'No Recourse' Campaign
Campaign to abolish - No Recourse to Public Funds Ruling
Information from the 'Southall Black Sisters' campaign leaflet
Every year, hundreds of black and migrant women face domestic violence from their husbands and families in the UK. For many, their insecure immigration status renders them extremely vulnerable to abusive partners who exploit their position by subjecting them to often extreme forms of violence and domestic servitude, usually with impunity. Many abusers know that these women cannot report them to the authorities for fear of being sent back to their countries of origin where, as divorced or separated women, they are likely to face persecution from the state and society.
In 2002, following immense pressure, the government introduced the 'domestic violence rule' in immigration law, which states that is a person married or living with a settled partner can provide specific 
evidence to demonstrate that she/he is a victim of domestic violence and meet other conditions, she/he can remain in the UK indefinitely. But for a significant number or women, the existence of the 'no recourse to public funds' requirement in immigration and welfare law prevents them from making use of the domestic violence rule because they cannot access safe housing or benefits to escape domestic violence. The result is that they are faced with a stark choice, leave and face destitution or stay and risk their lives.
The 'no recourse' requirement bars anyone entering the UK on the basis of marriage from relying on public housing or benefits until their immigration position is regularised. This forces women into positions of economic dependency on the settled spouse or partner. The result is sheer desperation in the part of the individual and their advisor's.
The campaign is bringing together women and women's organisations across the country to call on the Government to:
- Abolish the 'no recourse' requirement for abused women who have insecure status.
- Provide a special fund pending long term solutions to enable all women to have living expenses and have access to refuges and local authority accommodation pending a final decision on applications to remain in the UK.
- Fast track applications to remain in the UK where there is prima facie evidence of domestic violence.
- Reform the Domestic Violence Rule so that all types of evidence of domestic violence is accepted.
- Extend the domestic violence rule to all abused women with an insecure immigration status and introduce similar protection for trafficked women subjected to sexual and economic abuse and to overseas domestic workers experiencing violence from employers.
- Provide adequate levels of legal aid so that there is access to good quality legal advice and assistance.
www.southallblacksisters.org.uk
Please help by writing to your Member of Parliament. Find out who he/she is by going to our Contact Your MP page.
LOCAL ACTION
Rotherham
Apna Haq are leading the campaign and rasing funds to help local women.
Download a flyer and find out how to support Apna Haq here
Sheffield
ROSHNI, Sheffield Asian Women's Resource Centre, 444 London Road, Sheffield, S2 4HP. Telephone 0114 2508898. Click here to download a flyer about the national day of action.
Sheffield Domestic Abuse Forum have a leaflet giving more information about their campaign. Click here to download
