Report on Self Harm and Suicide among Minority Ethnic Women

The high rate of suicide and self harm among minority ethnic women is highlighted in a recent report by the Glasgow Violence Against Women Partnership (GVAWP)*. GVAWP is raising awareness of these issues as part of its work to improve service responses to minority ethnic women from asylum seeking and settled communities who have experienced gender violence. The report allows service providers and policy makers to consider why minority ethnic women in the UK are twice as likely to commit suicide or self harm as the national average. By raising awareness of key issues which impede minority ethnic women from disclosing mental health difficulties, the report aims to improve how services respond to, protect and support minority ethnic women. Councillor Irene Graham, Glasgow City Council's spokesperson on equality issues, said:

'The report sets the context in which self harm and suicide among minority ethnic women must be viewed and stresses that it cannot be divorced from their experiences of racism, sexism, class inequality, patriarchy, gender violence and immigration issues. The report highlights the complexity of the issues and cautions against seeing generational conflict as the only reason or the main reason for them. Rather it points to a complex set of factors including family honour, language barriers, gender discrimination at home and in wider society, low self esteem and racial discrimination by society.'

* The report is based on a conference which GVAWP organised in September 2005 with support from the Glasgow Healthy Cities Partnership.

Download the report from: http://www.gvawp.org.uk/Resources/pdfs/Sel...among-BME-women.pdf

For a hard copy, contact Amy Watts, Minority Ethnic Communities Development Worker, email: amy.watts@drs.glasgow.gov.uk or Tel: 0141 287 6889.

(from Women's Asylum News - see http://www.quicktopic.com/19/H/nV4WDtdd6iMqf/m1545)
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UK refugee women's stakeholder group

The UK refugee women's stakeholder group, including RWRP at Asylum Aid, the Refugee Council, Refugee Action, Refugee Women's Association, Latin American Women's Rights Service and Kurdistan Refugee Women's Organisation, is concerned that women who have experienced gender persecution are being inappropriately put into the detained fast track system. In response to these concerns, the Home Office has been monitoring the extent to which its own Gender guidance is being implemented at Yarl's Wood.

A recent research by RWRP revealed that Home Office decision-makers do not follow the guidance (see Lip Service or Implementation? available online at http://www.asylumaid.org.uk).

For more information on the stakeholder group's work, contact Debora Singer on 0207 377 5123 or deboras@asylumaid.org.uk
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women's asylum news / refugee women's resource project @ asylumaid
issue number 62 - july/august 2006

Contains articles and reports on:
* ECHR overturns UNHCR decision on gender case from Iran Turkey: torture and ill-treatment prevail, human rights organisation says
* USA: Appeal court reaffirms sex and family as PSG characteristics
* FGM in Sierra Leone
* Sierra Leone: Women failed by the justice system
* Sweden: Man jailed for circumcising his daughter
* Pakistan: Controversial Islamic law amended
* Pakistan: Trafficking of girls by family rife in Sindh
* Afghanistan: Government plans to reintroduce 'virtue and vice' Ministry
* Peru: One of most dangerous countries for women, UN says
* Liberia: Little bribe buys rapists' liberty
* India: New Law to tackle abuse of children announced
* Jamaica: Women murdered for being lesbians
* Finland: Purchasing of sexual services relating to trafficking criminalised
* Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs appoints a special ambassador to combat trafficking in human beings
* Support International Justice for the Women and Girls in Darfur
* EU's 'Dublin Rules' challenged by European refugee groups
* New report heavily critical of detention of children
* Tribunal allows deportations to Zimbabwe to resume
* The Shamwari project, Greater Manchester
* Self-help for rape survivors seeking asylum
* Open Meeting in Hammersmith & Fulham Refugee Forum
* Free human rights training course for refugees and asylum seekers
* New research on Fast-Track
* 'Should discrepant accounts given by asylum seekers be taken as proof of deceit?
* Older Refugees in the UK: A literature review
* Guides on 'Your Human Rights'
* Flyer on Voluntary Return
* Guatemala: No protection, no justice -- killings of women
* Seeking Asylum Alone: Unaccompanied and Separated Children and Refugee Protection in the US
* The Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children has produced a new educational video 'What Happens When I Go to Immigration Court?' to orient children who are placed in immigration proceedings
* New Reports on Slavery in Latin America
* Human Rights Watch report on abuses of domestic workers worldwide
* Manual for peer education on human trafficking
* Trafficking in Persons 2006 report released by US State department
* International Standards and Policy on Gender Violence and Refugees

If you want to subscribe to our free bulletin 'women's asylum news' by post or by email, please send your contact detaisl to wan@asylumaid.org.uk or 0207 377 5123.

Details of all of our publications (to download or order) please go to: http://www.asylumaid.org.uk
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Imprisonment of Women
 - Publications from the Howard League for Penal Reform

* Prison Information Bulletin 2: Women and girls in the penal system
The second in a series of bulletins provides facts and figures on the female prison population, sentencing, community programmes and the impact of imprisonment on women, girls and their families. It is an essential tool for all those concerned about women and girls in the penal system. (2006)
 - 34pp, £5, ISBN 0 -903683-92-X Click here to order

* 'Care, concern and carpets': How women's prisons can use first night in custody centres to reduce distress
This report argues that the early period in prison custody is a time of heightened risk of self-harm and suicide. It offers practical guidance on how first night in custody arrangements can be used to help reduce distress amongst newly arrived prisoners. The report should be read by policy makers and practitioners, and all those interested in the experience of women in prison. (2006)
 - 22pp, £10.00, ISBN 090368389-X Click here to order

http://www.howardleague.org/index.php?id=women
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Edited by author 22-08-2006 10:20 AM
Mums needed for new Channel 4 documentary series

We are an independent production company who specialise in making thoughtful, contemporary people-led documentaries. We are currently developing a new documentary series for Channel 4 and wondered if you might be interested in getting involved. The series will see a group of passionate, strong-willed mums (a ‘mum’s army’) taking on ONE specific issue and campaigning for its change. We are looking to talk to and meet as many mums as possible over the next few weeks – from all over the UK and all backgrounds – to find out which issues you feel most strongly about. If this interests you, please contact Isabel on:
isabelc@bettytv.co.uk or call 020 79070874. Thanks!

Fight Back For Women's Liberation - Conference London 21st October 2006
Feminist Fightback is a conference for feminist activists, which will be held in London on Saturday 21 October (venue tbc).

We want to build a feminist movement that fights. A feminist movement that is about activism, not just talk; about grassroots campaigning, not just lobbying; about politics, not just lifestyle choices; and about liberation for all, not just equality for a privileged few.

http://www.womeninlondon.org.uk/blog/archi...006/08/entry_1.html

Loss of Gender Statistics - news from the EOC

Gender statistics - two consultations on proposed changes

Those with an interest in the collection of gender statistics may wish to respond to a couple of consultation exercises taking place this summer.

ONS' consultation on the proposed Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) could mean a loss of information that is currently broken down by gender. Respond to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) by 1 September.

The Women's Equality Unit plans to stop producing Individual Incomes of men and women in its current format, though it may consider some provision of similar information on the web if demand is sufficient. Respond to the Women and Equality Unit (WEU) by 27 October.

Comments can also be sent to the Gender Statistics User Ggroup using the online form at http://www.eoc.org.uk//default.aspx?page=19065
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Sligo Rape Crisis Centre & NW Hospice Amazing Feat! Fundraiser

August seems to be our month for fundraising and I know that some of you have supported the two evening events of music and theatre to help raise money towards the centre's costs, and we thank you very much for doing so.

There is a local man who is taking on an AMAZING feat to raise money for us and the NW Hospice all in one day. If you could take some time to read the message below and cut and paste it for forwarding to all of your contacts we would be most grateful and it's also a much more open and diverse way of reaching lots more people for two very worthy causes.

Please support if you can (details of how contained below) and pass on the email to others who may be able to do the same and spread the word. Thank you in advance for your support. If you would like to ask any questins please do not hesitate to ring me on 071 9171188 or email me .

Yours sincerely
Elaine Hanson
Sligo Rape Crisis Centre

Sherbourne U.K. Ironman Triathlon - 20th August 2006

Swim: 2.4 Miles, Bike: 112 Miles, Run: 26.2 Miles (Marathon)
What posses a 42 year old man to want to do an Ironman Triathlon - I do not know - but ever since I started competing in Triathlons some 18 years ago I have always said to myself that I would love to complete an Ironman Triathlon. The changes you have to make to your life are staggering!

Regular Day:
5.30am on bike until 7.20 then run until 8.15, work.
or rise @ 6.30 am, pool/sea/lake swim for 1 hour.

Weekend:
rise @ 6.45 (sleep in!!), bike for 3/4 hours + run for 1 hour
The most difficult part of this Ironman will be the Marathon as this is at the end of the event. Before I start this Marathon I would expect to have completed the 2.4 mile swim in 1 hour 10 min and the bike of 112 miles in less than 6 hours and then face the 26 mile Marathon!

I would expect to hit the 1st wall at the 3-4 mile mark and then hit the dead zone at 15 miles!

From then on its a case of getting to the finish (walking, crawling - who knows!)

Training has gone well but no clothes fit me any more!
For personal reasons I am raising funds for the North West Hospice and the Rape Crisis Centre. I would greatly appreciate your help in my fundraising.
Monies can be forwarded to myself @ New Ireland Assurance, Bridgewater House, Rockwood Parade, Sligo (cheques made payable to Niall Melvin - triathlon Account).

You can also credit this account directly, Bank of Ireland, Stephen Street, Sligo, Account Number 42581595, Sort Code 90-54-40, Niall Melvin Triathlon Account.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this mail and if you are in a position to do so, please say a prayer for me on the day.
Niall 086 2514418

currently all information sent via women in london can be viewed at http://www.womeninlondon.org.uk/blog/blog.html

to all subscribers

there seems to be some problems with the notice board.

we are still waiting to hear back when it will be fixed.

sorry for any inconvenience caused.

women in london

Asylum From Rape Bulletin No. 1 August 2006

Our Asylum from Rape Project aims to provide self-help support services to rape survivors seeking asylum. We offer help and referrals, welcome volunteers and provide guidance to organisations on how to meet the needs of asylum-seeking rape survivors.


New publication: Rights and Information Sheet

During Refugee Week (June) we published our Rights and Information Sheet for survivors of rape seeking asylum. This gives advice about what to expect from the legal process, informs women of their rights (for example at Home Office interviews or in Appeal hearings), and gives some examples of case law and precedents which might be helpful in particular cases. We expect this to be distributed widely among asylum seekers, legal representatives and community organisations.


Self-help advice sessions

An average of 30 women attended our self-help counselling and advice sessions. Nearly all were from countries in Africa, with the majority from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, but also including Nigeria, Kenya and Congo Brazzaville. Several new women came from other countries: India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. About half the women attending whom we had been helping for some time now have lawyers pursuing their asylum claims and helping them to get the housing and support they are entitled to. Many women who came for the first time had no current asylum claims and so were destitute and homeless. A number reported that bad legal representation was a significant factor in their claims being closed. We are trying to find them new lawyers.

A committed rota of volunteers including several service users began receiving regular training in responding to requests for help. Some have received specialised training to respond to the many women detained in Yarl's Wood Removal Centre who contact us regularly, and are now able to give advice and support by phone on a daily basis.


Winning asylum from rape!

Fantastic news! Ms X from Eritrea has finally won refugee status, seven years after arriving in the UK. After leaving Eritrea in 1982 she spent many years in Saudi Arabia where she was effectively imprisoned and ill-treated by the family who employed her as a domestic servant. She fled to the UK and claimed asylum after being detained for two months in Ethiopia during the 1998 border war with Eritrea. She suffered rape by soldiers and other torture. She was first referred to us in 2002 by a friend when her claim was closed after she was told it would be safe for her to return to Eritrea - she was about to be made homeless. We were able to refer her to a lawyer who submitted a fresh claim for asylum on human rights grounds; this was eventually accepted by an Adjudicator, but the Home Office appealed. After over a year of waiting for her case to come to court, the Home Office's appeal was rejected.


Other case news

Ms B, a rape-survivor from Darfur (Sudan) called us from Yarl's Wood. Even though her account of rape was accepted, shockingly the Home Office was insisting it was safe to send her back to another part of Sudan. She was terrified and very distressed. We helped stop her removal by forwarding to her lawyer vital information and by asking Rosie Kane MEP from Glasgow, where Ms B had previously lived, to help. Ms B was released and is now back in Glasgow.

Ms A from India, came to the UK in 1994 following an arranged marriage, which subsequently broke down because of domestic violence. Three years ago she applied to the Home Office for permission to remain but never received a reply and had to continue living with her son in the same house as her ex-husband. Her solicitor was demanding money before making any further representations and she was absolutely desperate. Her MP had never responded to her requests for help. Within minutes of receiving our fax asking him to intervene, her MP called us back and then immediately made submissions to the Home Office on Ms A's behalf. We also referred her to a reputable Law Centre for representation and after two months she received indefinite leave to remain!

We are in touch with several women in Yarl's Wood who were trafficked for the purposes of prostitution. Ms C is from Nigeria and fled to the UK after being trafficked to Italy and forced into prostitution there. She was arrested during an immigration raid and detained in Yarl's Wood for six months where she suffered a miscarriage because she did not receive medical treatment. We intervened and her removal was stopped twice; she has now been released and is pursuing her claim.


Forthcoming Events.

In September we will be publishing a Dossier compiled jointly with Black Women's Rape Action Project: Misjudging Rape: Rape and the Gender Guidelines in Asylum Appeals, which examines rulings made by Asylum Judges in rape cases and the extent to which they do or do not comply with the Immigration Appellate Authority's Asylum Gender Guidelines.


For more information and/or if you would like to volunteer, please contact us.

Women Against Rape
Crossroads Women's Centre
230a Kentish Town Rd
London NW5 2AB
T: 020 7482 2496
F: 020 7209 4761
E: war@womenagainstrape.net
W: http://www.womenagainstrape.net
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Globalization, economic policy and employment: poverty and gender implications

This study by J. Heintz and produced by the International Labour Organization (ILO), demonstrates how the labour market and the world of work in general are clearly sex-disaggregated and how important it is to undertake analysis of the impact of macroeconomic policies on growth, employment and poverty reduction, with specific consideration of such segmentation.

The study also demonstrates how different aspects of macroeconomic policies affect women's and men's work differently.

Available online at: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employme...nload/esp2006-3.pdf

(from INSTRAW News - e-letter August 2006 - http://www.un-instraw.org/mailman/listinfo/instrawnews)
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Women, Political Power and Next Generation Leadership

The Salzburg Seminar announces its session 433 for its upcoming international conference focusing on the critical need for women to gain greater parity in political representation and decision-making power, 11-17 September 2006,

This session will closely examine the paths most often pursued by women to achieve political office; identifying successful strategies, sharing best practices and developing innovative approaches to further the political empowerment of women, particularly for the next generation of leaders.

For information on objectives, cost and financial assistance, please visit:

http://www.salzburgseminar.org/2006Session...es=144&IDEvent=1028

http://www.salzburgseminar.org/oApp/info.cfm?option=start

E-mail: onlinehelp@salzburgseminar.org

(from INSTRAW News - e-letter August 2006 - http://www.un-instraw.org/mailman/listinfo/instrawnews)
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Researching Violence Against Women: A Practical Guide for Researchers and Activists

Co-produced by PATH and the World Health Organization, this manual presents experiences and insights on gender-based violence, including findings from the WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women.

The manual outlines many of the methodological and ethical challenges of conducting research on violence against women and describes innovative techniques that are used to address these challenges.

http://topics.developmentgateway.org/gende...l.do?itemId=1067796

(from INSTRAW News - e-letter August 2006 - http://www.un-instraw.org/mailman/listinfo/instrawnews)
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