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We want to be
strong, but
we don’t have
the chance
Women’s experiences of seeking asylum in the UK
#EveryRefugeeMatters
@RedCrossPolicy @VOICESNetworkUK2 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank all the women who reach thanks to the groups and individuals that
participated in this research and shared their work with them: Inspirational Women’s Group,
personal experiences of seeking asylum with us. Women of the World, Newport Women’s Group,
Isatta Sarah Kallon, Melissa McFarlane, Theresa
In particular, we would like to thank Sharlu Rajen
Mgadzah Jones, Yasmin Millican, Georgie Proctor.
for her care and guidance in leading the project,
which helped to ensure that our work with the We are grateful to everyone on the British Red
research advisors and participants was both Cross project team who brought their time and
sensitive and meaningful. expertise to the project and report: Jon Featonby,
We are indebted, too, to our research advisors Lucy Fisher, Suzanne Foster, Alex Fraser, Claudine
for their passionate and thoughtful contributions Frisby, Esther Odere, Claire Porter, Naomi Phillips,
to this project, and without whom this would not Jenny Reed, Ellie Shepard, Sohini Tanna.
have been possible: Annie, Alvina, Asmaa, E.E,
Finally, our thanks go to our research partner
Elkhansaa, Radia, Roxana, Roza and Vongayi.
Savanta ComRes for their commitment to
We were also privileged to be invited to speak delivering this research on our behalf: Nasreen
with a number of women who we were able to Amin, Vahsti Hale, Rebecca Kerr, Rebecca King.
Copyright © 2022 Any part of this publication
may be cited, translated into other languages or
adapted to meet the local needs without prior
permission of the British Red Cross, provided
that the source is clearly stated.
Design and layout: NotOnSunday
For media requests, please contact
press@redcross.org.uk
For more information on the policy
recommendations and research, please contact
advocacy@redcross.org.uk3 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
Contents
Foreword 4
Glossary 5
Executive summary 6
Key findings 7
Key recommendations 8
Introduction 10
Research methodology 11
1
Section 1: Experiences of asylum procedures 13
1.1. Applying for asylum in the UK 14
1.2. Decision-making timeframes 19
1.3. Legal advice 21
2
Section 2: Experiences of support, services and life in the UK 23
2.1. Young women living in care 24
2.2. Housing and homelessness 28
2.3. Financial support 32
2.4. Work, education and training 34
2.5. Healthcare 38
3
Section 3: Moving forward: valuing women’s expertise and treating women with dignity 42
3.1. Being treated as more than ‘an asylum seeker’ 43
3.2. Knowing your rights 44
3.3. Experts by experience 45
Recommendations 46
References 484 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
Foreword
Women seeking asylum are living through to flee and becoming a person who felt invisible
a system designed by people who have no in the UK, not even part of the society.
experience of what it is like to be a woman
This report is a collection of the unheard cries
seeking asylum. The most recent reforms of
and unwritten pains of many women who are
the asylum system, proposed through the
stripped of their rights to be themselves – instead
New Plan for Immigration, are no exception.
they have their stories disbelieved and are
When the New Plan for Immigration was reduced only to a label: ‘asylum seeker’.
announced in March 2021, the government
The research was co-designed with women who
committed to protecting vulnerable women
have first-hand experience of seeking asylum in
and children. However, women with first-hand
the UK, who organically curated and shaped the
experience of the asylum system feel their views
research questions, and conducted workshops
and experiences were not considered when
and in-depth interviews with fellow women. We
this plan was developed.
adopted a co-production approach where the
By contrast, this report aims to bring the British Red Cross worked collaboratively with
experiences of women seeking asylum to the Ambassadors of the VOICES Network by sharing
forefront of asylum reform. If women with lived equal power, and worked towards achieving the
experience had been consulted when devising same goal – to amplify women’s voices in the
previous asylum policies or the New Plan for reform of asylum policy.
Immigration, research papers like this would
The main recommendation from this research is
not need to exist.
that the government must co-produce asylum
I cannot recount the number of emotionally policy with the people these policies affect, with
overwhelming moments I have experienced women seeking asylum. This report has been
while trying to gather my thoughts to write this led by women with first-hand experience of
foreword. It is because this report consolidates seeking asylum. Women who have developed
the harrowing experiences of many high-calibre detailed recommendations for change – on the
women who have had their wings broken and asylum interview process, access to healthcare,
hopes crushed while going through an asylum education, housing and more.
process that seems endless. I can resonate
Read this report and you will find insights and
with this. However, as one of the long-standing
recommendations that can be acted on now to
members of the VOICES Network, I know that
make the asylum system safer, fairer, and more
speaking about our lived experiences has only
sensitive towards women.
made us feel stronger. When the situation you
face is outside of your control, the only control Swami Vivekananda, an Indian spiritual leader and
you have is how you use your voice. reformer once said, “The best thermometer to the
progress of a nation is its treatment of its women”.
When I arrived as a person seeking refuge in
Failing to take into consideration the expert voices
the UK, I did not know what I was committing
of women, when designing policies that would
myself to – the next seven years of uncertainties,
impact their lives, means failing as a nation.
rejections, redundancy, stagnation and
destitution. My life completely flipped in a matter Sharlu Rajen, Ambassador for the
of days, from living a comfortable life to having VOICES Network
About the VOICES Network
The VOICES Network brings together people With training and support, VOICES
with experience of the issues that affect ambassadors work together to speak out about
refugees and people seeking asylum. Launched issues that affect refugees and people seeking
in 2018, it brings together ambassadors in asylum. Sharing their own experiences, they
Birmingham, Derby, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, advocate to change policy, use the media to
London, Sheffield, the South-East of England change points of view and support the British
and across Wales. The VOICES Network is Red Cross and others to improve services
supported by the British Red Cross. through expert feedback.
Listen to the ‘We are VOICES’ podcast here5 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
Glossary
- Asylum support: is a form of support - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: is caused
provided by the Home Office to people by very stressful, frightening or distressing
seeking asylum who are facing destitution events. Someone with PTSD often relives
and homelessness. Asylum support includes the traumatic event through nightmares and
accommodation and/or weekly financial flashbacks, and may experience feelings of
support of £39.63 per person. isolation, irritability and guilt. They may also have
problems sleeping, such as insomnia.
- ASPEN card: is a chip and pin payment card
used by the Home Office to provide weekly - Research advisors: women from the VOICES
payments of asylum support. Network, who were involved in developing
research questions, leading interviews,
- Asylum Registration Card (ARC): is a card
facilitating workshops and developing
issued by the Home Office to people who
recommendations.
claim asylum. It contains information about
the holder’s identity, including their age and - Refugee: is a person who has proven that
nationality and their immigration status as an they would be at risk if returned to their
asylum applicant. home country, has had their claim for asylum
accepted by the UK government and can now
- ESOL: stands for English language learning
stay in the UK either long term or indefinitely.
for speakers of other languages.
- VCS: organisations from the voluntary and
- Gender-based violence: is violence directed
community sector.
against a person because of that person’s
gender or violence that affects persons of a - Screening interview: is the first interview in
particular gender disproportionately. It can an asylum application. It is usually short,
include sexual violence and exploitation, forced lasting 30 minutes to two hours, and includes
and child marriage, FGM, so called ‘honour’ questions about a person’s background, family,
based violence and intimate partner violence. journey to the UK and briefly why the person
It can be physical, psychological, sexual, is claiming asylum.
emotional and material.
- Substantive interview: is the main interview
- Istanbul Convention: is commonly used to in the asylum application process. It can last
refer to the Council of Europe’s Convention on several hours and is when a Home Office
Preventing and Combating Violence against interviewer will ask detailed questions about
Women and Domestic Violence. The UK someone’s reasons for claiming asylum.
government signed the Istanbul Convention
- Survivor of trafficking: is used in this report to
in 2012.
describe people who have experienced human
- Participants: women seeking asylum who trafficking, modern slavery or other exploitative
participated in interviews and workshops. situations, including forced and compulsory
labour, sexual exploitation and forced criminality.
- Person seeking asylum: is a person who
has left their country of origin to seek - Trauma-informed practice: is a model that
protection in another country, often described is grounded in and directed by a complete
as an ‘asylum seeker’. A person seeking understanding of how trauma exposure
asylum has not yet been legally recognised as affects a person’s neurological, biological,
a refugee and is waiting to receive a decision psychological and social development.
on their asylum claim.
- Unaccompanied minor: is a term used to
refer to children who have arrived in the UK
alone, without a parent or guardian.6 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
Executive summary
Women seeking asylum have fled from war, At the same time, many women are living in
persecution and violence and can face specific precarious situations where they don’t feel safe.
risks of physical and sexual violence because of The lack of health and needs assessments
their gender, not only in their home country but also when women enter the asylum process, and
in the place where they seek refuge. Women and the additional barriers they face in accessing
girls make up around 40 per cent of people seeking legal advice or healthcare, mean in many cases
asylum worldwide1 and in 2020, three in 10 people women’s needs simply aren’t recognised, recorded
who applied for asylum in the UK were women or met. Women described the lack of dignity they
and girls.i Across the world one in three women felt in being reliant on charities and community
are subjected to physical or sexual violence – groups to access basic needs such as finding a
these risks increase during times of emergency place to sleep, registering with a GP and accessing
and displacement.2 food, sanitary items or nappies for their babies.
Women seeking asylum need specialist and sensitive Women who wait months, and even years, for a
support in response to the harrowing experiences decision on their asylum application, are not allowed
they have been through. The British Red Cross to work, struggle to access education and live on just
provides support to women seeking asylum across over £5 a day. Many not only feel they start to lose
the UK. This is the first report, in partnership with their identities as professionals, friends and women
the VOICES Network, that the organisation has but also experience loneliness and depression.
produced specifically looking at the experiences of Instead, women wanted an opportunity to thrive,
those women. contribute and be recognised as members
of their new community in the UK.
As a signatory to the Istanbul Convention, the
UK government has committed to providing an The UK government has recently set out its plans
asylum system that is gender-sensitive in terms for what it describes as the ‘most significant
of application and decision-making processes, overhaul’ of the asylum system in decades. The
and support services, such as accommodation New Plan for Immigration describes the proposed
or healthcare. This research explores the first- reforms as aiming towards an asylum system that is
hand experiences of women going through the ‘fair to everyone’ and that ‘helps the most vulnerable’,
asylum process in the UK. It concludes that, including women and children.ii Yet there are no
for many women, the UK’s asylum process is proposals in the plan for how the government will
not sensitive to gender or trauma and does ensure the needs of women and girls are met
not provide the support they need. by a future asylum system, nor any mention of an
asylum system that is sensitive to gender or
The research was led by women who have first-
trauma-related needs.
hand experience of seeking asylum in the UK. It
involved 47 women in different towns and cities In the media, on social channels and in parliamentary
across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern debate, people are often talking about the asylum
Ireland, including young women who had arrived system, but rarely listening to those who are living
when they were children. Women leading this through it themselves. This is particularly the case for
research chose to focus on the asylum interview and women, who are often described as ‘vulnerable’ or
application process and experiences of navigating ‘voiceless’. Women who are seeking asylum in the
and accessing support such as accommodation, UK right now are experts by experience – in some
healthcare or legal advice. Women taking part also cases navigating the asylum process and supporting
reflected on broader themes about identity, family others to do the same has been a central part of
and their aspirations for building a new life in the UK. their lives for many years. All the women involved
in this research had ideas for reform of the asylum
Women taking part in the research described having
system, but most felt that their ideas would not be
to re-live traumatic experiences repeatedly, being
valued, or even sought, by policymakers.
required to recount experiences of rape and sexual
abuse to a male interviewer and feeling interrogated Led by women going through the asylum process
and disbelieved by government officials. One woman themselves, this research presents women’s first-
said she felt she was treated like a criminal when hand experiences and their proposals for reforms
applying for asylum, and that she was assumed to that really would make the UK’s asylum system
be lying until she could prove otherwise. safer and fairer for women and girls.
i Manymore women and girls will also have been waiting for a decision on their asylum claim, but the Home Office does not release gender
disaggregated data beyond that on applications and the outcome of decisions. The full datasets can be found in the immigration statistics
quarterly release, available at: gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
ii T
he
New Plan for Immigration was published in March 2021, with a consultation period running for six weeks. The UK government’s response
to the consultation was published in July 2021 and set out its intentions to proceed with plans to overhaul the asylum system. The New Plan for
Immigration and the UK government’s consultation response are available at: gov.uk/government/consultations/new-plan-for-immigration7 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
Key findings
Women who are seeking safety and going through the UK’s asylum process come from
diverse backgrounds, with individual experiences that are specific to them alone. However,
throughout the interviews and focus groups that took place during this research project
strong themes and shared experiences emerged among women applying for asylum in the
UK. Many of these experiences had a deeply negative impact on the women’s lives, their
families and their mental health.
Women seeking asylum do not feel they are address and moving frequently affected women’s
treated with basic human dignity. Women ability to register with a GP and maintain any
who took part in this research said that being in continuity of care. Many women spoke about the
the asylum system in the UK makes them feel damaging impact that these negative experiences
side-lined, dismissed, silenced or ‘dehumanised’. can have on their mental health, their safety and
This became evident in the consistent need their ability to engage with the asylum application
for independent advocates to support them process. This was particularly stark where women
to access appropriate housing, legal advice, were left facing street homelessness, with one
education and health services, as well as to woman describing being forced to sleep in a bus
subsidise asylum support that many women shelter with her young children.
found insufficient to meet their basic needs.
Decision-making delays leave individuals,
Instead, women wanted an opportunity to thrive,
and families, in limbo for many years.
contribute and to be recognised as members of
A sense of being ‘in limbo’ was one of the
their new community in the UK. All the women
primary issues identified by women who took
taking part in this research had ideas, and
part in this research. Many had experienced
recommendations that they wanted to be heard
long delays waiting for their substantive asylum
and acted on to ensure other women did not
interview and subsequent decision. Long waiting
go through what they have.
times leave women’s lives on hold, making it
Asylum application processes fail to make difficult to maintain their skills and independence,
women feel safe or to respond to trauma. as well as facing the ongoing anxiety of waiting
Women described how interviewers and asylum for any communication from the Home Office.
officials often seem to lack the training or This all combines to negatively impact their
sensitivity to respond to trauma and create an mental and physical health. Many felt they
environment where people feel safe to disclose had been left to sit and wait for life to resume,
violence. Despite policy guidance on gender- sometimes for several years.
sensitive interview processes, women described
Young women seeking asylum need
having to disclose rape and sexual assault in
independent advisors they can trust. Women
interviews conducted by men, and experiences
of all ages described struggling to understand
where they were interrogated and disbelieved
the asylum system and processes they were
by interviewers.
going through, but young women emphasised
These experiences were compounded by the this and their dependence on social workers and
struggle many women faced in accessing good other professionals in their lives. Many spoke
quality legal advice, including finding solicitors about not knowing their rights in the UK, including
who could support them in the early stages of when having their age questioned and, in some
their asylum application. Participants felt that cases, disbelieved. Young women said that they
this lack of sufficient, good quality legal advice don’t know how they would have coped without
could contribute towards delays in their overall charities, community groups and others they
application and affected their confidence and could turn to, and stressed the importance of
ability to navigate the asylum process. independent support beyond the immediate
social care they received.
Women seeking asylum face significant
challenges accessing safe and appropriate Women seeking asylum aspire to study
accommodation, financial support and and to work. Women taking part in this research
healthcare. Common themes throughout made it clear that in order to better establish
interviews and focus groups were experiences themselves in a new society and to build
of inappropriate and, in some cases, unsafe their confidence they need to have opportunities
accommodation, the lack of adequate financial to access education and become part of the
support and challenges accessing and navigating working population. For many women, work
health services. Often these issues were and education were also important parts of
connected – for example, having a temporary their identity.8 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
Key recommendations
Ensure each stage of the asylum process is trauma-informed and gender-sensitive
and that there are clear safeguards and accountability for this. The way to achieve this is by
ensuring women seeking asylum are involved in reform of the asylum process on a policy and
operational level and in monitoring and accountability procedures.
- The UK government should develop, - The Home Office should invest in
publish and implement a strategy to peer-to-peer asylum guides to ensure
ensure women seeking asylum are people going through the asylum system
engaged throughout the current reforms have support and guidance to navigate the
of the asylum process and as a matter asylum system.
of course at all other times. This strategy
should be developed in partnership with
- The Home Office should ensure that
women with experience of seeking asylum in
guidance on responding to gender in
the UK. It should consider, as a minimum:
asylum applications is implemented and
• how to make engagement opportunities monitored effectively. To achieve this, it
accessible, including through financial should:
recompense.
• Ensure all asylum casework staff are
• how to ensure feedback is provided to appropriately trained to respond to trauma.
women who engage with the Home Office.
• Ensure all women can be interviewed by a
• the role women seeking asylum have woman if they want to be.
themselves to set the agenda for the issues
• Create an independent monitoring group
they want to discuss.
to receive feedback from women who have
recently made an application for asylum,
this could include their experience of
screening and substantive interviews and
communication from the Home Office. This
monitoring group should include women
with lived experience.
For a full set of recommendations, please see
page 469 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
Experiences shared by Foura*
Foura is seeking asylum in the UK and is a “I don’t really know how to express it in
survivor of child abuse and human trafficking. a way that is going to be clear enough,
The sexual violence she experienced in her but … I thought, ‘I’m done with the pain
home country left her with long-term harm back there, where I was really facing the
including being HIV positive and she has been demon itself.’ And I thought that [being
recently diagnosed with vaginal cancer while an] asylum seeker is going to make
living in the UK. She had hoped seeking safety things a little bit calmer for me. So I felt
in the UK would mean her life would become the very same fire that tortured me back
better, however she does not believe this was then … Asylum seeking is just beyond
the case. She describes the impact of how recognition … there was a time where
people seeking asylum are treated, such as I was blaming myself, that maybe I’m
through years of waiting for a decision on her the one who is the problem here, you
asylum application, being arrested and understand? Because if you are seeking
detained and facing a culture of disbelief and help, and you get such kind [of negative]
distrust, including by healthcare services, response, you start doubting everything.
due to her status as an asylum seeker. That’s why [poor] mental health also
comes, and plays a role, so it’s just not
a good experience at all.”
Despite everything she has been through,
Foura is positive and glad to support others
by taking part in this research.
“I know that for a fact, because after
being abused and molested and survived
that … I’m coming from a hell of agony.
I’m glad today I’m sitting there testifying
about it. It wasn’t easy … There’s a
saying … “You strike a woman; you
strike a rock.”
*Not her real name10 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
Introduction
Women seeking asylum have specific and, in 2019, the introduction of guidance on
protections in international law, as set out most responding to domestic abuse in the asylum
recently in the Council of Europe Convention support system.
on Preventing and Combating Violence against
Women and Domestic Violence (often referred The most recent changes proposed to the
to as the Istanbul Convention).3 The Istanbul UK’s asylum system, set out in the New Plan
Convention sets out requirements for gender- for Immigration10 and implemented in part
based violence to be recognised as a form of through the Nationality and Borders Bill, make
persecution under the Refugee Convention no references to gender-sensitive asylum
as well as requirements for governments to procedures. The changes focus on introducing
adopt gender-sensitive asylum procedures and powers for the government to treat people
support services for people seeking asylum. differently based on how they arrive in the UK,
including introducing criminal penalties of up
The UK signed the Istanbul Convention in 2012 to four years imprisonment; setting up ‘off-
and has recently published the fifth progress shore’ asylum processing; housing people
report on its assessment of the UK’s progress in accommodation centres; and introducing
towards ratification. The first progress report set ‘temporary protection’ for refugees, which
out that the UK government had implemented includes reduced rights to welfare support and
an ‘asylum gender action plan’ to ensure to reunite with family.
the asylum system was ‘gender-sensitive’.4
Subsequent progress reports have marked Many individuals, groups and organisations
the UK as ‘compliant’ with requirements for submitted responses to the UK government’s
“the necessary legislative or other measures to consultation on the New Plan for Immigration,
develop gender-sensitive reception procedures including the British Red Cross and the VOICES
and support services for asylum seekers as Network. In July 2021 the government published
well as gender guidelines and gender-sensitive a response to the consultation which states that
asylum procedures, including refugee status “Several stakeholders flagged that whilst the
determination and application for international reforms may have an impact on all protected
protection”.5 groups, women, children and LGBT individuals
are most likely to be affected, as well as those
Prior to and since the UK signed the Istanbul who have experienced trauma, including where
Convention, there have been several detailed there are mental health issues. Respondents felt
reports that have raised serious concerns that this will make it harder for them to access
about women’s experiences of the UK’s asylum safe and legal routes into the UK, potentially
system, which have set out recommendations displacing them into more dangerous routes.
on asylum determination processes6; reception Similar concerns were highlighted in relation to
conditions and support services7; preventing the overall differentiated approach to asylum and
destitution and homelessness8; the impact of admissibility. These are vital considerations in
Covid-19 restrictions9; and more. Some of this policy changes going forward”.11
work builds on the Women’s Asylum Charter,
which was established by a group of civil It is not clear what, if any, changes have been
society organisations in 2008 and led to wider made in light of responses to the New Plan
recognition of women’s specific experiences in for Immigration, nor what ‘policy changes’ the
the asylum determination process. There have government intends to make in response to
been important policy developments since then, concerns raised about the impact on women
such as commitments to specific training for and other protected groups. It is also unclear
asylum decision-makers, published guidance whether the government remains committed to
on responding to gender in asylum claims having a ‘gender-sensitive’ asylum system at all.11 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
Research methodology
This research came about as a result of The women who took part in this research
suggestions from women who are members as advisors and participants were recruited
of the VOICES Network to conduct research through VOICES and the British Red Cross’s
that looks at women’s specific experiences networks and included bringing together
of seeking asylum and ensures their voices existing women’s groups who meet regularly for
are heard. At a time when the government is group sessions, activities and to provide peer
proposing a ‘complete overhaul’ of the asylum advice and support for each other. This allowed
system, women wanted to explore with other us to reach a large number of women across
women what reforms they felt would make a the country and to gain a broader range of
difference and make the asylum process safe perspectives on the issues being explored.
and better for them.
However, by the nature of how we recruited
In July 2021 the British Red Cross and VOICES we know that the participants in this research
commissioned Savanta ComRes to undertake have better connections and access to support
this research on our behalf. The research was a networks than many women who are seeking
collaborative process, and every stage was led asylum in the UK, and that these networks were
or informed by a group of 10 ‘research advisors’ central to their ability to overcome the many
from the VOICES Network, who were involved challenges they faced. While women who are
in developing research questions, leading less connected to these types of networks are
interviews, facilitating workshops and developing likely to face many of the same challenges as
recommendations. those who participated in this project, without
access to the same level of support they are
Participation and recruitment likely to find it even harder to navigate the
asylum system and life in the UK.
37 women seeking asylum participated in
interviews and workshops to discuss their Insofar as this report highlights the common
experiences. They had arrived from a range of needs of women seeking asylum in the UK,
countries and continents over the past 10 years it also highlights the value in ensuring that
and were living in different parts of the UK, from supportive networks are available to, and reach,
Plymouth to Belfast. While only women over the those that are more cut off, as well as the value
age of 18 took part, participants included those in conducting further research that considers
who had arrived as children without a parent or the experiences of women who do not
guardian and been placed in the care of social have voluntary and community sector (VCS)
services, as well as those who were older, both networks supporting them.
with and without children.
Voices of women seeking asylum
This research project brings together
the experiences and advice of 47 women
with lived experience of seeking asylum
in the UK.
10 women from the VOICES Network, who
are currently or have recently been through
the asylum system in the UK, took part as
research advisors. They co-produced
and led this research from design, through
to carrying out fieldwork and shaping policy
recommendations.
11 women with lived experience of the UK
asylum system took part in interviews to
discuss their experiences.
26 women with lived experience of the
UK asylum system took part across three
workshops to discuss their experiences.12 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
Fieldwork
In order to gain in-depth insight into women’s experiences, a qualitative approach was adopted,
incorporating the use of two research methods: peer-led focus groups (termed as workshops during
fieldwork) and peer-led interviews. A semi-structured approach enabled participants’ responses
to be compared, while also allowing space for them to lead the discussion and raise issues or
concerns that were particularly important to them. There were three key stages to the research:
STAGE 1: RESEARCH DESIGN WORKSHOPS (August 2021)
- Two exploratory online workshops with research advisors from the VOICES Network.
Through these workshops, research advisors shaped the design of the interview and focus group
guides, advising on themes to be included based on their experiences and the experiences of
other women seeking asylum they know. The sessions were facilitated by Savanta ComRes.
STAGE 2: FIELDWORK (September 2021)
- 11 in-depth online interviews led by advisors from the VOICES Network,
with researchers from Savanta ComRes acting as support-moderators.
- Three online workshops facilitated by advisors from the VOICES Network,
supported by researchers from Savanta ComRes.
STAGE 3: CO-PRODUCTION WORKSHOP (October 2021)
- Following completion of the fieldwork, research advisors participated in an online
co-production workshop to discuss and reflect on the research findings,
and feed into recommendations. The workshop was jointly facilitated by Savanta
ComRes and British Red Cross.
The research was conducted remotely, with Adopting a co-production approach to the
interviews and workshops taking place online, research helped to ensure that participants’
via Zoom, with the option to conduct the voices were heard. The fact that interviews and
interview by telephone if preferred. In order workshops were led by research advisors who
to overcome barriers posed by limited digital themselves had lived experience of the asylum
access, the workshops took place during system put participants at ease; advisors could
sessions run by already-established women’s relate personally to many of the issues being
groups, so participants could join the online discussed, which encouraged participants to
workshops collectively. speak openly and honestly. This approach was
beneficial not only to the research process,
but also to the advisors themselves, many
of whom reported learning new skills and
building confidence. The advisors also helped
with interpretation where needed, facilitating
conversations that otherwise would have
been difficult. Conducting fieldwork online
also helped overcome language barriers, by
allowing participants to write directly into text
boxes to ensure clarity.
Savanta ComRes acted as a support
researcher, providing training and preparation
sessions, and participating as a co-facilitator
during fieldwork, asking follow-up questions
and addressing any concerns among either the
participants or the advisors.13 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
Section 1
Experiences
of asylum
procedures14 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
1.1. Applying for asylum in the UK
Background: Claiming asylum in the UK The asylum application process can determine
the overall experience of being in the UK for
To claim asylum in the UK, a person needs
most people seeking asylum, and this was
to be physically present in the country. Some
also the case for the women who took part in
people claim asylum immediately at the
this research. The asylum screening interview
place where they arrive in the UK, and others
was usually their first interaction with the Home
register their asylum claim at an Asylum
Office, and how positive and accessible this
Screening Unit after entering the UK.
process felt to them had a big impact on how
People claiming asylum will have an initial they felt about their initial months in the country.
‘screening interview’. This interview is
usually quite short, lasting 30 minutes to
1.1.1. Screening and substantive interviews
two hours, and includes questions about
their background, family, journey to the UK
The women who took part in this research had
and briefly why they are claiming asylum.
mixed experiences of the asylum application and
It can involve taking biometric data (e.g.
interview process, and while some said it had
photographs, fingerprints) and can take place
been positive, this was not true for most.
the same day that someone arrives in the UK.
The minority who reported positive experiences
After the screening interview, the next major
of the asylum interview process attributed this
stage in the asylum determination process
to being able to engage well with the person
is usually the ‘substantive interview’, often
taking down the details of their initial application
described as the ‘big’ interview. This interview
and interviewing them, and had felt a sense of
can last several hours and is when a Home
agency around the overall interview process, for
Office interviewer will ask detailed questions
example in relation to their choice of interpreters.
about someone’s reasons for claiming asylum.
There is no set timeframe for when this
interview will take place, and some people
wait months and, in some cases, one or
two years before they have their substantive
interview.1215 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
“I would say it depends on who is “There are words used in this country
interviewing you. Because I will say, that have a different meaning when
with confidence, the lady [who] was you use it in the other country. And I
interviewing me, she was brilliant.” found this is what makes interpretation
Interview participant, London sometimes really really difficult
because, sometimes if you interpret
“For the small [screening] interview,
this word to English it doesn’t have the
for me it was good. Even if you want
same meaning.”
to choose the translator, they give
Interview participant, London
you a choice, like, for example …
if I need a man or a woman.” In such cases, women felt they had to continue
Interview participant, Leeds with their interview, knowing that they may not
be understanding the nuance of everything
However, the application and interview process
being asked of them, and that the things
had been a negative experience for the majority
they were saying may not be being correctly
of women who participated in this research.
interpreted. Most women we spoke to were
Many had felt apprehension about having
well aware of the impact this could have on the
to recount difficult experiences during their
decision on their asylum claim but felt there
application and interview. They talked about
was little they could do to change that, which
the challenge of having to repeat their story
again heightened their levels of anxiety around
multiple times to different officials, including
the interview process.
those from the Home Office and, in some cases,
the police. This often made them feel that their Many women described their interactions
story was being questioned and that they were with interviewers as being stressful and
not believed and, as a result, they felt a constant confrontational, while others described them
need to prove themselves. On top of the need as frightening. Some participants described
to keep repeating the details of their feeling daunted by the asylum application
experiences, the formality of the interview process and said the lack of information
process also made them feel that they were surrounding the interview process made it
not being properly listened to. These factors hard for them to feel heard.
led to high levels of stress for a number of
“As a young person, especially if you’re
women during the interview process.
a young girl and you don’t know what
“When you go to the Home Office, they to do, it’s a really huge problem, very
expect you to start from zero again, stressful, you don’t know what to do.”
and it’s something that’s really hard to Interview participant, Birmingham
go through because if you have to go
Some women had found that the stress of the
through the pain you want to forget …
application and interview process affected their
in my case it was really, really hard to
ability to recount their experiences. The attitude
go through that.”
of the interviewer and the tone of the interview
Workshop participant, Women of the World Group
had a significant impact on their experiences
“It was really hard and painful … of the interviews and how they viewed their
The pressure, your heart will race … situation. Participants noted that some
it’s a really horrible feeling.” interviewers were critical, harsh and impatient,
Workshop participant, Women of the World Group and gave the impression of being frustrated.
The long lists of questions asked during
Many participants recalled being unable to
interviews led to concerns among some women
understand entirely what was going on when
that this was done to confuse them or to catch
an appropriate interpreter was not available.
out any inconsistencies in their story.
Some participants said they had been provided
with interpreters that didn’t speak their regional “They are harsh on us as well.
dialects, which led to certain expressions or Because sometimes we are not good
meanings being misinterpreted. For others, in English or we are panicking because
the entire process of speaking through an of what we went through. It really
interpreter made them worry that the nuance damaged our emotions and stuff, so
and accuracy of what they were saying was sometimes they’re being harsh or
being lost. ask you a lot of questions when they
know the story as well, you know.
They just want to confuse you or it’s
like they don’t believe you.”
Workshop participant, Inspirational Women’s
Group, Plymouth16 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
Experiences shared by Dana*
Those who seek asylum in the UK are “I think the first thing, I think the culture
expected to provide ample evidence to the of the Home Office this needs to be
Home Office of their reasons for doing so. scrubbed first … They make it hard
However, Dana felt that when providing such for you, even for the criminal law they
evidence, she was often not taken seriously say you are innocent until they find
and not believed. She said that officials evidence you are already a criminal, but
indicated that her evidence could be fake. with immigration, that is the opposite,
it’s ‘you are lying until you prove
Dana described how the interrogatory
otherwise’. It makes it more difficult,
approach in her interview made her feel like a
so you have to search for proof and
criminal rather than someone who was seeking
even after you bring proof, they say
safety. Her experiences were similar to many
this proof is fake, it’s not right, so it’s
other women taking part in this research, who
a really complicated matter.”
described the effects of being forced to prove
*Not her real name
everything they spoke of and then only being
assessed according to any evidence the
Home Office regarded as correct.17 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
1.1.2. Disclosing gender-based violence
Background: Gender-based violence in asylum claims
The Home Office has published guidance available or re-arrange appointments where
for asylum casework staff on responding to the person is unable to find childcare.
‘gender issues’ in asylum claims. Published
- Interviewers should create a ‘reassuring
in 2018, the latest version of this guidance
environment’ and should not ask ‘intimate
includes specific sections on gender-based
or insensitive questions’ and ‘must be
violence and on ‘taking gender into account’ in
responsive to trauma and emotion’.
asylum interviews and decisions.13 In relation to
interview conduct, the guidance sets out that: - In relation to ‘credibility’: there may be a
number of reasons why someone does
- Applicants should be asked at screening
not immediately disclose gender-based
interviews whether they would prefer a man
violence, including the effects of trauma
or woman to interview them and can also
and associated memory loss, feelings of
request this at later stages.
guilt, shame and concerns about family
- Applicants should not be asked to recount ‘honour’, or fear of family members or
persecution in front of their children, and the traffickers, or having been conditioned or
Home Office can make provision for childcare threatened by them.
During their substantive interview many women someone feels safe to disclose experiences
described feeling extremely apprehensive of gender-based violence. Regardless of the
about disclosing and describing experiences of gender of the interviewer, their approach and
gender-based violence, in particular experiences demeanour gave women a sense of whether
of sexual violence and rape. Some women the person was someone they could trust
also stressed that women seeking asylum are with their experiences, and whether they would
more likely to have had experiences that are record these accurately.
harder to disclose and to evidence.
“So, you can have a woman, but
“Because a man is normally fleeing sometimes, which is really not great,
maybe from the government … war you have a woman interviewing you
and this kind of stuff, women can flee and she’s not really sympathising
from this too, but they have some other with you. I feel, sometimes the person
things like domestic violence, maybe interviewing you already … doesn’t
rape, maybe sexual assault, and this believe you, and he interprets that in
is hard to prove and hard to say.” the answers, because he writes the
Interview participant, Glasgow answers, so he writes the answers
like he doesn’t believe you.”
Even under the best possible circumstances,
Interview participant, London
such as working with an interviewer who
is trained in trauma-informed approaches, Participants gave specific examples of reports
participants said that it remains very difficult to of sexual assault being met with disbelief
discuss gender-based violence and traumatic by officials, including Bola who shares her
experiences. The difficulty was exacerbated experiences in more detail below. Another
for women who had had to disclose these participant described the impact on a woman
experiences to men. she knew who was told that she was not
telling the truth during her asylum interview:
“My interviewer was a man, and I had
to go through a lot of stuff that I didn’t “The person who was interviewing said
want to explain in front of a man.” to her, ‘No, you were not sexually
Workshop participant, Women of the World Group violated … You were not exposed to the
things that you’re telling me, it’s not
The few women taking part in this research
true.’ She said to me, you know, you
who described positive experiences of their
feel so low and you feel so degraded
screening and substantive interviews had been
and you’ve been violated and you were
interviewed by women, who they described
[telling] your story, you were expecting
as ‘sensitive’ and ‘attentive’.
to be heard and to have someone who
However, it was clear that being interviewed by shows you some form of sympathy.”
a woman does not necessarily mean that the Interview participant, Glasgow
interview will be conducted sensitively and in a
way that creates an environment where18 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
Experiences shared by Bola*
Bola is a survivor of torture and rape, which Bola in an extremely difficult position, feeling
she experienced in the Democratic Republic uncomfortable - and unable - to share the level
of Congo, her country of origin. of detail being asked of her, but knowing that if
she said more, they still might not believe her.
The asylum interview process required Bola to
detail her experience of rape, sexual assault “The interview process is difficult for a
and torture, this was made all the harder woman. Because I had two interviews,
by having to share her experiences with a the two interviews I had with the Home
male stranger. Bola describes how these Office were with men. I’m a victim of
challenges were made worse by the sense of torture, of rape, but I have to explain it to
suspicion and disbelief that surrounds asylum a Home Office male officer, so it’s difficult
applications generally, as well as the need to for a woman to explain all these things
communicate this in a language that was not to a strange person … and then they say,
native to her. ‘Your answer was not clear, we don’t
believe you.’ But, sometimes, I would love
Under these circumstances, there were certain
to say more about what happened, but,
details that Bola did not feel comfortable
because it’s a man in front of me, it’s like
disclosing to male officers, and there were
I’m scared to say all these things in front
times during the process when her account
of a strange person, so it’s difficult.”
was disbelieved and dismissed. This put
*Not her real name
These experiences highlight the distrust and
Recommendations
disbelief women can face when discussing
traumatic experiences of violence, and
Women seeking asylum should have
demonstrate that, in some cases at least,
access to asylum procedures that are
interviewers fail to provide the interview
trauma-informed and gender-sensitive:
conditions that are responsive to trauma,
‘reassuring’ or gender sensitive. - The Home Office should ensure that guidance
on responding to gender in asylum applications
In addition to the above, women said that their
is implemented and monitored effectively.
confidence in relaying these experiences was
To achieve this, it should:
further inhibited by a reliance on interpreters;
long delays and poor communication in the • Ensure all asylum casework staff are
lead-up to interviews; challenges with accessing appropriately trained to respond to trauma.
legal advice; and the power imbalance
• Ensure all women can be interviewed by a
they experience when confronted with the
woman if they want to be.
dispassionate question-answer format of
asylum interviews. • Create an independent monitoring group
to receive feedback from women who have
recently made an application for asylum,
this could include their experience of
screening and substantive interviews and
communication from the Home Office. This
monitoring group should include women
with lived experience themselves.
“I would start with the issue of being
sensitive. For the interviews they
really need to look into it and provide
professional women who can then
interview women, because most women
sometimes they would’ve been exposed
to things that aren’t even imaginable.”
Interview participant, Glasgow19 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
1.2. Decision-making timeframes
Background: Asylum decision-making delays
There are no set timeframes for making making timeframes since then, the Home Office
decisions on asylum claims, and no set has recently indicated it will re-introduce one.14
timeframe between the initial asylum
Quarterly statistics released by the Home Office
application and the substantive interview.
show that there were 67,547 asylum applications
Following the initial screening interview
waiting for an initial decision at the end of
and then the substantive asylum interview,
September 2021, and over 60 per cent had
applicants should receive an initial decision
been outstanding for longer than six months.15
on their asylum application.
There is an increase of over 70 per cent in the
In 2014, the Home Office set a target that 98 number of people waiting six months or more
per cent of initial decisions on ‘straightforward for an initial decision, compared to December
asylum claims’ should be made within six 2019. The Home Office does not include a
months. This target was subsequently gender breakdown in the data published about
abandoned in 2019. While there has been the numbers of people waiting for a decision
no published service standard for decision- on their asylum claim.
Nearly all women in this research said that they Some participants acknowledged that the
had been kept waiting a long time for interviews complexity of their case may have impacted
and decisions on their asylum claim after first the length of time their application took. Some
applying for protection in the UK, in some felt that delays are also caused by issues such
instances for years. as difficulties in accessing legal advice, or
challenges providing evidence requested by
“The whole process can take many,
the Home Office that is not readily available.
many years and that’s the most
This process of back and forth can again take
frustrating thing, for a lot of asylum
longer due to difficulties in communicating with
seekers.”
Home Office officials, commonly as a result of
Workshop participant, Women’s Group,
Newport language barriers or the absence of sufficient
legal representation.
This period of being ‘in limbo’ had had a
negative impact on our participants’ mental Whatever the cause of delays, women said that
health. This was particularly true in cases the Home Office could do more to communicate
where women were waiting for their substantive with them about timings and with updates on
interview and knew they would have to share the progress of their case, to ensure they feel
sensitive and difficult experiences, as their less in limbo during the time they spend waiting
apprehension grew the longer they waited. for a decision on their claim.
The majority of women who took part in the “I would also make people know how long
research said that the extended periods of this process is going to take because
waiting and the drawn-out application process as a human being, we need to start
- which involves the same questions being living our life, you don’t have a future,
asked repeatedly from the screening interview you cannot plan, it’s really depressing.
onwards - had had an increasingly detrimental So, by letting somebody know, okay,
impact on their lives. you have applied for asylum, so this is
“Yes, all over again … you will say your how long it’s going to take. Just like tell
story maybe five times a week … to just you what to expect.”
talk about your experience or about Workshop participant, Inspirational Women’s Group,
Plymouth
your journey was just too much, too
much pressure, and it’s like, ‘Oh, I don’t The majority of women who participated in
want to talk,’ but you have to in order this research described feeling let down by the
for you to, to see how they can help system, caught up in a seemingly never-ending
[you] through your situation.” cycle of waiting for the Home Office to progress
Interview participant, Birmingham their asylum application.20 We want to be strong, but we don’t have the chance British Red Cross and the VOICES Network
“The problem is staying without papers and unable to move forward in their lives.
for [many] years … If you get status, Delays have an impact not only on the person’s
you can [grow] your life step by step. life in the UK but also on their ability to reunite
But we are eating, we are sleeping, with family they may have been forced to
we are living. But without papers we separate from when they fled to seek safety
can’t thrive.” elsewhere.
Workshop participant, Women’s Group, Newport
“We have women who left their kids
“There are people who just stay home back home, sometimes they took 10
Monday to Sunday, they don’t have years, 12 years before the process
any place to go, they don’t study, they finished. When they grant them
don’t [do] anything, and then just stay [asylum], their children are already over
without nothing, and then just wait until 18, they cannot bring their children
the Home Office will give the answer. here … I know some women, they took
And when the Home Office gives the 15 years before they finished, this
answer they give you a negative answer, asylum process is difficult, they came
and most of these people experience here young, by the time they passed
depression, stress, and then some of them, they’re already over 40.”
them, they are lost.” Interview participant, London
Interview participant, London
Many women taking part in this research
This constant waiting negatively impacted the emphasised that the asylum process and
mental health of many women that we spoke to, decision-making within it need to be both
causing them to feel apprehensive, depressed swifter and simpler to navigate.
Recommendations
Women seeking asylum should expect “If [women seeking asylum] were in
fair and timely decisions on their charge, they’d make it swifter, that’s
asylum claim, and clear, accessible my word, swifter, easier and quicker,
decision-making processes: so that people don’t have to sit at home
and suffer anxiety and have health
- The Home Office should put improving asylum
issues of worrying about whether or
decision-making at the heart of its plans for
not they’ll get status.”
reform of the asylum system. Decisions should
Workshop participant, Women’s Group, Newport
be made as quickly as possible and should be
right first time.
- The Home Office should introduce regular,
accessible communication with applicants as
they go through the asylum process, such as
text message updates on the progress of their
application.You can also read
