS’ policy work bringing youth voices to the centre of the organisation and the public debate.
Get involved in the work that we do, get paid for your time, gain valuable experience to include in your CV, get trained in leadership and activism, and be invited to LAWRS events and beyond!
This is your chance to create a more equal world for girls and young women, participate in a collective social change actions programme to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), and shape LAWRS’ policy work.
Apply Now!
Apply online using our Application Form
Applications are open until Monday, 22nd April 2024.
Please note that completion of the application form does not guarantee a place in the programme. If your application is accepted, you will be invited to an online interview/call in the following days. If selected, you are expected to attend the PYL’s Leadership and Advocacy training in September.
Contact
Taline, the project coordinator, would be happy to talk to you if you have any questions or need support with your application.
Contact her at: sinfronteras@lawrs.org.uk / 07802 645001.
We would be grateful if you could also share this information with your network, as we want to ensure many young women know about this opportunity, especially those with a passion for making a difference in the lives of women and girls.
Thank you for taking an interest. We can’t wait to hear from you!
VAWG Sector Joint Statement on Social Housing Allocations Consultation
March 2024
The government’s ‘British homes for British people’ proposal raises strong concerns from the VAWG sector, especially for by-and-for organisations that support marginalised groups. The proposed changes to the social housing allocation as a means to tackle a chronic lack of suitable social housing would create further barriers and discrimination towards survivors of domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG), preventing them from accessing safe and affordable housing at a time when local councils are on their knees, facing unprecedented financial difficulties and demand for social housing. Marginalised groups will be greatly disproportionately impacted. Migrant survivors of VAWG, in particular, will be forced to face another barrier in the already existing hostile environment.
Safe, affordable housing – including social homes – for women and children escaping VAWG is an urgent priority. Our organisations see first hand the devastating cost of the housing crisis on survivors, who are often forced to ‘choose’ between homelessness and housing insecurity or remaining with a perpetrator, leaving them in trapped situations. But the government’s proposals to restrict access to the social housing register based on the number of years households have lived in the UK, or within their local area, will do nothing to tackle this. Instead, survivors will face even greater restrictions to accessing the severe lack of social housing and these policies will contribute further to the already existing hostile environment facing migrant women. It is highly concerning that the changes will remove access or social housing for migrant women who do have recourse to public funds, such as refugees, despite their eligibility being protected by international law.
Migrant survivors of VAWG, once again, will have to desperately try to navigate in a system that already affects them disproportionately. There is little relevance between the policy and the needs of survivors. Children will also be heavily implicated, creating further instability and uncertainty to their safety. Rather than implementing the urgent changes survivors need to exempt them from restrictive local connection requirements, the Government has chosen to prioritise further consultation on these divisive measures.
LAWRS, along with other organisations in the VAWG sector urge the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to prioritise building more social housing and delivering the reforms that women and children experiencing VAWG desperately need. The Government should urgently publish its response to the local connection restrictions and joint tenancy reform, and deliver its commitment to empower survivors with the ability to decide what is best for them - remaining in their own home or moving to another home - rather than proceeding with harmful changes to social housing allocations. Most importantly, urgent measures should be taken to provide all survivors, namely those with no recourse to public funds, with equal access to life-saving domestic abuse support and safe accommodation.
Read our full statement here
Supportive pathways
By Mariana (She/her)
Recently, as part of my volunteering with LAWRS, I took part in a Peer Support group for women victim/survivors of gender-based abuse. This is a space designed to offer safety, confidentiality, and, above all, freedom to share our experiences without any judgment. For our participants, the only requirement to join the group was to have lived experience of abuse.
Initially, I admit I didn't know what to expect. The idea of meeting strangers to discuss topics we often avoid even with those closest to us seemed unusual, intimidating, and uncomfortable. How would we address such complex and painful issues? What if no one wanted to share their experiences?
Our meetings were structured around specific themes, from understanding what gender roles are to exploring healthy relationships and the myths surrounding domestic abuse, among others. We prepared materials for each session such as videos, songs, and other types of content, which then became starting points for our group discussions.
Each session was unique, bringing us closer as a group but also closer to ourselves. I learned that understanding our pain became easier and more evident when seeing it reflected in my peers, and the compassion we apply when hearing their stories is the same we ought to apply to ourselves. I discovered new perspectives and found an unexpected sense of solidarity and mutual understanding.
As the sessions progressed, sharing became easier and participation more comfortable; each week felt like gathering with old friends. But undoubtedly, the most unexpected part of my experience was realising that this place, intended to address difficult issues, was filled with laughter and joy. Despite addressing serious matters, we found moments of lightness and camaraderie. Each woman who participated in these sessions gifted me a piece of her story, a piece of wisdom I carry with me.
This group showed me that our experiences as women, although diverse, connect us in the same context. The injustices and violence we face do not discriminate by age, country, education, or socioeconomic status. We are sisters in this common struggle, sharing an understanding that transcends our differences.
It's curious how we find some comfort in realising that we're not alone in our experiences and emotions—feeling validated knowing that other women have faced similar situations. However, this comfort is weighed down by the inevitable question of 'why’.
We ask ourselves: why are our stories so similar? Why do we repeatedly find ourselves in vulnerable situations? Why do we feel unfairly and disproportionately judged? It's unsettling to see how we're constantly in the position of being victims of the same crimes and injustices. It leads us to question why, despite progress and efforts, we still face these barriers, these limitations imposed on us simply because we're women.
We find ourselves needing to take a defensive stance, holding a persistent state of alertness. But there are times when we also become part of this cycle, judging those who attempt to challenge these limitations imposed on us and are so deeply ingrained in us that we often impose them on ourselves.
In this group, I was reminded of the importance of a continuous fight for equality, the need to break free from limiting structures, and the desire to build a more equitable and just world for all women.
It was a pleasure and an honour to share this space with these resilient women, and above all, I discovered that mutual support and open, respectful discussion are a refuge and a space for growth and healing.
Empowering Voices: LAWRS’ Young Women's Advisory Board Launch their first campaign
In a world where diverse voices are increasingly recognised through making their way to be heard, a group of remarkable young Latin American women based in London is stepping onto the political stage with a vision of social change. These young women are not only challenging stereotypes but also working towards contributing to reshaping the political landscape in the UK.
In commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, we will spotlight the work our YWAB has developed in the last months.
The campaign includes 12 images that portray their work on identifying the barriers to support that young Latin American Migrant Women encounter when facing violence against women and girls (VAWG).
The Latin American community in the UK remains invisible and underserved. Young Latin American Women are all too familiar with the stereotypes associated with their heritage, but they are determined to break free from these preconceptions. This campaign focuses on showcasing their unique identities, skills, and visions for a brighter future in the political arena to tackle VAWG.
What sets this campaign apart is the incredible diversity of perspectives and experiences these young women bring to the table. Hailing from different countries across Latin America, they have a profound understanding of the cultural, social, and economic issues affecting their communities and the broader UK society. By drawing on this diversity, the campaign aims to provide key findings and recommendations with a holistic approach and an inclusive vision for a better future for all women.
Launching a political campaign is no small feat, and these young Latin American women understand the challenges that lie ahead. They face the barriers typically encountered by women in policy spaces and the additional structural hurdles that come with being part of a minoritised group. Despite this, their hope and determination shine through as they believe social change is possible through persistence, collaboration and advocacy.
The YWAB spearheading this campaign in the UK represents a beacon of hope for communities that have been marginalised. By focusing on gender equality, prevention of every form of VAWG, representation, fair access to higher education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and cultural exchange, they are working towards a brighter future for all. Their campaign is a testament to the power of diversity, unity, and the resilience of young voices determined to make a difference in the world. As we follow their journey, we can't help but be inspired by their passion and dedication to creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
You can find further details in this report.
Contact
Taline, the project coordinator, would be happy to talk to you if you have any questions or if you want to participate in our group activities for Young Latin American Women. Contact her at: sinfronteras@lawrs.org.uk / 07802 645001.
Take action to ensure the Victims and Prisoners Bill protects migrant women
https://youtu.be/E_ZjwtDdMv0
Migrant women are disproportionately impacted by serious crime. As recognised by the
government, this vulnerability is linked to the limited avenues for support available due to their insecure immigration status. Moreover, perpetrators and exploiters weaponise women’s status to limit their options further, keeping them trapped in harm.
Amongst migrant victims of crime, one of the most significant barriers to accessing support and justice is low confidence in approaching the police and other statutory agencies to report crime and ask for help. This lack of trust is not unjustified but fostered by existing data-sharing agreements between statutory services, including the police and the Home Office. Freedom of information requests (FOI) showed that between May 2020 and September 2022, the police shared the details of over 2,000 vulnerable victims with Immigration Enforcement after victims reported the crime. Some of these victims have been served with enforcement papers and are at risk of deportation. Recently, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner revealed that all police forces in England and Wales have shared information with Immigration Enforcement after victims of domestic abuse approached them for support.
In 2020, three independent police watchdogs conducting a super-complaint investigation concluded that these data-sharing agreements between the police and the Home Office are causing significant harm to the public interest because serious crimes are not reported and investigated, allowing perpetrators to act with impunity.
We need your support to ensure migrant victims and survivors of crime are not excluded from safety.
Write to your MP
- To obtain your MP details, please click here and enter your postcode. We have worked on a template letter to make this easier for you. Click here to download it.
Share this campaign with your contacts.
- Follow us on our Twitter account for updates about this campaign and our work.
For further information, contact us:
Elizabeth Jiménez-Yáñez, elizabeth@lawrs.org.uk
Carolina Caicedo, carolina@lawrs.org.uk
How can we continue doing community organising in times of a cost of living crisis?
By Carolina Cal
‘After all I have experienced, my mental and physical health are on the floor but I can only keep going’ shared a 62 years old woman from Ecuador who had migrated twice prior to moving to the UK six years ago.
Unfortunately stories like this are very common within our Latin American community, especially for women, as discussed in the session Understanding my story with resilience and empowerment: "When we migrate, we still need to be the best mum, best partner, best employee…it's a lot for us and if I fail in one of these, I feel very guilty, it's an endless guilt cycle".
Pointed out by a group of women attending Krav Marga/self-defence lessons at LAWRS, the situation has worsened after the pandemic. The economic crisis, exploitation at work, and less government support have put a lot more pressure on women, affecting their mental health with their stress and anxiety increasing. On top of it al, structural barriers navigating these challenges have also tightened: discrimination, racism, lack of opportunities and isolation are still a reality for many of us.
How can we organise politically as a community if we are struggling to meet our basic needs?
According to the artist, abolitionist and writer Patrice Cullors, ‘good community work doesn't come with exhausted or worn-down community members’. By good she means to organise with love and understanding rather than mirroring a world based on punishment and vengeance that ostracises people who need help. Instead, she encourages us, organisers, to first try to use everything in our arsenal, whether engaging through film, literature, or food sharing events, to care and inspire communities to dream up the possibilities of another, and more equal world.
With the intention of taking care of Latin American migrant women participating in our activities, WARMI, LAWRS Community Activism programme has partnered with the Outreach Team on the delivery of a series of wellbeing sessions funded by Davis Peace Prize project and produced by LAWRS volunteer Nickolle Mahaleth Carrasco. The programme included self-defence lessons, a gong bath and workshops about healthy relationships and our journeys as migrant women. In total there were five sessions with around seventy women attending throughout. Participants received £10 towards transport, had creche available so they could bring their children and were offered lunch in each session.
‘It helps that we receive £10 every time we come and that we can eat together as transport and food are so expensive at the moment’
In order to better understand the current experiences of our community, during lunch time, WARMI Coordinator gave a brief introduction on Community Organising and asked participants key questions around their needs as a community. One of the questions was: If you could dream of a future for our community, what would it look like? Answers were mostly around ‘a future where we can access services without being discriminated against’ and ‘better job opportunities with dignified payment’.
Analysing their answers and their dynamics in the sessions, we can note that our community is still struggling to lift themselves up, finding difficulty in accessing basic services and opportunities. At LAWRS, we acknowledge the situation as well as understand that fighting for human rights and a more just world can put significant strain on our mental health and wellbeing.
According to the Mayan Q’eqchi’-xinka healer and feminist, Lorena Cabnal, one of the intentions of the patriarchal system is to weaken women’s bodies. With tired, sick, and depressed bodies, we can’t fight against machismo, racism, neoliberalism and the pandemic, she adds. So when attempting to answer the question about how to do community organising in times of a cost of living crisis, we need to first consider the circumstances in which the community is living and how stakeholders and organisations can a) facilitate engagement in activism and b) protect our members from backlashes.
To facilitate engagement in activism means to meet the community at their needs. If the community can’t afford attending activities, organisations should be able to provide the means for that, recognising their time, knowledge and lived experience. That said, it is crucial that the work of organisations is not only informed by direct experience but also led by it. Power holders and decision makers must acknowledge the impact of one of the UK's highest inflation rates of all times and therefore avoid participation expectations that are not in line with the communit’sy current vulnerability or lack of resources.
Furthermore, If we want our community and its next generations to stand strong on their own feet, we, organisations, should consistently provide the tools for that. At LAWRS, we provide support that looks at the woman as a whole, considering the barriers faced by migrant women in the UK and providing free and confidential specialist services that range from advice and counselling, including initial legal advice, advice on welfare benefits, housing and employment rights. We believe this to be one of the ways we can protect our community: by providing safe spaces where migrant women can reflect on their own lives, understand their role in society and acquire the practical and emotional tools and skills to make the changes they want to see.
‘Coming to these sessions was the best thing I could do for myself. I am alone in this country, and have been feeling a bit anxious because I am having to make some difficult decisions in my life at the moment. Here I felt supported, accompanied and listened to.’
As expressed by a participant in the last day of the programme, safe community spaces can offer solace when the world around us is showing otherwise. So, how can we continue doing community organising in times of a cost of living crisis? Being a by and for organisation, LAWRS are on a learning journey with this and want to ensure we hold ourselves to account. We commit to fostering spaces where we could support our community to engage in activities and to avoid the most common pitfalls of being an activist, while providing the tools for our community to keep striving to make the world a better place in a way that doesn’t drag them down but calibrate their mind, body and soul.
‘In these sessions, I understood that I have the right to be heard and valued for who I am.’