Peers oppose prevent women fleeing rape obtaining refugee

 Peers plan prevent women fleeing rape from obtaining refugee status

Peers are trying to block plans that could prevent women  fleeing rape, forced marriage, trafficking or female genital mutilation from obtaining refugee status, a decision that critics say was secretly introduced into law on nationality and border immigration. Fellow Labor Lady Lister, with support from  Lady Cushions MP, Liberal Democrat Lord Paddick and the Bishop of Gloucester,  tabled an amendment to the Bill which is due to be discussed on Tuesday. If approved, it will undo a clause added to the controversial bill after the consultation period ended. Colleagues say the late-added clause will seriously harm survivors of gender-based persecution from being recognized as refugees and obtaining protection, a change that will disproportionately affect women and girls. Lawyers say the clause, if approved, will change the way the 1951 UN Refugee Convention is interpreted. Clause 32 of the Convention refers to membership in a "particular social group" and constitutes an essential reason for qualifying as a refugee. 

It is used by women and girls fleeing gender-based persecution. The introduction of this technicality would represent a significant additional barrier for women accessing refugee protection in the UK, meaning that some of the most vulnerable people seeking protection would no longer be able to obtain it. Lister, who tabled the amendment to reverse the change, said: "Section 32 is an example of how the bill will seriously harm women fleeing gender-based violence and abuse by creating a significant barrier to protection of refugees, as the UNHCR [United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees] has warned.It is imperative that the Lords reverse this change. 

Alphonsine Kabagabo,  director of the charity Women for Refugee Women, said: “The Government's Nationality and Borders Bill is the biggest threat  we have ever seen to women who can access child protection. refugees in the UK. . The bill is dangerous and discriminatory. Zoe Bantleman, ILPA's Legal Director, said: "The Bill introduces a regressive definition of 'particular social group' for the purposes of the 1951 Refugee Convention, which overrules the case law of the UK's higher courts. , contravenes UK standards. restores an incorrect EU legal standard, which will disproportionately affect women and girls fleeing gender-based persecution. A Home Office spokesperson said:  including women, and that won't change. 

The changes we are making are intended to ensure  a more consistent approach to the assessment of asylum claims and it is wrong to postulate. Women asylum seekers will be excluded from being considered as members of a particular group. The Nationality and Borders Bill will introduce the government's new immigration plan - the most comprehensive reform in decades - to fix the broken asylum system.