England: Rights groups call for migrant women to be protected from domestic violence

The Step Up Migrant Women (SUMW) Coalition has called for a “system of full confidentiality and protection for all migrant women who report their abuse, regardless of their immigration status”, which would apply to all statutory services.

It follows concerns raised by the Home Affairs Select Committee about some police forces reporting migrant women to the Home Office for immigration purposes, which SUMW said prevents them from reporting abuse.

Chiara Capraro, women’s rights programme manager at Amnesty UK, a member of the coalition, said: “Police forces continue to share details of victims with the Home Office for immigration purposes, which is allowing perpetrators to use immigration enforcement as a weapon to control and abuse their victims. This must stop.

“The government’s Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill will be a sham unless it provides equal protection to all women, including those with insecure migration status. The Home Affair Select Committee recognises this, and we urge the government to act upon their recommendations.”