National Summary

One of the most vulnerable groups in the UK is refugee and migrant women, who are seeking asylum as their home countries are unsafe due to armed conflicts, religious and political persecutions or extreme poverty. Women and girls are facing specific dangers as migrants and refugees during their journey, in refugee camps and even once they have settled into a more permanent home. This includes risks of sexual and gender-based violence, lack of knowledge of the respective language of the countries they reside in as well as lack of financial means, health services and food.

In the UK, migrant and refugee men are twice as likely to visit ESOL language classes than women and are also more represented in formal employment. As a result migrant and refugee women are especially vulnerable to financial insecurity, labour exploitation and isolation, causing severe mental health issues and adding burdens to their way of integration.

These difficulties also extend to women and girls, who have resided in the UK for a long time or were even born here but still face discrimination based on their migrant status. This makes additional support for their education and personal development all the more important.